The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-16
SECRET OF A LARCH.TRFE.

A lady, young, beautiful blonde,
sparkled with diamonds as she danced,
herself the magnet of all eyes. amidst
the music, light and revelry of the Au-
gust night at Silver spring. Diamonds
twinklel in the fair hair. poised
there as butterfly; diamonds trembled
like dew.drops about the snowy throat,
and formed blazing pendant medallion
amidst the flowers of the satin corsage;
diamonds flashed in the tiny ears and on
each dimpled wrist.
" Professor Horton, do you see the
lady With the diamonds?" inquired the
colonel with his soft, good ma
tured laugh.
Eyes, 1 see her, what them" returned
the professor, grimly.
ooh, nothing at all, only the Silver
Spring will be regarded rs fashionable
resort, what with the new Bellevue Ho.
tel and such guests. Next year we will
be able to hold up our heads with Sara
toga and Newport, if we can add q race
course and clubhouse. sir" Here the
colonel rubbed his hands together with
Q 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 grievance to lay at
the door Of circumstances.
He retorted sharply, MRS. Delaunay
is the name, eh? Are the diamonds real?'
Real? They are of the purest water,
nd cost seventy-five thousand dollars, l
= n told. She was an heiress, you know,
Ind when she married last year, the nc.
cumulated interest of her minority was
invested in these jewels" Such was the
colopel's glib explanation.
who ID her partner" pursued the
professor.
"Oh, the French Marquis de Ratti.
They say he followed Mrs. Delaunay
here, after being all about in society at
New York and Washington last winter. "
II do not believe il foreign noble
men," grumbled the professor. "They
prove to be Wallets and BARRIERS more
often than not. He looks iuore like o
prize-fghter than gentleman; but per-
haps the prize.fghting element is the
highest evidence Of blood among the
nobility" unused this republican specta-
tor. "Humph! should not care to
meet him on a dark night. He might
crack my skull like an egg-shell between
finger and thumb. Oh, the customs Of
fashions? That young husband, leaning
against the wall, permits the Marquis to
waltz with his wife, instead of knocking
him down for his insolencs.'
At this moment pretty girl appeared
behind the professor and the landlord,
with round fair face and hair meekly
brushed back from the temples, and in
!, genuous blue eyes. The pretty girl
smoothed her neat apron and lowered her
eyes demurely as she demanded, Sin the
softest of voices, If you please, sir, may
have my tea?"
MRS. Delaunsy's English maid,
Alice" explained the colonel. when he
had granted the request.
Why did Professor Horton follow the
English maid. so young, 30 genteel, so
demure, with his eye? He could not tell.
He saw her pause outside another win
dow, where the Marquis de Rstti was
taking the air, the dance being over, and
il seemed to tho observer that the two
exchanged a glance. a smile, signal,
before the girl disappeared around the
corner of the house.
I'VE only lack the gallantries Of noble
| ruin Of our Silver Spring." muttered
this stern moralist. whose ideas we're 30
old fashioned. He sought his own cham
Der gloomily. for in addition to pertur
baton Of mind, owing to having his
sylvan retreat invaded by the Philistines
Of fashion. he was literally broken by
bodily fatigue. He had rambled many
miles that day, botsnizing in the valleys,
and seeking geological specimens on ad-
jacent hills. His shoes was duty. his
raiment brier.torn, his loose sack-coat
freighted with the rubbish" precious to
the savant in the wide external pockets.
while rheumatic twinges in knee and
back reminded him that he was no longer
young, thereby increasing his exaspera-
ton. Then 70 return 10 hotel where
all the world WAS dancing, and one wo-
man vas decked like an idol with sew
enty-6ve thousand dollars worth OF dia-
monds. Tho professors ont Of bitterness
brimmed over at these reflections.
"Wait for me-" soid the woman, II