The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-08-25
THE SECRET OF A LARcH.TREE.


-Guy Carleton, IN Life.
THE SECRET OF A LARCH-TREE.
A lady, young, pretty, blonde,
sparkled with diamonds as she danced,
herself the magnet of all eyes, amidst
the music, light and revelry of the
August night at Silver Spring. Dia-
monds twinkled in the fair hair, poised
there as butterfly; diamonds tremblcd
like dew-drops about the snowy throat
and formed blazing pendent me-
dalton amidst the flowers of the satin
corsage; diamonds flashed in the tiny
cars and on each dimpled wrist.
''What a lucky fellow Delaunay was
to secure such a prize!" said the mascu-
line voice, unanimously.
Il wonder she dares to carry such
jewels about with her; it is very bad
taste TO wear them at a hotel hop,n was
the feminine verdict.
PROF. Horton, do YOU see the lady
with the diamonds?'' inquired the
Colonel, with his soft, good-natured
laugh.
Eyes, see her. What thenP' re-
torted the Professor, grimly.
20, nothing at all, only the Silver
Spring will be regarded as fashion,
able resort, what with our new Bellevue
Hotel and such guests. Next year we
shall be able to hold up our heads with
Saratoga and Newport, if we can add a
race course and clubhouse, SIR" Here
the Colonel rubbed his hands together
with a gesture which has become ira
ditional with the hotel proprietor of all
ages.
''Silly women, decked with diamonds
--clubs-rsce courses echoed Prof.
Horton, contemptuously, Our Silver
Spring will be ruined by such follies.
and all respectable habitues will quit
the spot forever. / have been here
every season for fifteen years and
will come fifteen years more, l
hope interpolated the Colonel, adroit-
ly. The fat landlord adjusted the col
lar which imprisoned his own rosy face.
a countenance most suggestive of the
oyster suppers of Silver Spring.
The face Of Prof. Horton was lean.
sallow and dolorous, on the contrary,
and was clouded by the discomfort of
one who has a grievance to lay at the
door of circumstance.
'.Fiddlesticksr' he retorted, sharply.
II will engage the State apartments of
Union Hall or the Ocean House sooner
than return here. Mrs. Delaunay is the
name, Ell? Are the diamonds realp',
"Real! They are of the purest water.
ana cost scventy-five thousand dollars.
am told. She was an. heiress, YOU
know, and when she married last year, |
the accumulated interest of her minor
Ity was invested in these Jewels Such |
was the Colonel's glib explanation.
who is her partner? pursued the |
Professor.
20. the French Marquis de Ratti. |
They say he followed Mrs. Delaunav
here, after being all about in society nj
New York and Washington last win
err"
II do not believe in foreign noble
men, grumbled the Professor. ..They
prove to be Wallets and BARRIERS more
,ften than not.
Prof Harton's benevolent dubious
lose acquired satirical aspect. his
hrewd gray eyes twinkled behind n
I'm OF his spectacles, while his humor-
nus mouth twitched beneath the grizzIed
'eard. He surveyed the animated
Gene much as q naturalist inspects An
insect under microscope. The Mar
.lls &c Ratti was not at all the typical
renchman in appearance, although
veil dressed and easy in bearing. He |
'as large, powerfully built man of
ncertain age, with cold light ewes and
regular massive features; his hands
nd feet were huge, muscular and
owerful, despite the sheathinp of kid ,
nd leather.
HE looks more like prize-fighter
han gentleman; but perhaps the
rlze-hghfing element is the highest ,
OF blood among the nobility" !
FUSED this republican spectator.
HumPh! | should not care to meet | i
I'M on a dark night. He might crack !
y skull like an egk-shelf between
niger and thumb. o, the customs of IN
shion. That young husband. LEANING :
ysinst the wall. permits the Maruuis !
katti to waltz with his wife. instead {
knocking him down for his impu- !
nee"
Al this moment pretty girl appeared :
hind the Professor and the landlord. 3
tn round fair face and hair meekly I
ushed back from the temples, and :
genuous blue eyes. The pretty Girl | r
loothed her neat apron and lowered r.
eyes demurely as she demanded, in I,
softest OF voices: III you please, sir. I
~ have nv tea? !
Mrs. Delaunay's English maid. o
lce,' explained the Colonel, when be 81
d granted the request W