The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-21
THE SECRET OF A LARCH-TREE.

I'LL vi n
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 trembled
like dew-drops about the snowy throat
and formed blazing pendent me-
dallion amidst the flowers of the satin
corsage; diamonds flashed in the tiny
ears and on each dimpled wrist.
''What lucky fellow Delaunay was
to secure such a prizen said the mascu-
line voice, unanimously.
II wonder she dares to carry such
jewels about with her; it is very bad
taste to wear them at hotel hop" was
the feminine verdict.
"Prof Horton, do you see the lady
with the diamondsP' inquired the
Colonel, with his soft, good-natured
laugh.
Eyes, l see her. What thenP' re-
torted the Professor, grimly.
80, nothing at all, only the Silver
Spring will be regarded as a 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-race courseSn echoed Prof.
Horton, contemptuously, "Our Silver
Spring will be rgjRed. .hXva pehwf Init
the spot forever. l have been here
every season for fifteen years and"
''Win 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 q grievance to lay at the
door of circumstance.
''Fiddlesticks" he retorted, sharply
81 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,
and cost seventy-tive thousand dollars.
| am told. She was an heiress, YOU
know, and when she married last wear.
the accumulated interest of her minor
ity was invested in these Jewels" Such
was the Colone's glib explanation.
''Who is her partner?" pursued the
Professor.
80, the French Marquis de Ratti.
They say he followed Mrs. Delaunav
here, after being all about in society at
New York and Washington last win
ter"
Il do not believe in foreign noble
men, " grumbled the Professor. "Thev
prove to be Wallets and BARRIERS more
often than not"
Prof. Harton's benevolent dubious
nose acquired a satirical aspect, his
shrewd gray eyes twinkled behind a
rim OF his spectacles, while his humor-
Gus mouth twitched beneath the grizzled
beard. He surveyed the animated
scene much as naturalist inspects an
insect under microscope. The Mar
quis de Ratti was not at all the tvpical
Frenchman in appearance, although
well dressed and easy in bearing He
was large, powerfully built man of
uncertain age, with cold light ewes and
irregular massive features; his hands
and feet were huge, muscular and
powerful, despite the sheathing of kid
and leather.
HE looks more like prize-fighter
than gentleman; but perhaps the
prize-fghting element is the highest
evidence of blood among the nobility"
unused this republican spectator.
''Humph! | should not care to meet
h'm on dark night. He might crack
my skull like an egg-shell between
finger and thumb. o, the customs of
fashion! That young husband, leaning
against the wall, permits the Marquis
de Ratti to waltz with his wife, instead
of knocking him down for his impu-
dence."
AT this moment a pretty girl appeared
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 demurely as she demanded, in
The softest of voices: "If you please, sir,
may | have my tea?''
Mrs. Delaunay's English maid,
Alice, explained the Colonel, when he
aad granted the request.