Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-01-16

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walader smiled with scarlet lips, and
said in her small, carcssing voice, Tho
proprietor of the professional Amateur
cannot believe that civilization is de-
layed.'
If there was any further danger Of Il
breach Of the peace it eas averted by the
action of Wallic, who Row arose in his
place and proposed the health of the
guest of the evening. "Thouch our
guest tonight" be said, ''she is host in
herself; and if she was born in Il foreign
land, we all know that some of the tru-
est Americans have never set foot in the
United States" The toast having been
drunk with much cordiality. Wallic
added, II didn't learn that speech by
heart, ladies' and gentleman, but that is
where it came from
When the applause had subsidized there
was pause, and the prilna donna per-
ceived with a beating heart that every
body's eyes were fixed upon her. as if cx.
pecting a reply, She cast dismaycd
look AT Bellingham, but his eyes Were
cast down, and an expression of GOODNESS
had suddenly overSpread his face She
drew long breath. and rose, with soft
rustic of her white dress. and glanced
down the table She heard the clapping
Of hands, and saw .Jocelyn smiling and
nodding cncouragnElv, and lingo ham
mering the table and bcaniug unctu-
ously, The Thought passed through her
mind, 81 am not myself; they are APP
plauding some one else Instead OF dis
concerning her, this thought gave her
self possession.
Ladies and gentlemen" she began,
Il did not learn speech; where | came
from we did not make them. Some time
! shall sing you my thanks. But | feel
now how kind you are. A little while
ago | knew nothing of Won, and now we
art friends! Your belief in me viii help
me to deserve it, All this seems hardly
real to meas if il were not possible. 1t
is not | who speak to you, but the music,
that is the reason Of my being here. And
yet should like to have You like me for
myself--elsc should feel very lonely. [
have only my music to take the place of
my mother and my father, II is a great
leai, | know, hut not quite everything,
And cannot help feeling almost as if
it stood between me and you. 1t is
disguise that | must Wear, and know
that the disguise is better than what is
beneath it,
Here her eye happened to encounter
locelyns. He was gazing at her appar-
entity III much anxiety, and his lips
seemed to he forming some VoicelesS
words The prima donna did not know
what he meant, but she stopped and re-
tlect"d that She was thinking aloul in
stead Of making speech, and ,at what
She was thinking had more reference to
The blue eyed man with the brown beard
who sat on her right than to any one else
in the room; Whercupon a blush rose to
her face, She murmurcd something hardly
articulate, and sat down. Everybody
smiled and applauded and seemed to be
much pleased.
My God what an actress" mutt.red
Mr.. Beaufort to his nci&hbor, Mrs.. March,
The delicious audacity Of that last SEN
tcncr WAS iuimlabe!"
"She must be very clever" returned
the lady, yelling her business mouth
with the BOUQUET she carried; but how
very noticeable her foreign accent isr
Zach! wcll, my dear, it has been a
long time before could come TO dajk 50
lis one would not know was German.
pm in Miss Korner chari;ahly Made
moisellc shpyak very we'll for be-
ginncr."
They say the Russians are very
SupcrstitiouS people. remarked Mr..
Planter, putting up his eye glasses; Il
must remember to ask Miss Mariana
whether She has ever investigated any
Of The phenomena she LOOKS like a
medium herself; | should like to inycsti-
gate, under vigorously scientific tests,
the range and quality of her abnormal
capacities.
Since meeting Mile Mariana" said
Mr.. Knight, addressing Wallie, but gra-
ciously pitching his voice so rs to be over
heard by the diva, II no longer marvel
at Russian despoti4m. | should be Il
slave myself were her countryman-
nay, my slavery has begun even rs it Isl"
BY George! old fellow" whispered
Jocelyn aside TO the general, Changed if
| didn't think for moment the girl was
going to give Us away
Don't You believe it." the general
mumhled in reply She amt going 10
give us away, nor give herself away,
neither-not to you, anyhow, and don't
you forget it,
The dinner came to an end, the ladies
Withdrew, and the gentlemen presently
followed them TO the drawing room.
People We're already arriving for the
reception and the room was getting
crowded. a number of immaculate
young gentlemen, in tight fitting even
ing dress, were reaching over their shirt
collars to get a glimpse Of the notorious
Mariana. There was an uniutermittcnt
buzz of talk that made it difficult to
hear anything that was said. The la
dies We're numerous and brilliantly
dressed, but many of them looked a
little uneasy, as if they suspected they
were assisting at a sOmewha hazardous
enterprise. The prima donna wore on
her breast locket set with diamonds
that had belonged to her mother
Say, Witman," said one of the
! young gentlemen above mentioned 10
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