The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-01

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coAIxo DOWN WITH STATELY STEPS.
some great sorrow which he was bravely
struggling to repress-just that sort Of
character calculated to awaken interest In
tho soul Of romantic maiden.
A largo staircase wound down from
above and touched the door few steps be-
yond him.
A hush suddenly seemed to como over the
noisy hall, and Fairfax, all ut once, became
aware Of the fact that some person or per-
sons were looking ct him.
Have you never felt that you were being
watchedl 30 he, then, felt and glanced
quickly upward to discover who was observ-
ing him.
| Had 1t not been for his self-control, he
would have started violently. As it was, .
great wave OF color surgcd over his face,
| and he quickly looked down again. half turn
| ing his back TO the staircase to hide his con-
fusion.
| Coming down with stately steps and lean
ing on the arm Of the Marquis, courtly old
/ gentleman Of perhaps eighty, was Natalie,
gazing steadfastly with her great earnest
eyes ct Fairfax.
! Her figure was encased In . superbly-lit-
ting dress Of crcam-color. In her right hand
she held bouquet Of roses, white, red and
| yellow; while, above her lovely brow, fast
ened among those dark tresscs, glittercd .
golden star, from whose center pure dia-
mond shot forth brilliant rays, reflected
from the myriad lights below.
| The old Marquis, with powdered white
hair and cue, lnee-breechcs and antique
buckles, and talking to her with the name
less grace Of the French school, while he
carried her long cloak on his FREQ arm,
made, with her, 50 charming picture as
they came slowly and with graceful dignity
down the steps, that every body uncon-
sciously ceased conversing to gaze admir-
ingly upon the pair.
It was Just at this moment that Fairfax
CHANGED to look up and catch her eye upon
him. She, too, seemed little confused at
being detected in gazing so fixedly ut .
stranger, and, flushing slightly, turned to
| her escort and asked him some impromptu
| question.
Lady Lydia, his watchiul companion, per-
ccived the confusion on the part Of Fairfax
| with evident surprise, and said, quickly:
"Ah! you have already met my friend, the
Princess, thenH'
Rarely thrown on his guard, and wonder
fully quick at recovering himself, he an
swered, slowly and quietly:
"You are mistaken. II you refer to the
lady coming down tho stairs, never saw
her before this evening"
/ This was quite true, for it was after six
o'clock, when she was watering her horse
at the pool.
Not SO easily forced to retreat, Lydia de-
termincd to follow up her attack with q
coup d etat, Easily and gracefully slipping
her arm through his, she remarked:
LET me present you, Them
Was It intuition, timidity or feeling that
the Princess was being from another
world and must be worshipcd at o dis
tancc-what was it that caused Fairfax ia
start back with look Of alarm and hastily
exclaim:
mo. Please do not do that"
He saw his error Immediately, as did
Lydia. Smiling sarcastically, she re-
marked, in ironical toncs:
"You appear to be extremely disturbed a,
the idea Of meeting mere stranger, Mr.
Fairfax; and one 50 attractive, too
Just here the Warehouses entered from
an adjoining room and, seeing the Princess
prepared for departure, FASTENED toward
her, saying:
'surely. my dear Natalie, you are no,
going, without, at least, one song. have
stopped the waltz Tor the express purpose
Of hearing you sing"
Smiling sweetly, her charming guest 10
piled:
Certainly, if you wish it, but it must b.
only one"
Going to the piano, the Princess played I
few soft chords and began her song.
Since the fatal moment every occurrence
had been SO opportune, so peculiarly anl
strangely appropriate, that it seemed t.
Fairfax rs il he were in . land Of cnchant
ment, or dreaming. But six hours had
elapsed since he had seen, only for q mo
ment, and become holplcssly fascinated
with the most lovely being he had ever be
should not only learn the name Of this fail
stranger Is well - the haunts of her ar
tistic labors, but, also, should become thu
present possessor Of certain valued belong
ings Of hers, while, to cap the climax, he was
now, not only In her presence, but one Of his Il
vorite ballads, that had been ringing through
his brain, ever since he had read it en-
graved upon the handle of the recovered
knifc-that very song she was actually nov
singing, with voice glorious and strong
and, yet, 30 sweet and deeply sympathcti.
that it thrilled every fiber Of his being witt
q pleasure 90 subtle that it was akin Il
pain. Many did not restrain their tears
and all were yisibly affected When sh,
finished, no applause followed. The unusua
silence was far more commcndatory. A
gentle pressure Of Natalic's hand by tn,
Marchioness, and quiet: "Thank you, IN,
dear" from the old gentleman, spoke vol
umes Of praise.
Her cloak, trimmed with white ermine
was thrown over the Princess beautiful
neck and shoulders; aer own white fingcr
deity encased tho shapely head in its ricl
covering, leaving the far-shining star still
visible.
Kissing tho Marchioncss, she turned t
the guests, who rose unanimously, and
making pretty bow, took the arm Of tn
Marquis and walked down the hall towar;
the door. As she passed by, Fairfax hears
her say:
"That song has haunted me all the even
ing and can not get rid Of it."
He hvoluntarily started, for had he no
been in tho sumo prcdicau.cnts
"a few hours ago. continued she, g
discovered that had lost q precious gif
that my OTOtncT gave 70 INC, just UclOrc a
died. The first few bars OF that, his ia
vorite ballad, were engraved upon II. an
very sad over its loss
Here Fairfax lost her words. He wa
seized with an almost uncomfortable dcsir,
to hasten after her and restore the los
knife to its proper owner. But the Lad.
Lydia, who had been watching him with tn
eye Of lynx, remarked, sarcastically:
, ssSnrely vnu dnn,f intend M, rs,,inD nm ar,
ton to herr"
Recalled to his senses, Fairfax regarde,
his -fair .tormentor o moment, half in en-
treaty, half in defiance; then, assuming hi
usual bravado spirit. gave her his arm.
He was filed with Joy. "Otto," then
was only her brother and not lover.
Success had crowned oil the young man