Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-29
4 C0QUETTES VICTIM.

AID GhESI II al eVe<-Quriny Day.
4 C0QUETTES VICTIM.
A large and splendid hall. Lii by giis-
tening chandeliers and ornamented with
sill the taste and luxury of artistic skill;
filed with an atmosphere of light aud
music and perfume; haunted by groups
OF lovely women and distinguished men,
all gloriEed by that spirit of pleasure
and splendor that one finds in such gath
erings.
Through the long parfors, hung with
gorgeous draperies aud rare paintings,
beneath the fretted ceilings of blue and
silver, crimson and gold, foated the
forms Of the proudest and fairest, clad
Ia flnay robes Of white, or rich, -ustling
brocades, chatting, .t-ting and dancing
il the vague. Gremnious glitter of the
light that made the place one blaze OF
eucha1tment.
Soft, dreamy music swelled on the air,
It's rhythm marked by the Light step
OF dancers, yet sabdaed and rendered
indistinct by the constant hum Of sweet
voices everywhere. Couples passed to
and fro; or fingered about the doorways,
talking OF love, of pleasure and os the
scene before them.
Staid diplomats and rulers sat at The
card tables playing digni6ed whist with
stately matrons-the bellies of a past
generation. Others IN an adjoining sa-
leon discussed a magnificent collation..
The farthest of these parlors opened
into a large conservatory, where long
naf,,y 70 frosfoH = oeI
from their messy baskets. and the dark
green leaves of the lemon trees exhaled
grateful aroma. Strange tropical
plants. with broad variegated leaves.
grew rank and fibrous in marble vases
along the balustrade; heavy vines clam
bered up their trellises, with pendant
bells OF azure, gold or crimson, showing
bright amid the feathery foliage. A soft
light, dim roseate, fell upon these leafy
treasures from ground glass globes of q
faint pink hue, scattered hero and there
among the evergreens.
No place could have been moro fitting
AID appropriate to the pursuit Of the
divine social science filtration than
this same conservatory. In coy al
coves, where the orange and magnolia
trees were embowered by the trace-y of
the ivy vine, were placed rustic seats of
curionsly- joined branches; and here, in
the cool sound Of q silvery fountain and
the heavy fragrance of the blossoms, one
might sit with ones partner and whisper
the enfantillages OF love without. fear of
proach. r
In one of these alcoves-the most. Sc
Guided Of all-surrounded by the thick
and odorous LEAKAGE of the trees and
vines, sat Lee Baston and Maggie Low
ell. As usual, she was weaving her web
of fascination-honeying her words,
modulating her exquisite voice, flashing
her brilliant glances from underneath
her long dropping lashes, artlessly toy
ing with the watch-chain or eye-glass of
her cavalier, and exerting all those little
Establishments, seeming innocent enough
Ia themselves, but which tighten each
moment the adamant letters of passion 3
slavery about the victims senses.
Lee Baston-young, talented, wealthy,
already celebrated in the political world
was an excellent object for the con-
s,lmmate skill OF this cnquette. More
meeting, he had been insensibly drawn
on from one step to another until this
night, when the dance, the wine, the
music. the Lights, the gayety, the brill
fancy of all surroundings had somewhat
bewildered him with sweet and vo-
Iuptuous delirium.
Then the cool retirement Of the con-
servatory, with its shadowy recesses, its
ceaseless FLASHING OF falling waters, its
aromatic and languor-inspiring odors,
and its vague reverberations Of the fes-
tiyities within. invited only the dreams
aud thoughts of love.
A half-hour's conversation, lowering
nearer and nearer to the dangerous
topic. silent but acknowledgement
pause, few burning, impassiOned words
Of declaration, and Maggie Lovell's emp
ty triumph was attained.
She laughed low, musical, but me-
tailic laugh.
MY friend" she said. s'do not talk
in that strain-I shall fancy you are in
earnest"
"My God! in earnesti Do YOU not
believe me, then7 Oh, Maggie, I swear
it, I love you wholly! L"
There was a husky information in his
voice, and he stopped without finishing
his sentence.
"No-I do not know what you mean.
I-I-indeed I do not know what you
mean. You surely cannot be serious.
You fighten mel"
He dropped the delicate, white-gloved
hand he had been holding, and looked
long and earnestly into her eyes.
''Do hear you aright?"
eyes must go now. AN very
very sorry you have SO misunderstood
me. Never refer to this scene again. II
has been as painful for me as for you.
''Ard this is the end?"
eyes. I pity you. Good night"
Her purple velvet rustled against the
silrubbery, and Bastoa was alone.
"Pity me! Great heaven, I hai
rather she had laughed in my FACET"
The Conversation Haus Of Baden
Baden is one of the "peculiar institu
tons" Of the continent. Here are ,
great ballroom, theater. restaurant
q library. q reading-room, dressing