The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-18
COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

"They are in the back yard" replied
he with smile; 'come and see!'
A portiere was drawn aside from a
broad doorway, and through the open
ing came fresh blooming of brightness
and color and vision of new space and
beauty. Here extended vaulted
saloon, oval as an egg, and walls and
ceiling all one solid surface of flowers.
Such sight had never been beheld in
New York or elsewhere For a height
of seven feet from the floor all was
violets; countless myriads of the tiny
purple blossoms overlapped one another,
SO that but the tip of a child's little
finger could have been inserted between
them. Above the violets was bunch
of yellow jonquils and narcissuses, three
feet in width, forming a frieze, and,
above all, the domed roof was vault
of roses, the color perfectly graduated
from white below, through pink, to red
at the top. Three great candelabra of
Venetian glass, shaped in the form of
many branching flowers, depended from
the ceiling. By some invisible contriv-
ance fine sprays of water played over the
flowers and kept them fresh.
The floor was of polished oak, con-
structed for dancing, the whole magical
edifice covering the area of the garden
at the back of the house. 1t was here
that the dinner was to take place. The
table was designed in the form Of spiral
or helix, aifording easy sitting room for
all the guests, and yet keeping them all
in sight and speaking distance of one
another. The table service was Indian
porcelain. with center pieces of silver
wrought by hand. At the upper end of
the saloon a fountain splashed in a great
basin of crystal, surrounded by delicate
ferns, and behind silver trellis work,
covered with growing vines, were ac-
commodations for musicians The count
explained to his companion that the table
was SO contrived that it could be re-
moved in Il few minutes, and the floor
left free for dancing. 81 have some other
little features" he added, (Which will
appear when the time comes; I will not
tire you by forcing you to review them
now. You have seen enough"
The beautiful Sallie sighed. She was
an ambitious woman, and she loved
splendor and power. She understood
that Count de Lisle had suggested more
than he had performed in his prepare
tions for this unparalleled entertain
ment. Everything was made to appear
as simple as possible: only an educated
intelligence could div inc the enormous
resources necessary to create this result.
She had dreamed of such resources, and
was conscious of the ability to admins
ter them, had she had them. By her
side stood the man who could, if he
would, endow her with them. He and
she together could command as brilliant
destiny as had ever fallen to the lot of
mortals. She drew long breath and
arched her brows Had she not within
herself the means to attract him? Was
not the fact that she was here tonight
an indication of his preference? She put
her hand within the arm he offered her
and leaned upon it, and looked up in his
face.
"You are not disappointed" he said.
81 have never been content till now"
she answered.
''You are quite content, thef?"
'Ycs-almost!"
He met her glance as if he understood,
and accepted a yelled meaning in her
words They moved out of the saloon
and returned to the reception room.
Il will take you upstairs" he said,
'to the room which l have placed at
your exclusive disposal for the evening.
There you can rest while | attend to
what remains to be done. There is still
an hour or two before the guests will
arrive. When it is time l will sum-
mon YOU"
They mounted to the second floor ac-
cordingly, she still leaning on his arm.
He left her on the threshold of the
room, and the door closed behind her
as she entered. There was fire of logs in
the fireplace, and in the chandelier a
score of flames burned steadily. The
room was like the chamber of a fairy
princess. Every appliance that could
render woman's existence luxurious
and exquisite was there; every sense was
fattered, every soft impulse stimulated.
She moved about, resting her eyes on
one delight after another The bed, the
toilet table, the washstand, the low
chairs and divans, the soft rugs under
foot, the walls hung with lovely tapestry,
the numberless minor beauties of decora-
lions that only women of certain fine
ness of taste and temperament know how
to appreciate-all seemed designed for
her. Was it so, indeed?
She seated herself at length and fell
into long revery. Opposite to where
she sat was tall and wide mirror, in
which she saw herself reflected at full
length. 1t was set in the wall, the heavy
bevel of the glass and its frame of ebony
with ivory filigree pattern inlaid showed
that it was a rare antique-such a mirror
as the magicians of old time were tabled
to employ in necromantic mysteries.
One might expect to behold in it secret
scenes from the future or the past-re-
Elections from heart that kept it's own
counsels.
A dreamy mood came over the wom-
an. Her mind wandered vaguely from
one region of thought to another. She
sat with eyes half closed; all around her
was still. Glimpses of her earliest life
passed before her, and then pictures