Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09

the little princess De contents saw
symptoms of rebellion.
do you think am little fool, Nine.
Flening7" she asked with heightened
color and impetuous tone. turning sud-
denly to me while they were cow versing
apart one evening.
November came, and we were launch
ed on the full tide of Partisan society.
Mr.. Denham had gone TO Germany to
complete certain scientific studies, and
he left his fair betrothed with parting
injunction not TO dance with any for
eigner As well shut her up in cell.
Nowhere is there such furore for dane
ing as in Paris. Every family has its
weekly reception, and every card of in
vitation bears in the corner, ''On dam
sera." These receptions are the freest
and gayest imaginable. ANY person who
has the entree of the house comes when
he feels inclined. Introductions are not
indispensable as with us; any gentleman
may ask 8 lady to dance with him,
whether he has been formally presented
or not. and it would be an affront TO de-
cline except for previous engagement.
The company assemble about 10, and
often dance till 3 or 1 in the morning.
In any one house we see nearly the same
people once a week for the whole win
ter, and such frequent compariionship
gives feeling of intimaeys It is sur
prising how many French men and
French women have some special arts
raf fant x,,,,escal nd !,
what ready good humor each contributes
10 the entertainment OF the rest. In
every assembly, with all its sparkle of
youth and gayety, there is background
of mature age; but though card room
is generally open, it never seems TO draw
many from the salons de danse.
In these salons the little princess en-
tered at ouce upon her royalty. Her
dancing was the poetry of motion. She
sang, and the most brilliant men hung
over her enraptured. ''She was like
Adelina Patti they said, ''but of a more
perfect and delicate type of beauty
What wonderful eyes, with the long
thick lashes. yelling Oriental depths of
liquid light! How the music trickled
from her fingers and poured from her
small throat like the delicious warble of
nightingale. What loss to art that
her position precluded her from singing
in the opera Not Malibran or Grisi
ever had triumphs that would equal
hers" Eminent painters wished to make
study of her face. Authors who had
received the prizes of the Academy for
grave historical works sent her adulatory
verses. May I-firtation-wid you
loavely meess:" asked one of 1.-The i'm
mortal forty" displaying his English.
1t grew rather annoying. | was i'm
portuned with questions, such as: ''WiD
you receive proposals of marriage for
Miss ST. Clair:" What is her dowry:'
''Are you intrusted to find husband
for her abroadY' | was tired of answer
ing, Miss st. Clair will probably marry
in her own country" ''Her parents
would be very reluctant To consent to
any foreign marriage" Il cannot tell
what Mr. st. Clair Will give his daughter.
1t is not the custom to give dowries with
US, as with you"
One evening we saw at Nine. lie Forts
reception young man so distinguished
in appearance that he was known as lie
beau Vergniaud" He was six feet in
height and well made, with abundant
chestnut hair, dark hazel eyes, clearly
cut, regular features and complexion
needlessly fine for a man. From that
time he was invariably present not only
at Nine. LIE Forts, but wherever we
went.
One day Helen said to me, II made
silly speech last evening. was dancing
with VI. Vergniaud ana we We're talking
of that charming Nine. de Launay. |
said, 4 should think she might be happy,
having an elegant house in Paris, cha
teau in the country, and such a hand
some husband SO devoted % her And
he reioined instantly, very low. NV dear
Miss St. Clair, can | not give YOU all
this?' 1t was not fair to take advantage
Of me in that way"
'What did You say"
"Oh, laughed it off did not think
he was in earnest, but he spoke to me
again before he went away"
That afternoon Mime. lie Fort came (
into my room with the look Of one who /
has something important to cOmmuni- (
cate. II have been wishing 10 see you, I
she said IN. Vergniaud has taken me /
INTO his confidence. He has formed a
serious attachment TO Miss 81. Clair, and .
wishes TO make her his wife. II is q
splendid alliance" she continued, warm
ng with her theme: IF he had asked .
'or my daughter would give her TO hun
1lindfold. lie belongs 10 one Of our old
amilies You should see his house on
he Avenue de Montaigne. Have Won
never seen him driving with his superb
lorses in the Bois de Boulogre: He
las an estate with fine old chateau in
Pouraine, family inheritance. His
character and habits are unexceptiona-
be, too. " she added By way Of parenthe-
is. 1T is not often that you find all
hat in man Of IS. So handsome be
iies!'
True" said l. "but you forget Mr.
)enham"
'.On the contrary, I remember him
90 well TO conceive the possibility Of nis
,eing rival 20 Rene Vergniaud.
"But did you mention MIN 20 II.
Jergniaud.'
'sYes. and he was greatly disturbed AZ
rst, BUT when | told him that he had no
xp-sc;ation Of marrying for two or three
ears to come. be laughed and said II
ras Of no importance. N VerEniaDd
-ould Ike 70 be married IN n few weeks.
: is the custom with VA. hllt 7 eflur~ee
. viii take longer 20 adjust the preliEni-
aries on account Of her parents being
cross the Atlantic What dowrT has