Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-15
CHAPTER XII.

The court was already furn1Shed with
rich material for busiest gossip; but a
few more morrows We're destined to
cast in shade even so pregnant topic
as 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 q 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 godlilze being the
world had ever seen, and that his good
ness in giring 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 a NOR
sci, and then did not know of what
food she partook. At first she had ideas
of sending to Paris for a robe in which
to array her child at the state ball.
Then, after this plan had been vetoed
NV Tot no ID 70 1,o
idea that the girl might create more
striking effect if clad with the utmost
simplicity After all, let her be attired
other beauty in all Saltravia could stand
so trying test?
eyes, it as WISER" she said, excitedly,
to Kathleen. (Of late she had done and
sal" 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, 81 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
ST wasn't thinking of the expense IS
replied Mrs. Kennaird, with little ir-
repressible catching of the breath
s'There are certain things one 0laccys
can afford"
Kathleen laughed and shrugged her
shoulders. ''You mean, I suppose, that
we could go back to Dresden and econ
onize more severely than we've yet
DONE"
.'Oh, no; I didn't mean that. IL
didn't mean that ia the least" said her
mother.
Kathleen gave no answer, divining
what had really been meant. If her
mother only knew the actual substance
of her late conversations with the kingl
They had princip ally talked Of her past
engagement to Alonzo Lispenard. She
had been very frank; she had told
Clarimond everything and had found in
him a 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
she could not doubt that it had been
one of strong fascination. This in it
self was nothing new most men, under
q certain age, had shown her but one
sort of homage To have king show
! it was entirely novel, and not little
dizzying. Moreover such king rs he,
filed to his fngertips with all the
| graces that please women, handsome,
! courtly, amusing, in countless ways,
the choicest of male companions.
For three aSernoons he dropped In
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 faintest
/ imprudence on Kathleen's part. If she
had thought at all on this subject il
would have been to decide that hen
daughters American blood would save
her from even dream of folly. Be
| sidrs had she not already learned that
| Clarimond was the most honorable mar