Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21
of a flock OF tame pigeons sodding and

Of flock OF tame accommodating and
pecking.
] had never seen such undisguised
curiosity OF polite kind before But,
then, did not know fat had ever
been in the same room with so many
jewels and brocades and rare orchids and
dropping feathers and ratrician features
before. so perhaps this IS not surprising.
A few gentlemen were standing about
the room holding FAM and bouquets. lean
ing over the backs OF the ladies' chairs,
and looking rather distraught, in very
becoming costumes OF black velvet and
silk stockings ap1 shoe buckles and
officers in uniform were scattered
through the room, looking as il they felt
rather more important than the men IN
black. As We criticised and chafed
and chatted. n door opened at the
further end Of the room, and all the
ladies rose precipitately and swept for
ward.
THE sUrRgME MOMENT APPROACHES.
About twenty of us were let in ct
once. The last of the preceding twenty
were slowly and singly pacing after one
anothcra trains round two sides Of this
third big room toward door al the fur
ther corner. There was q most impress
siye silence. As we get into file, felt
that the supreme moment was at hand,
aud II was not q comfortable feeling.
Lady Torquelin, in front OF me, put a
question TO a gentleman in a uniform
she ought 10 have been afraid of--oDly
that nothing ever terrified Lady Tor
quihn, which made it less comfortable
still "Oh, Lord MaiIerton," said she
q hadn't recognized him in my nervous
ness, and his gold lacel "how many
curteaes are there 10 make ?"
- Nine, dear lady, replied this peer,
with evident enjoyment 60 It's the
most brilliant drawing-room Of the sea
son. Every royalty who could possibly
attend is here. Nine, at the least "
Lady Torquilin's reply utterly terri
fed me. 10 Was confidential and de-
livered in an undertone, but it was full
Of severe meaning. "I'm full OF rheu-
matism." said she, "and I can't DO II. "
The question as 10 what Lady Tor
quilin would do, if not what was required
of her, rose wildly before me and kept
me company mt every step of that inter
mnable round. cam all right % she
whispered over her shoulder from the
other end Of that trailing length OF
pansy-colored velvet. Perfectly" /
said. But there was nobody to tell me
that / was all right. / might have
been a thing OF shreds and patches.
Somebody's roses have dropped; /
WAS walking on pink petals. What a
pity And ! had forgotten to take of
my glove would it ever come unbutton-
ed How deliberately We were nearing
that door at the further end And how
could possibly have supposed that my
heart would beat like this IL was al
very well TO allow ones self little ex-
element in preparation hut when it
came 10 the actual event / reminded my
self that had not had the slightest IN
teltion OF being nervous L called oil
my democratic principles to my assist
ance-nonc of them would come.
THE QUEEN AT LAST.
"Remember, Mamie" said to my
self, you don't believe in queens. v
But nj that moment | saw three gentle
men OF the household bending over and
stretching out Lady Torquilin's train
into an illimitable expanse. ] looked
beyond, and there in the midst of all her
dazzling court, stood Queen Victoria
And Lady Torquilin was bending over
her hand. And in another moment 1t
would bet was my turn | felt the
touches on my own train, | heard some
body call a name / had a vague
familiarity with" Miss Mamie Paul. "
/ was launched ut last toward that little
black figure Of royalty with the blue NIB
bon crossing her breast, and the Kohl
moor sparkling there. Didn't you be-
lieve in queens, Miss Mamie. at that
moment? Pm very much afraid you
did.
And all that remember after was GO
ing down very upsteadily before her,
and lust daring the slightest touch Of
nv lips upon the gracious little hand sue
laid on mine. And then not getting
nearly time enough TO make oil of those
nine curtesys to the beautiful. sparkling
people that stood at the Queens left
hand. before two more gentlemen OF
the court gathered up my drape-
ries from behind my feet and threw
them mercifully over my arm. And IN
one awful moment when | couldn't quite
tell whether / had backed out of all the
royal presences or not, made up my
mind that l had, then unmade it, and IN
agony of spirit turned and backed again.
IL was over at last. | had kissed the
hand of the Queen Of Great Britain and
ireland. and there's no use in trying to
believe anything to the contrary was
proud of 1t.