The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1890-12-05

ways good. II ! were better myself, ]
suppose / should enjoy 1t more"
why don't. you enjoy itp" Palla.
tines eyes had grown lis serious as her
own. He lad abruptly awakened to
the fact Of how profoundly bored he
had been all the evening. He had no,
before felt so rested and comfortable
as sitting by the side of this solemn
little girl who took so detcrmipcdlythu
air Of dependent.
because was not made for It,
We'll" Pallntinc's voice snnh TN.
consciously, perhaps Twas mol, either y
But ,yuur family used to be very
gay and rich and fashionable, used /,
notP That makes u difference. You
would naturally feel willing to give II
all mp now. It's only fair to take that
into account"
Pallatine brought his fine eyes around
upon her. What an extraordinary
little girl! What could she mcanr
Mr. Pallatlne was coming into the
house constantly now to direct tta mr..
rangements for Mrs. MefriWealher' 8
great cStertainment-for as Mrs.
Meiriwcather said what was there with
his astonishing artistic taste that Ia
could net doP-and Mrs. McrriweaIhQr
had never been NOR, gorgeous at all
seasUns her dress, had never had hcr
complexion put on more dclicatcly,
moro carefully and moro with tho
illusion of nature. Next to her Amina
crawled about the rooms and halls like
q little brown mouse,
II don't sec why You cant At least
be Elaine to MY Guincvefc,n Mira.
Mcrriweathcr said eomnlaininply 10
the girl Then II we could only have
had MI. Pallatine for Launcclot It
would have been perfect! He would
make such n handsome Launcelotl lie
Is SO dark and knightly-lookingr' Mrs.
Merriweathcr's blue eyes were soft
She gave little sigh. "I,ut. Of course,
as he Is to read that portion of the
poem when tho curtain rises 10 show a
tdbleah of the barge and tho courtiers
OF Arthur assembled. he can't DO
Launcelot too. But repeat that you
might DO Elaine. Amina."
do look like the Lily Maid Of
Ascolat?n cried Amina, flashing sud-
denly her bcrry-brown face with a
bitter CLEAN in the eyes on her pro-
tcctrcss.
"A wig and blanc de theatre would
make you do" said Mrs. Mertiweathcr.
But aftct NIL Amlna held good aud
another Elaine was chosen. Mrs.
Merriwcathcr would have liked well
enough to be the Lily Maid herself.
But she could not he that aud the
beautiful. guilty Queen too. And
Guinevere, of the two roles, was tho
stronger attraction.
When tho great night came Mrs.
Mcrriweathcrs magnificent drawing.
room was crowded TO suifocaton.
Absurd to wear decent gown in
such crowd as this.' buzzcd one lady
to another.
But then, my dear. this Is, an cs.
pfcial occasion! A sort Of public
proclamation Of coming cvcnts-eh?"
The first lady Uttered behind her fan.
Actually ii would seem so! You
notice that tho young man has very
prominon, platte in the caiirc affair!
uood Heavens! how old do you think
Mrs Merriweathcr really is?'
TO be Observation-Disclosures"
oh. my dear; Say fpriy;tlght'
Well, he is handsome fellow. And
romance was always her weakness"
On the improviscd platform, mean.
while behind the lowered curtain, a
wild scene was cnactiDg. A rumble o!
crazy. conversation arose from tho
ladies' drcssing-room, like the tumul,
Of the sea when all its waves murmui
togcthcr.
'How rcsclutcly you have kept out Of
this whole thing" said Egbert PallaiIno
abruptly 10 Anina. He found himself.
for the moment. standing alone with
hcr-b0th'of them isolated In the vor.
tex Of the confusion.
mo. But could do more BY help.
ing than by being In the lablca,iS my.
SELF" shc said. coldly. and haslcned
away with her hands full Of pins aud
draperies. A moment later she re.
turned to find the Young man standing
motionlcss in the same place.
"Slrs. Merriwcather is dressed for
the first tablcau and wishes yon to see
whether there are any suggestions TO
make
She spoke withou, looking at him.
md the next Instant she was bending
TO adjust u fold In the widows costume.
The latter stood before the yOiln.
man and challenged him to admiration
with every inch Of her Respondent
Presence. She was n CLEAN Of jewels
and priceless siuifs aud red lips, She
was undcniably handsome. She looked
fifteen years younger than her age,
nnd the nrtist In Palla,iao did homage
TO tho cohsaG;mate clovcrncss OF the
whole production.
Perfect" he said. bowling low. The
"Elaine" tnblcau camr first. This was
really n regal Gnincvere. A ilGi,cr
rose In Mrs. Mcrriwcathor's throat.
The excitement half carried her a little
out Of herself.
Had You been Launcelot," she muir.
INJURED. with softcncd eyes. ''lt might
have been perfect. indcel.'
And she hold out her hand toward
him.
NV Nu' thih WIN VIZ w HoHiuUt
and pallnilnc began his reading In n
whirl. IIc scarcely heard his own
words. When the curtain Ind gone
down again amid burst OF applause.
hiding tho reader aud the illustrative
tablcau alike from view, he Withdrew
into n corner and tried. with all III. re-
ncwcd confusion around him. 10 collect
his thoughts.
Great heaven! lilo did not wish TO
hc n coxcomb. but what was thisP
Conld II be-! Was this where ho had
been drifting. with his frequent visits
to this house. his tolerance Of tho great
lady's patronagop II seemed inipossi.
bic. and yet Mcrciiul powers! lie
remembered Mrs. Mcrriwcathrr's look.
her extended hand and chill rau
down his spine.
Had tho little Italian girl sccn tlicmP
She had moved away rs soon rs ho Mp.
preached Mrs. Mcrriwcnihcr. Aud
yet. how could he tcllP His check
tlnglcd. n she had surmiscd anything
OF this sort It would account for
a IN IA