The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-25

COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1891
CuaL, cIULor.
sit is no use my trying to fathom his
motives yet" said Sallie to herself. Il
must wait and watch. Perhaps he meant
only to try an experiment on Inc; he has
some problem to solve, and would test
it by my behavior. But what concern
has he with Keppel Darke? What is the
object of Keppel Darke himself-if what
l saw was really he? Count de Lisle
would be Il powerful friend-and a ter
rible enemy! There is almost nothing
that man of his resources could not ac-
complish. Yes, and cannot l, too, ac-
complish something? Have not women
no more beautiful or clever than work
ed miracles before now? And after all,
l have nothing to fear. Keppel Darke
may come back from the grave if he
will, but Harry Trent will not. And
even if he did $50 glad to see
you, Mrs. Vanderdonde!" "Great pleas
ure, Miss Fitz-Murray!" "Your wife
unwell? What pity, Mr.. Roylance"
eyes, like a fairy palace"
For, all the while that Sallie was de-
batting matter of vital interest to her
self, she had been standing near the en-
trance to the drawing room, with Count
de Lisle on her left hand, receiving and
exchanging amenities with one group or
individual after another of arriving
guests. Everybody knows how readily
this duality Of nature develops itself
when any powerful impression is work
ing on the mind. The soul so seldom
has any part in the farrago of conven-
tional and automatic things that we
daily say and do, that when by chance
it is aroused it can attend to its affair
without being in the least disturbed by
the din of external things. Sallie, &C
cordingly, smiled and chatted fully as
well as usual, while her real thoughts
were ranging to and fro through the
past, and questioning the future in a
manner that those who saw her standing
there in the soft light, glowing and
sparkling, would have been astonished
to even suspect.
Civilization seldom can show fairer
scene than lay before Sallie's eyes that
evening. The guests seemed to have done
their best to render themselves harmo-
NOUS with their environment. The beau
tiful girls were never so beautiful be-
fore; the women with taste in dress were
never so tastefully dressed as this night:
the women with jewels never before so
shone and glittered. AS for the men,
they could not array themselves in silks
and satins, as they might have done a
hundred years earlier, but they made up
for their plain black and white by wit
and good humor. Everybody was feel
ing interested. There had from the first
been curiosity to see how the count
would manage his entertainment, and
this curiosity had now taken on deeper
and hvelier tone. The company felt that
it was going to pass an evening that it
would remember, and that whatever eX-
pectations might be aroused, the count
was quite able to surpass them without
much exerting himself. Everything went
forward easily and without hitch, and
the count was the most unconcerned
and care free person in the house. He
never gave an order, or seemed to have
thought save of pleasure at the pleas
IRE of his guests. His bearing was pro-
nounced perfect by the best critics pres
ent-and some formidable ones were
there-and in addition he appeared far
more genial and conversablo than here
tofore. Evidently he was one of those
characters that develop upon acquaint-
ance. The ladies soon fell in love with
him; mis- house was so nice; he was SO
nice, and so inconceivably rich. The
men all liked him none the less. 1t is
not difficult to like a man who enter
tains you so charmingly and courteous
ly, ard who, as far as society is con-
cerned, is simply an inexhaustible mine
of enjoyments.
Within ten minutes of the appointed
hour every guest invited was either in
the house or awaiting their turn to en-
ter. The door by which they came in
was i'll close proximity to the dressing
rooms, where the most sllillful of ladys
maids and Wallets left the guests nothing
to do but to stand still and be put i'll
order. A broad hall led through Il pair
of semi-transparent curtains to the re-
ception rooms. When all were assem-
bled, twenty-five beautiful boys about
twelve years old and as many girls
dressed in eastern fashion appeared and
passed among the company, carrying
trays on which were little cups Of pure
crystal, containing an aromatic bever-
age. 1t was too exquisite and ethereal
to be a cocktail, and besides the ladies
drank it, but its effect was marvel
Gus. 1t worked change of heart in
every one, and a change for the better.
Following up this success the boys pre-
sented bouquets to each of the ladies in
holder of wrought gold fligree, with
her initials worked in it, while the young
girls gave a "buttonhole" of similar
design in miniature to the gentlemen.
Hereupon a sound like peal of silver
bells rang softly close at hand, and on
all sides, yet invisible, was heard; the
great doors leading to the dining hal
were withdrawn, and the fragrant splen
dor of that freshly created apartment
dawned upon the company. AS they
passed the threshold music was heard
delicate and remote, as if the flowers
were singing together. Such a feast
shou1d heuin with nothing less delicate