Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-10-29

shafts and arcs of brighter color. Lamps
in jeweled shades hung here and there,
looking themselves like pendant jewels,
but the main illumination of the rooms
came through the frieze, which was of
semi-transparent sheets of alabaster ard
other oriental marbles, cut as thin as
panes of glass, and lighted from within,
so as to appear self luminous. The
ceilings of tho rooms had been covered
with white and pink roses, arranged in
geometrical figures. The house, though
kept at a summer temperature, was per-
fectly ventilated, and the freshness of
the perfume of the flowers circulated
through the air like an ethereal essence
of fragrant life. The deep embrasures
of the windows and the alcoves that
broke the uniformity of the walls were
curtained with eastern fabrics, soft as
gossamer to the touch and exquisiteiy
tinted. There were many hooks and
corners that would be regarded by hand
some youths and lovely maidens as ideal
retreats for love making. The ample
scale of the apartments was partly dis
guised by their accurate proportions.
They seemed not too large for the daily
habitation of an ordinary household, and
they would easily accommodate three or
four hundred guests. The hosts fair
colleague had nothing but admiration to
express. But at length, when they have
made the circuit of the suit, she turned
to him in perplexity and said: "But
what have you done with the dining
room-and the dinner"
"They are in the back yard" replied
he with a smile; ''come and see!"
A portiere was drawn aside from a
broad doorway, and through the open
ing came a fresh blooming Of brightness
and color and a vision of new space and
beauty. Here extended a vaulted
saloon, oval as an egg, and walls and
ceiling all one solid surface Of flowers.
Such a sight had never been beheld in
New York or elsewhere. For a height
of even feet from the floor all was
~violets; countless myriads of the tiny
purple blossoms o%verlapped one another,
10 that but the tip of a child's little
finger could have been inserted between
them. Above the violets was a bunch
of yellow Sbnquils and narcissuses, three
feet in width, forming a frieze, and,
above all, the domed roof was a 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 a spiral
or helix, affording 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 a silver trellis work,
covered with growing vines, were ac-
commodations for musicians. The count
explained to his companion that the table
was s. contrived that it could be re-
moved in a few minutes, and the floor
left free for dancing. 81 have some other
little features" he added, (which will
appear when the time comes; l 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 divine the enormous
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 he7
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 a long breath and
arched her brows. Had she not within
herself h 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.
II have never been content till now"
she answered.
You are quite content, them"
"Yes-almost!"
He met her glance as if he understood,
and accepted q veiied meaning in her
words. They moved out of the saloon
and returned to the reception room.
81 will take you upstairs" he said,
ito hi room which / have placed at
your exclusive disposal for the evening.
There You can rest while I attend to
what remains to be done. There is still
an hour or two before the guests will
arrive. When it is time I will sum-
mon you"
They mounted to the second floor &C.
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 q fairy
princess. Every appliance that could
render q weman's existence luxurious
n exquisite was there; every sense was
hattered, every soft impulse stimulated.
She moved about, resting her eyes on
one delight after another. The bed, the
toilet table. the washstaud, the low
chairs and divans, the soft rugs under
foot, the walls hung with lovely tapestry,
q ~nnlnberiess minor beauties of decora-
sssis that only women OF q certain fine
mess OF taste and temperament know how
70 appreciate-al seemed designed for
her. Was it 80, indeeds