The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-23
SECRET or n ALAKCII-TIsIIIi.

A lady, young, beaut full, blonde,
srarkled with diamonds as SHE danced,
herself the magnet of all eyes, amidst
the music, light, and revelry of the
August night ut Silver Spring. Dia-
mOndS twinkled in the fair hair, poised
there as a butterfly; diamonds trcmbled
like dewdrOps about the snowy throat,
and formed a blazing pendant medallion
amidst the flowers Of the satin corsagc;
diamonds flashed in the tiny ears and
on each dimpled wrist.
"ProfessOr Horton, do You see the
lady with the damondS?" inquired the
Colonel, with his soft, good-natured
laugh.
Eyes, see her. What then?" re-
torted the Professor, grimly.
"Oh, nothing at all, only the Silver
Spring will be regarded as a fashion,
able resort, what with the new Belle
vue Hotel and such guests. Next
year we will be able to hold up our
heads with Saratoga and Newport. if
we can add race-course and club
house, sir" Here the Colonel rubbed
his hands together with Il gesture which
has become traditional with the hotel
proprietor of all ages.
The face of Professor Horton was
lean, sallow and dolorous, on the con-
trary, and was clouded by the discon-
tent Of one who has a grievance to lay
at the door of circumstances.
He rctorted, sharply, "Mrs. Delaunay
IS the name, eh2 Are the diamonds
real?"
''Real! They are of the purest
water, and cost seyenty-iive thousand
81 In 4Nl,l
esS, you know, and when she married
last year, the accumulated interest of
her minority was invested in these
jewels" Such was the Colonel's glib
explanation.
"Who is her partner?" pursued the
Professor.
"Oh, the French Marquis de Ratti.
They say he followed Mrs. Delaunay
here, after being all about in society
ut New York and Washington last
winter"
81 do not believe in foreign noble
men," "grumbled the Professor, "rhey
prove to be Wallets and BARRIERS more
often than not. He looks more like a
priZe-tighter than a gentleman; but
perhaps the prize-tlghting element is
the highest element OF blood among
the nobility" mused the republican
spectator. ''IIumphl l should not
care to meet him on Il dark night.
ic might crack my skull like an egg
sell between finger and thumb. Oh,
the customs Of fashion. That young
husband, leaning against the wall,
permits the Marquis to waltz with his
wife, instead OF knocking him down
for his impudencc.
At this moment pretty girl an
peared behind the professor and the
landlord, with round, fair face and
hair meekly brushed back from the
temples, and ingenious blue eyes. The
pretty girl smoothed her neat apron
and lowered her eyes dcmurely as she
demanded. in the softest of voices, eff
. you please, sir, may have my tea?"
Mrs. Delaunay's English maid,
Alice,' explained the Colonel. when he
had granted the request.
y Why did Professor Horton follow the
English maid, SO young, SO gentcel, SO
demure, with his eyc2 He could not
4 tell. He saw her pause outside an
other window, where the Marquis dc
p Ratti was taking the air, the dance
& being over, and it seemed to the OBJ
server that The two exchanged glance,
"a smile, a signal, before the girl dis.
appeared around the corner OF the
house.
va I'VE only lack the gallantries of
s inoblemen AMI ladles'-maids to complete
the ruin Of our Silver Spring." NUT
tered this stern moralist, whose ideas
seWese 50 old.fashioncd. He sought his
siown chamber gloomily, for in addition
ITO perturbation Of mind, owing to hay.
ling his sylvan retreat invaded by the
of i'm of fnc n 1,o
broken by bodily fatigue. lie had
sizing in the valleys, and seeking geo.
Wills shoes were dusty, his raiment
@Ssbrier. torn, his loose sack-coat freighted
with the "rubbish" precious to tic So
SS&yant in the wide external pockets,
while rheumatic twinges in knee and
Sgback reminded him that he was no
Slonger young, thereby increasing his
transportation. Then to return to a
Mshotel where all the world was dancing,
land one woman was decked like an
55sidol with seventy-tlve thousand dollars
5$worth of diamonds. The Professors
coup Of bitterness brimmed over at
these reflections. The room was stiff
Willingly hot, but he lighted his lamp,
and forced himself to read an extract
from DR.. Dollinger, while moths blum
s $dered about the flame, frying them
s. Belves to a condition Of unpleasant
cgispness, and mosquitoes stung his
temples. His watch marked midnight.
and still the movement of the ballroom
\ and the twang Of musical instruments
reached his ear, prccluding the posi-
bilities Of sleep.
Squeak, squeak, fidilesl Boom
away, bass violsl Keep it up till morn
Ing, by all means. l wonder if that Is
the music of the future? Ahp' Here
the listener clinched his teeth, with a
dtabolical expression Of countenance,
as the vlolins shudder over his nery-
GUS system, snatched up his broad felt
hat, and strobe out Of doors, actuated
by the impule Of escape.
The night was sultry and oppressive.
SIhe Professor breathed a sigh Of re.