Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-11-24
CHAPTER yIu-CoNrrNUEp.


the great square over which doomed the
light and pretty facade of the chief
Motel, she at once perceived that Kath-
1een was being great deal noticed and
silently admired. Little wonder, too"
1T swept through her mind, s.for as she
walks there now her form and face
seem to embody this delightful thing of
-Chopin's that his majesty's musicians
are playing so finely" And then Mrs.
Kennaird approached her daughter.
But before she could reach her side, old
Mrs. Madison, with wrinkled face, equity
step, and a cane big enough for a
British squire beset by the same malady
as herself, came hobbling forward.
my dear Mrs. Kennaird, I don't
know how 1 can stay any longer in
Saltravia unless you present me to your
daughter! 1t isn't only that four or five
young men are always tormenting me
for a presentation to her, knowing that
II know you. It's that lots Of tiresome
old persons like myself, of whichever
sex, make my life burden with their
longings." Here Mrs. Madison shook
her head, and SO brislkly that her gold
trimmed glasses trembled on her high,
rlear-curving nose. ''Ah, Mrs. Ken
snaird, it's we old things that are the
'wisest lapidaries for pronouncing on
the color.and water of that dearest Of
all diamonds, YOUTH
'fMy daughter will be charmed to
meet you, and your friends, also, my
dear Mrs. Madison, of course" was the
reply given by Kathleen's mother. But
while she stood and strove to talk
blandly with this old alienated Knicker
Booker (for who could forget that the
t. IL
spalmy days of the Van Leriuses, and
that a Madison once married Van
Lerius, as far back as 1902 she was
secretly throbbing with discomfort and
rchagrin.
Alonzo Lispenard here in Saltravia!
And not only that, but on terms of
special favor with the king! It was
ruin of all those delicious hopes! For
the very moment that he heard Clari-
mond had admired Kathleen, what
would he be sure to do? Prejudice his
royal friend, beyond doubt, against
both herself and her child. Oh, it was
too aggravating, too maddeningi
When she reached Kathleen, Mrs.
SKennaird grasped the girls wrist with
"a tremor and force that instantly be-
etrayed her trouble.
my dear Kathleen she began, 81
Shave such wretched news!''
''Wretched news, mammal"
Eyes, don't stare at me. Every body,
I hear, is staring at you. There I
won't clutch you in that idiotic style
any more. You-you know, my dear,
that II have always prided myself on
my repose."
well, mammal"
Lets walk along quietly toward the
hotel, as if nothing had happened. I've
just heard from Mrs. Madison that your
wonderful beauty and grace have set
everybody talking about YOU
And is that all that has happened?''
Kathleen asked, with decided languor.
mo. I only wish it were! My dear
child. where did you think Alonzo Lis
,penard had gone after-after the break
ing of your engagement? Don't look
demOralized, now! Answer mel"
Kathleen had visibly started, and her
change of color was manifest. Gomez"
she repeated. 81 heard that he was
here in Europe. You remember, mann
ma, something was said about an Aus
trian grand duke having wanted him to
purchase works of art for his private
sgallery-but / never believed the re-
port. It was never confirmed. L"
Kathleen! Believe the report now,
If you choose!''
believe it, mammal
''Yes. But change the Austrian grand
duke to a Saltravian king"
Kathleen looked fixedly at her
mother for several seconds as they
moved still nearer to the steps of the
hotel. When she spoke it was clearly
to show that she had in measure
understood.
''Alonzo is here?" she faltered. tYou
mean that?'
HE lives here, and lives under the
very wing, so to speak, of Clarimond.
Tt seems that his friend, Eric Thaxter,
ssent for him to come on here after the
failure" Then Mrs. Kennaird gave a
few further explanations which ended
by the time they reached the huge in
closed balcony of the hotel and assembled
it's steps. Kathleen sank into chair,
not trembling, but looking as if tremOrs
might at any moment begin.
eve must go away from here,
mamma, she presently said, glancing up
into her mothers face while that lady
stood in placid grandeur beside her.
1--WE must go at once"
''Oh, now, my dear Kathleen! You
surely won't be so foolish
HE will think we came solely on his
account
But tell you he isn't here"
''Still, he may return any hour. No,
mamma; 1 will not stay. Let us go to
Vallambrosa tomorrow. We intended
going there, you know, when you sud-
denly got this craze for Saltravia."
Mrs. Kennaird frightened her lips
together, stared straight ahead, and
gave not syllable of response. Oh, of
course Kathleen must have her own
way! 1t would be folly to keep her
here against her will, for that will had
modes of making itself felt which
coercion sooner or later failed to profit
by. And to think that the presence of
this detestable Alonzo should shatter
such a lordly edifce of shining and
,prismatic dream! All, it was too hard
zrowingr In a certain sense Kathleen
was right; the horrid creature might
think she had come here because Of
him, though any thrills of dignity on
the subject would have been wholly
idle if it were not that this bugbear was
actually an intimate of the king. In
that abominated capacity he was fate
appointed, as one might say, to head