The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-28

nad purchased q little scene. Il he Spent
Wave.a ii hir. Stuart remembered it.
And as Raphaei's color rose something
about him seemed to interest the Secre-
tary more. for he read the letter again
and asked him for lis other papers
'sThey are very strong he said, and
it is very unfortunate | have all but
promised the eonsulship to Mr.. Tiernay.
who has just left me. Perhaps You saw
him pass out; he looks like an Italian
brigaad and there seems something fit
ting and appropriate in designating him
for the post, said the Secretary laugh
ing, for he knew how to fill disagreeable
panses with light words. SWELL well,n
he said, Il shall regret it very much if ]
cannot be of service to you. Depend
upon it | shall try. / am sorry. to
have so far committed myself Perhaps
something can be done although / am
doubtful. Are you in the city longp
Where are you staying? Can you dine
with me tonight? My wife and daugh-
tiers will be pleased. A few pleasant
people. Sharp seven. Good-morning"
And before Raphael recovered himself
the plausible Secretary had bowed him
out and admitted the next, and he was
standing with a dazed air among the
ruins of his hopes, the face of the Italian
brigand, whom be now remembered to
have seen, dominating the ruins like
that of an evil genius.
But he was not of the sort easily cast
down. After couple of hours he was
on his feet again, full of pluck and pur-
pose, investigating the art of the Capt.
tol, and a few minutes before seven he
was at the Seeretary's door, admitted by
the stately black porter, making his best
bow to Mrs. Secretary, and If not con-
scious that Miss Secretary was regard
ing him with an suspicious eye, quite
conscious that she looked like one of the
sweetest and best-natured young women
in the world and one to whom, before
the dinner was announced to which he
led her out, he felt like confiding both
his joys and sorrows.
What troubled him was that before he
had been five minutes in the drawing
room he had seen the Italian brigand
talking with famous general and look
ing as though he were taking his points
SO as to be ready for the next ambush.
and that now he was placed on the 9th
err side of the table but few seats dis
tant.
The dinner went on quite as usual,
when suddenly there was a lull in the
conversation, which had been turned by
the Secretary to the subject of modern
literature, and Mr.. Tiernay's voice was
heard quite distinctly saying to the Sec
rotary as he bent slightly forward, ''Oh,
/ assure you, my dear sir, there is no
one better qualified than to speak of
The Song of the Morning Stars since
/ wrote it, as / may say" And then as
Raphael tossed back his hair like one
preparing to offer battle, he added:
THAT is to say, Miss Wildrose and I
wrote it together, and rewrote it. l
think there is not single stanza in which
our joint work is not to be found. The
idea of the opening chorus is her own,
and the work mine myself suggested
the refrain of the Wandering Stars, and
she worked that up
s'And the Cloud of Cometspa asked
the Secretary.
ssOh, that is mine, too; and SO was the
Earth's recitative in the Region of Mete-
ors, all mine. But her delicate touches
gave it a grace not within the power of
a masculine pen. Miss Wildrose' grace
81 beg pardon Are you speaking of
Miss WildroseP'' said the Secretary's
daughter, as Raphael sat aghast and ut
terlY incapable of using her name in this
scene.
s'OfMiss WildroseP'' said MIR. Tiernay.
''Oh, certainly"
And do YOU really know herP"
Like a sister, said the Brigand.
Better than sister, l might add, since
we have worked for our name and our
fame together"
How | should like to see heri Do you
suppose she win ever come to Washing
toni" :.
'.Ah, ii is unlikely. The poet is too
sensitive for contact with practical
things, you know"
Then you must tell me of her. Is she
pretty9 Is she pleasing?'
Pleasing. yes. II can hardly speak
of her SO openly, you must believe me.
She is perhaps one's idea of Sappho''-
Eyes. Larger
''Superb moulding"
s'Blue eyesp'
GAS violets.''
'fThen l hope her hair is black"
Gas black as night
Every one has such different idea
of Sappho,'s said Miss Secretary. ''Now
to me Sappho looks like Story's Cleopa-
ira. And by the way. papa, do you
know that MIR. Gould's Ghost of Ham
let's Father is to be seen in Boston? /
could take the journey there to see it!
He is the Shelley of sculptors" And
then the Secretary took up the tale, and
his daughter bent her head over her lit
satin qraenat and whispered to Raphael, II
thought you said you were engaged to
marry Miss WildroseP''
$50 / did,
.'Why then didn't you announce your
self just now?"
Drag her name before dinner Ia
ble?''
Il believe in your she said earnestly.
Have you her pietureP Pray let me see
it?''
She looked at it and passed it to her
next neigbbor. at looks more like
New England maiden than like aqueen's
daughter she said as she did So
.sOh, is this the new prineess?n cried
the lady into whose hands it came direct
" afterward, and it presently reached
the Secretary. 1t was miniature that
Raphael himself had painted.
ssEyes dark as pansies in the front of
March, said the Secretary. s.Those close
braids of fair hair contrast well. Quite
a petite young woman. You spoke of
seeing the princess when you were last
abroad, Mr.. Tiernay. This is quite I'M
like the picture in the illustrated news
papers. Tell me if it is good likeness.
And the little picture passed from hand
to hand, under glance by glance, to Mr..
Tiernay.
II really am unable to answer" said
the Brigand. .eThey are such swarm
This must be a new one, for [ don't
recollect seeing her. No, the face is