Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-26

corners that would be regarded by hand
some youths and lovely naidens 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
hubitation 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 perpeXity and said: "But /
what have you done with the dining
room--and the dinner
"They are in the back yard" replied
he with smile; "come and secr'
A portiere was drawn aside from n
broad doorway, and through the open
ing came fresh blooming of brightness
and color and vision of new space and
beauty. Here extended a vautcd
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 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 clild's little
finger could have been inserted between
them. Above the violets was a butch
of yellow jonquils and narcissuscs, three
feet in width, forming Il frie2e, and,
above all, the domed roof was II vault
of roses, the color perfectly graduated
from white below, through pink, to red
at the top Three great Candelahra 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, affordiug 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 fountain splashed i'll great
basin of crystal, surrounded by delicate
ferns, and behind silver trelliS work.
covered with growing vines, We're ac-
commodatons for musicians. The count
explained to his companion that the table
was so contrived that it could be re-
moved in few minutes, and the floor
left free for dancing 81 have some other
little features" he added, (which will
appear when the time comes 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 Lsle had suggested more
than he had performed in his prepare
tons for this unparalleled entertain
ment Everything was made to appear
as simple as possible: only mn educated
intelligence could divine 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 us brilliant
destiny as had ever fallen to the lot Of
mortals. She drew long breath and
arched her browb. 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 haya hoat, i'll ~
she answered.
You are quite content, them"
"Nes--almostm
, 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 viii
D arrive. When it is time / will sum-
mon you"
e They mounted to the second floor ac-
; cordingly, she still leaning on his arm.
He left her on the threshold Of the
IOOIIl dlOl Vie QOOI CIO-eu DtulI4u ItT
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 fairy
. princess. Every appliance that could
q render a womans existence luxurious
y and 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 washstand, the low
chairs and divans, the soft rugs under
foot the walls hung with lovely tapes try,
o the numberless minor beauties of decora
8 tons that only women Of certain fine.
: ness of taste and temperament know how
to appreciate-all seemed designed fol-
a her. Was it SO, indeedi
She seated herself at length and fell
!. into long revery. Opposite to where
Il she sat was tall and wide mirror in
l. which she saw herself reflected at full