Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-06
AM ERICAN PUSH
BY EDGAR FAwCETT.
Copyright 1891, by the Authors Alliance


FAch material for busiest gossip; but q
few more morrows were destined to
cast in shade even so pregnant a topic
rs Clarimond's cogent reprimand of
Prince Philibert The king had been
seen publicly strolling through his own
grounds with Kathleen; he now as pub
icly visited her at the hotel, spending
hours each day in the pretty sitting
room which Mrs Kennaird at once Sc
cured for his own and her daughters
comfort, as downstairs they would al
most have been mobbed by gaping for
eigners. The mental condition of Mrs.
Kennaird, at this particular time, was
one of hysteria, narrowly verging upon
dementia. The kings open admiration
for her child filed her with a feeling
toward him which might have given
her, If she could have looked upon her
self just as she now was, and looked
from normal eyes, many shivers of
shame. She had impulses to fling her
self on her knees before Clarimond, and
press her lips to his hand, telling him
that he was the most godlike being the
world had ever seen, and that his good
ness in giving heed to Kathleen reused
her deathless maternal gratitude.
The American snob, who is apt to be
the most mettlesome and affirmative Of
all snobs yet recorded, had risen ram
pant in Kathleen's mother. She could
not sleep; she could scarcely eat n NOR
sci, and then did not know of what
food she partook. At first she had ideas
of sending to Paris for q robe in which
to array her child at the state ball.
Then, after this plan had been vetoed
by Kathleen, she grew reconciled to ~
idea that the girl might create a more
striking effect if clad with the utmost
simplicity. After all, let her be attired
In the plainest of white frocks What
other beauty in all Saltravia could stand
so trying n test?
Eyes, it is WISER" she said, excitedly,
to Kathleen. (Of late she had done and
said everything excitedly, yet with her
effort to appear self-repressed hardly
better concealed than that of the fugi-
tive ostrich.) my dear, you are quite
right. People will look at you more,
and in so doing they will see you as you
really are. Besides, it's in far nicer
| taste"
oh" said Kathleen, Struggling her
shoulders, II should like a handsome
gown; what girl in the circumstances
wouldn't? But to telegraph to Worth or
Felix, and to send either of them money
we could SO i'll affordl-why, the very
thought of it is pure nonsense, mamma,
as you must be aware"
az wasn't thinking of the expense"
replied Mrs. Kennaird, with little ir-
repressible catching of the breath.
'"There arc certain things one GlsoayS
can afford"
Kathleen laughed and shrugged her
shoulders. "You mean, I suppose, that
we could go back to Dresden and econ
omize moro severely than we've yet
done"
| "Oh, no; didn't mean that IL
didn't mean that in tho least" said her
mother.
Kathleen gave no answer, divining
what had really been meant II her
mother only knew the actual substance
of her late conversations with the kingl
They had principally talked of her past
engagement to Alonzo Lispenard She
had been very frank; she had told
Clarimond everything and had found in
him n most gracious and friendly listen
er. He had asked her many questions,
to all of which she had replied with
thorough candor. AS regarded the i'm
preston that she had made upon him,
she could not doubt that it had been
one of strong fascination This in it
self was nothing new; most men, under
a certain age, had shown her but one
sort of homage. To have a king show
it was entirely novel, and not a little
dizzying. Moreover such n king as he
filed to his fnger-tips with all the
graces that please women, handsome
courtly, amusing, in countless ways
the choicest of male companions
For three afternoons he dropped il
upon her, and in each time her mother
received him in her blandest fashion
contriving soon to slip from the apart
ment and leave them together. Mrs
Kennaird had no fear of the faintes
imprudence on Kathleen's part. If sh,
3, had thought ut all on this subject 1
e would have been to decide that he
daughters American blood would saw,
5 her from even a dream of folly. BE
sidrs had she not already learned tina
kClarimond was the most honorable maj
IN his own kingdom? Let people chat
ter, as they undoubtedly were chatter
ing. Among the hotel-residents it wa
jealousy, pure and simple. What CHIEF
~ concerned this very agitated lad
| was LA0 HuSSI1Ou OI now AlOnZO nd
thus far acted and of how at any me
y. ment he might take it into his head t
act Here he was, returned to Sal
travia, the bosom friend of the king
bosom friend He must have hear
that Clarimond was intensely capt
= waited with Kathleen. Everybody wa
talking of the affair. Stories had &c
aloat that the princess Of Brindisi ha
already pleaded by letter the interver
r ton of the emperor.
oI You are so reticent, my dear" sh
said to Kathleen one evening at the en-
of the kings third visit. "You neve
will tell me what he says about Alonz
to you. Does he not mention him?"
Rarely, mamma, and then alwaJ
with kindness"
kindness. m-yes." Mrs. Kennair
D. pursed her lips little. They're still
friends, then2"
"Friends2 Oh, yes"
- ssI SupnOca AIon1O hasn't darad 20 q.