Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-12
THE SECRET OF A LARCH.TREE.

dew-drops about the snowy throat, and
formed a blazing pendant medallion
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 prizer' said the mas
culine voice unanimously.
81 wonder she dares to carry such
jewels about with her; it is very bad
taste to wear them at asiotel hop" was
the feminine verdict
professor Horton, do you see the Ia
dy with the diamondsP' inquired the
Colonel, with his soft, good-natured
laugh.
Eyes, see her. What then?" re-
torted the Professor, grimly.
'Ob, nothing at all, only the Silver
Spring will be.regarded as fashionable
resort, what with our new Bellevue Hotel
and such guests. Next year we shall
be able to hold up our heads with Sar-
atoga and Newport, if we can add a
race-course and club house, sir" Here
the Colonel rubbed his hands together
with gesture which has become ira
ditional with the hotel proprietor of all
ages.
''Silly women, deeked with diamonds
-clubs-race-co ursesi' echoed Profess
sor Horton contemporary, Our Sill
YER Spring will be ruined by such follies,
and all respectable habitues will quit
the spot forever. | have been here
every season for fifteen wears, and
"Will come fifteen years more,
hope" interpolatcd the Colonel,
adroitly. The fat landlord adjusted the
collar which imprisoned his own rosy
face, cOunteDance most suggestive of
the oyster suppers of Silver Spring.
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 circumstance
"Flddlesticksp' 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, eh? Are the diamonds real?n
''Real! They are Of the purest wa
ter, and cost seventy-fixe thousand dol
las, | am told. She was an heiress,
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 partnerP' pursued the
Professor
"Oh, the French Marquis de Rati
They say he followed Mrs. Delaunay
here, after being all about in society
at New York and Washington last
winter
81 do not believe in foreign noble
men, grumbled the Professor. They
prove to be Wallets and BARRIERS more
often than not.
Professor Horizons benevolent bull
bous nose acquired satirical aspect,
his shrewd gray eyes twinklcd behind
a rim of his spectacles, while his hui
morous mouth twitched beneath the
grizzled beard. He surveyed the ami
mated scene much as naturalist in
spects an insect under a microscope
The Marquis dc Ratti was not at all
the typical Frenchman in appearance,
although well dressed and easy in bear
ing. lie was a large, powerfully built
man OF uncertain age, with cold light
eyes and irregular massive features; his
hands and feet were huge, muscular,
and powerful, despite the sheathing of
kid and leather.
ale looks more like prize-fighter
than gentleman; but perhaps the
prize-iighting element is the highest
evidence of blood among the nobility"
unused this republican spectator.
"Humph! | should not care to meet
him on dark night. lie might crack
my skull like an egg-shell between
fashionl That young husband, lean
ing against the wall, permits the Mar
quis de Ratti to waltz with his wife,
instead of knocking him down for his
impudence.
At this moment pretty girl APP
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 smoothcd her neat apron and
lowered her eyes demurely as she de-
manded, in the sOftest of voices, ''If
you please, sir, may have my teaP"
Mrs. Delaunay's English maid,
Alice" exclaimed the Colonel. when
he had granted the request.
Why did Professor Horton follow the
English maid, so young, SO gentcel and
demure, with his eye? He could not
tell. He saw herpauSe outside another
window, where the Marquis de Ratti
was taking the air, the dance being
over, and it seemed to the observer
that the two exchanged n glance, n
smile, swift signal, before the girl dis
appeared around the corner of the
house.
1--WE lack only the gallantries of no.
blemen and ladies' maids to complete
the ruin of our Silver Spring. NUT
tered this stern moralist, whose ideas
were SO very old-faShioned. He sought
his own chamber gloomily, for in addi-
ton to perturbation of mind, owing to
having his sylvan retreat invaded by
the Philistines of fashion, he was liter
ally broken by bodily fatigue. He had
rambled many miles that day, botanic
ing in the valleys, and seeking geologi-
cal specimens on adjacent hills. His
shoes were dusty, his raiment brier-torn,
bis loose sack-cloth 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 longer young, thereby in
creasing his evaporation. Then TO re-
turn to hotel where all the world was
dancing. and one woman was deeked
like an idol with seventy-tive thousand
dollars worth of diamonds. The Pro-
feSsor'S cup of bitterness brimmcd over
at these reflections. The room was sti-
flingly hot, but he lighted his lamp, and
forced himself to read nm extract from
DR. Dolinger while moths blundered
about the flame, frying themselves to u
condition of unpleasant crispness, and
mosquitoes stung mis- temples. His
watch marked midnight, and still the
movement of the ballroom and the
twaug of musical instruments reached
his ear, precludng the possibility OF
sleep.
"Squeak, squeak, fddleS! Boom
away, bass-,iols! Keep it up until
morning by all means | wonder if that
is the music of the future? A-d-h!"
Here the listener elinched his teeth
with truly diabolical expression o
countenance, as the violins shudderet
over his nervous system, snatched up hi
broad felt hat, and strobe out of doors
actuated by the impulse of escape.
The night was sultry and oppressive
The Professor breathed n sigh of relic
as he quilted the vicirity of the hotel
which sparkled with many light
through the trees like an ogrc's eye
Darkness and obscurity of shrubber,
welcomed him abroad ut this unusua
hour. He stroled about the grave