The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-26

name, and no more than these scanty Dir,
facts.
wonder IL her name Is Ellice - muset
Lady Ausburgh. Happy thought" IIei
ladyship sat down at her desk the morning
after Sir Philips confidential communication
and scribbled off question 10 the Princess
about some Italian peasant costumes for on,
OF her characters. 10 this she received I
prompt and friendly reply, signed Ellic,
Petroni. Good" said Lady Ausburch
complacen,ly. al will not Jump to con
clusion, but the condolences are enough I,
encourage an amateur detective in following
up the trail. hope Sir Philip will moi
Gomez
The Princess wa1 among the earliest ar
rivals this Thursday night Lady Aus.
burgb greeted her with an almost rapturou,
welcome. The Princess was an exouisitely
lovely creature, with serious face, perfec,
as that of some Greek goddess. She was
resplendent with diamonds, and on her
right arm CLEANED the bracelet exactly
answering the description Of the one men
toned by Sir Philip Rayner-c oncealing the
two marks which Lady Ausburg had noticed
Lady Ausburgh felt troubled. Every mo.
ment she feared 10 hear the name of Sir
Philip Rayner called. But with the diplo
matte touch which was with her partly in.
grained, partly second nature, she cues
toned the Princess.
am charmed with this bracelet" she
said lightly. 1.-THE design is so original.
May ask, If it be not an impertinence,
where you bought ~
did not buy IL" answered the Princess,
smiling.
Lady Ansburgh looked at her calm face,
serene as that of siren or saint fresh from
the easel of Burne Jones.
"a lovers gift 2" her ladyship daringly
hagarded, in soft murmur, over the edge
of the feathers fringing fan said on indspu.
table authority TO have belonged TO Marie
AntOinette.
slight movement of the lovely mouth of
the Princess, half repellant, half responsive,
passed like faint, tremulous wave of emo.
ton. But the question had scarcely
died away when counter wave of emo.
ton and excitement warned Lady Ausbureh
that the nominal hero of the evening his
Royal Highness-was on the staircase, and
on his way to offer her some of those silvern
compliments so enviously coveted. Lady
Ausburgh hurried back to her station as
hostess The evening was destined to rank
as one of her ladyship's most superb social
successes 4; buLthe achievement of this victory
entailed much hard work.
Nearly an hour passed. The currents and
cross currents of emotion and excitement had
almost driven from her mind the romance
in which she had felt so lively an interest
when Lady Ausburgh saw Sir Philip making
his way toward her, having evidently Just
arrived by a hasty glance she asceriained
that the Princess was not visible she had
gone TO put on the robes of lIermoine in the
statue scene from the Winters Tale.o
Lady Ausburgh resolved to say nothing of her
surmise. but TO wait. BY some idle remarks
on the first subjects TO be thought ola
picture in the Academy, singer at the
opera, newly opened bazaar-she detained
him by her side until the silken curtains
drew aside and revealed group arranged
with consummate taste and skill.
A murmur of delight and admiration
rippled through the crowd. The centre
figure and chief object of attraction was the
Princess, standing, tall, statue-like. A
piece of white drapery falling from the
shoulders concealed the mystical diamond
bracelet.
I" Do you know the Princess Petroni ?"
Lady Ausburgh asked Sir Philip, who was
gazing with fixed attention at the Hermione.
have heard of her." he answered,
carelessly.
I" She is very beautiful, is she not ?"
eyes. But she looks cold and naughty.
That may he the effect OF the character she
had assumed though.''
She has the name of being one of the
most beautiful women in Europe" added
Lady Ausburgh.
"And deservedly So should imagine
Sir Philip responded, with Indifference.
Lady Ausburgh glanced keenly at him,
unobserved. "It must be only coincI
dence," she mentally observed. ga strange
one But such odd things happen that it is
waste ofenergy to la surprised at any
thing
The cnrtains We're drawn together, and
again raised to display second gronp. This
time the Princess appeared as Mary Stuart
in scene chosen from the history of that
unhappy Qneen. Sir Philip had moved
from another part of the room, and Lady
Ausburgh watched him, without detecting
the slightest sign that he viewed this beauti.
fnl woman with any feeling beyond languid
curiosity.
The tableaus were over. The Princess
Petroni, calm to the verge of frigidity, re-
turned to her place among the guests, to be
overwhelmed with compliments.
Certainly, a droll coincidence" thought
Lady Ausburgh. I" 1t proves the absurdity
of jumping to conclusions" As the refec-
ton passed through her mind, moving back
to avoid the pressure of the crowd, some lace
on her cream velvet train caught in snare
laid by a gronp of ferns. friendly hand
instantly detached the lace; she turned
Sir Philip had come to the rescue, by good
fortune.
Thsnks-so very much" ahe said add
ing Ia herself, Row for a bold experiment.
| must" abe went on to Sir Philip, " present
yOu TO my friend, the Princess Petroni."
''You are very kind" answered Sir
Philip; "but will yon think me disgrace
fully rnde If say don't care about her 2'
81 shall indeed horribly, outrageously
rude. l really must give you the opportn-
nifty of speaking to her. Why, every body
is fairly raving about her. You ought to be
and profoundly grateful to me-"
"As you please" said Sir Philip, ~
wanted to get away, bnt it ia of no conse-
qusnce.''
He followed Lady Ausburgh, listlessly,
and allowed himself to bs presented to the
lovely Princess. Lady Ausburgh had hoped
he would notice the curiOus bracelet, but
she observed that the Princess held her
black fan in such way that the |
was entirely concealed. Some one |
began to sing-a famous professional and |
The circle abont the conoh where the Princess |
lat melted away, leaving her with her
hostess and Sir Philip.
Lady Ausburgh had heard wondrous anee
Totes Of the fascination which the Princess
exercised over all men who approached her,
and therefore watched with some interest the
announcement of the Dialogue, remaining
'ilent herself. Either designedly or uncon.
'ciously, the Princess emerged from her
rigid GOODNESS, as the sun issues from behind
gray rlouds, and Lady Ansbnrgh was troubled
20 witness the effect of ths spell which she
leemed to throw over Sir Philip. She still
carefully concealed the diamond bracelet
with intention.
"The truth Of the matter is Lady Aus
Dnrgh thought, "shs Ia the lsllice he told
mo of she recognizes him--even ii she did
not catch his name and lac does not know
her. Balaac might have made quite little
story ont OF this. | wonder how IL will
md. She could turn any male creatures
head II she chose. She Ia bewitohing. !
wonder If she is happy or oontented -
The song was ended, and the crowd began
10 circulate again, talking, laughing, firt.
ng. Lady Ausburgh said to the Princess,
. am ashamed to trespass so far on your
Sindness, but should be so delighted If you
gonld sing. | have been told so much of
your vocal ability, but have never had The
nance of hearing yon. Ii you remember,
'ach time We have met was disappointed