Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-22

be ittingly illustrated by tableaux vi
wants. Therel viii not that be new
idea3 / want something that has no
been done before. We must .begil
preparations at once.n
When they got back to the drawing
rooms a move was being made BY tn
younger people to break into dancing
Pallatine, having in some way becom,
free again, made his way to whef'
Amina sat, for the time, alone agains
the wall.
'Arent't you going to dancci" h,
said, looking at her as he dropped into
seat beside her. She wore a gown o.
dark red crepe, almost high in the neck
and her small olive-tinted head, with tht
knot of waving black hair, looked like
a cameo. Mrs. Merriweather, who had
regained her good humor long before the
evening, had'urged Amina to wear some.
thing little more youthful.
'You look so prim, had said the
widow, gazing, not without complacency,
at the vision of robust beauty thrown
back by the long mirror, as her maid
gave deft touch here and there to the
bodice of the pink brocade.
Il don't care about dancing,n was
Amina's reply to Pallatine's remark. 81
don't care for this sort of thing, anyway.
Only Mrs. Merriweather is good enough
to bring me. She is always good. If /
were better myself, suppose / should
enjoy it more"
"Why don't you enjoy it2n Palla-
tines eyes had grown as serious as her
own. He had abruptly awakened to the
fact of how profoundly bored he had
been all the evening. He had rot be-
fore felt so rested and comfortable as sit
ting by the side of this solemn little girl
who took SO determinedly the air of a
dependent.
Because 1 was not made for it, sup
pose"
"Well," Pallatine's voice sank uncon-
sciously, "perhaps l Twas not, either"
"But your family used to be very gay
and rich and fashionable, used it not9
That makes difference. You wouldn't
naturally feel willing to give it all up
now. It's only fair to take that into ac-
count"
Pallatine brought his fine eyes around
upon her. What an extraordinary little
girl! What could she mean9
= y
Mr.. Pallatine was coming into the
house econstantly now to direct the arrange
ments for Mrs. Merriweather's great enter
tainment-for as Mrs. Merriwcather said,
what was there with his astonishing
artistic taste that he could not do9-and
Mrs. Merriweather had never been more
gorgeous at all seasons in her dress, had
never had her complexion put on more
delicately, more carefully and more with
the illusion of nature. Next to her
Amina crawled about the rooms and
halls like little brown mouse.
I don't see why you can't at least be
Elaine to my Guinevere," Mrs. Merri-
weather said complainingly to the girl.
''Then if we could only have had Mr..
Pallatine for Launcelot it would have
been perfect He would make such a
handsome Launcelotl He is so dark and |
knightly looking" Mrs. Merriweather's |
blue eyes were soft. She gave little
'igh. 'But, of course, as he is to read
hat portion of the poem when the cur
ain rises to show tableau of the barge
md courtiers of Arthur assembled, he
ant be Launcelot too. But l repeat
hat you might be Elaine, Amina"
"Do | look like the Lily Maid of Asco-
at9" cried Amina, flashing suddenly her
1erry-brown face with bitter CLEAN in
he eyes of her protectress.
f" A wig and blanc de theatre would
make you do, said Mrs. Merriweather.
But after all Amina held good and
mother Elaine was chosen. Mrs. Mer-
weather would have liked we'll enough
0 be the Lily Maid herself. But she
ould not be that and the beautiful
,uilty Queen too. And Guinevere, of
he two roles, was the stronger attrac-
ion.
When the great night came Mrs. Mer-
iweather's magnificent drawing-room
vas crowded to suffocation.
'Absurd to wear a decent gown in
uch crowd as this" buzzed one lady
0 another.
"But then, my dear, this is an especial
ccasionl A sort of public proclamation
# coming events-eh2"
The first lady Uttered behiyd her fan.
Actually it would seem so! You
office that the young man has very
rominent place in the entire affair!
food heavens, how old do you think
Jolly Merriweather really ISL"
ITO be charitable forty ty-fve."
"Oh, my dearl Say forty eight! Well,
e is handsome fellow. And romance
7as always poor Molly's weakness"
On the improvised platform mean
lille, behind the lowered curtain, wild
,ene was enacting. A rumble Of crazy
Dnversation arose from the ladies' dress
groom, like the tumult OF the sea
hen all its waves murmur together. i
".How resolutely you have kept out of
lis whole thing, said Egbert Pallatine
oruptly to Amina. He found himself
" the moment standing alone with her
both Of them isolated in the vortex of
le confusion.
mo. But could do more by helping
ian by being in the tableaux myself,o
le said coldly, and fastened away with
er hands full of pins and draperies. A
oment later she returned to find the
oung man standing motionlessly in the
me place.
"Mrs Merriweather is dressed for the !
st tableau and wishes you to see !
neither there are any suggestions to 4
ake.n !