The Republican., 1891-10-02

SGSSS ~DfTE
IJULMHAWTHORhL.
COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1891
words in an unknown tongue. roIIow-
ing this a piercing shrek was heard,
echoed by many women present. Every
one started; many sprang to their feet.
The mist cleared away. Sallie was stand
ing there alone. Both the juggler and
the apparition had vanished, leaving no
trace behind. But Sallie grasped in her
hand no longer her fan, but a long
Japanese dagger with a carved hilt.
The point of the dagger seemed to be
dripping with blood.
She staggered, turned partly round
and would have fallen, but the count
was near her and caught her in his arms.
The company was all in confusion. A
sofa was brought, and Sallie was laid
upon it. She had tainted.
Garry her into the east room," said
the count to two of the Nubian servants.
doctor Venables," he added, turning to
the eminent woman's physician, who
was one of the guests, ''may 1 request
you to take charge of Mrs. Trent? One
of the maids shall attend, and anything
you need will be at your disposal.
am indeed sorry" he went on, turning
to the others, "that this should have
happened Had it been possible to fore
see it-but we understand so little of the
ways of these oriental wizards that we
must be cautious how we meddle with
them. l presume he is as badly fright
ened as any one. l need not tell you
that he will be held strictly accountable
if anything serious comes of this; but l
trust there will be nothing. Mrs. Trent
has great courage"
81 dare say she will be better directly"
observed Miss Fitz- Murray. Indeed, now
that they had recovered from their first
scare, the company were inclined to rally
themselves and one another on the even
ing's sensation, and there was perhaps a
tendency to make Sallie the scapegoat of
the affair. If she had not interfered all
would have gone well. Some of the
ladies, who had been not far from faint
ing themselves, whispered to one an
other that nothing else was to be expect
ed of woman like that; she had taken
advantage of having formerly been the
owner of the house to force herself upon
the count (who was too polite to deny
anybody anything), and of course she
had made an exhibition of herself
Meanwhile, General Bristowe, Mr.. Roy
lance, Mr.. Montague Gossett and other
gentlemen were discussing the jugglery
performance, and had formulated at
least two theories to explain the whole
mystery. But all agreed that it was the
most astonishing thing ever witnessed
in New York, and when DIR. Venables
appeared with Sallie on his arm, looking
pale, but smiling and entreating the
general pardon for having SO misbe-
haved, the complexion of affairs re-
sumed its former geniality. The tables
had been removed, the music stormed
and palpitated, and the people who
danced began to look at one another and
beat time with their feet, as if appari-
tions, wizards and bloody daggers were
but diverting preliminary to real en-
joyment. Society uniformly deprecates
serious views, and, if its spirits have
been dashed for a moment, laughs so
much the more lightly the moment
after.
But while the ball was at its height
Sallie took an opportunity to withdraw
unobserved, making private signal to
the count as she did so. He followed
her to the east room, where for a mo-
ment they were alone.
II have to thank you for delightful
evening" she said. 81 can never forget
| it."
"The pleasure has been mutual" re-
turned the count, bowling.
II feel that know you so much bet
ter than I did before I came here" Salhe
continued. Before you had seemed
mysterious and enignatical; you wore
something like prince in fairy tale;
you might undergo transformation at any
moment into hobgoblin, or q wisp OF
straw! But now-well--now | think
there can never again be any doubt be-
tween us as to our true relations to each
other"
Il am glad to hear you say So" re-
sponded the count courteously.
Sallie eyed him for u moment, and
then stepped close in front of him,
changing her tone of polished sarcasm
to one of intense earnestness. 81 can be
good friend and good semy," she
said. "You have nearly everything that
a man can wish for, Count de Lisle, but
if you had twice as much it would still
be worth your while to make woman
like me your friend And am ready to
join hands with you on any terms you
propose. What motive can you possibly
have to antagonize me? l have done you
no harm. If have harmed any friend
of yours it was unknowingly, and am
willing to make reparation. Come!
shall we be allies? Am so repulsive?"
Sallie certainly did not look SO at that
moment There was something, not an
| gelically, but superhumanly attractive
in her eyes and aspect. To see her now
was to understand how some women rise
to the highest points of social or politi-