Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-11-03
CHAPTER v1.-Coxr1suEp

CHAPTER VL-CONTINUED.
The dwelling of his friend, as Alonzo
soon found, was in no way suggestive
of being habited by a kings petted Idol.
Sobriety and simplicity prevailed every
where, yet the cloister-like somberness
never became too heavy, and now and
then it revealed bursts of refreshing
brilliance in fall Of rare tapestry or
stretch Of blazoned windows. While
the two friends tarried late that evening
in the groined dining-room with it's tall
wax candles (having been left to their
cigars, coffee and Burgundy by serv-
ant of perfect training) they talked Of
many things. But chief among these
topics the recent troubles of A1onzo
stood forth. He told all which had
passed between himself and Kathleen.
finally adding:
'I don't altogether approve my own
conduct, now that look back upon it,
Approve itr' exclaimed Eric. 'sMy
dear boy, you are delicious Why. it's
just as if CaGgula should declare to-day
that he thought he had behaved trif1e
impolitely yesterday"
Really, Eric, was not prepared"
''To be called cruel? OF course you
were not. You expected to have me
agree with you that you've been
marty
81 have been-to that horrible Mrs.
Kennaird.''
''But by your own showing you quite
defeated her. Kathleen was willing to
defy her authority"
''Willing-yes.''
land you wanted the poor girl to
PROSTATE herself before you in an &c
stacy of submission. OF course you did.
ALI lovers, in like circumstances, do.
Don't bite your lips and glare at me,
dear LonZ. It shows in you a new
spirit of rebellion for which am to-
tally unprepared. Always before this
you have recognized my right to scold
you when you deserved it."
= ''But you've never before scolded me
unjustly, Eric. Let us talk, however,
ofSomething else. How is it that you,
SO sapient in the ways of lovers, have
found no wife among all these charming
ladies of Saltravia?''
81 marry a Saltravia ladyr' broke
from Eric, while he nearly spilled the
glass of Chambourtric that he was lift
ing to his lips. ''You might as well talk
of my marrying some celestial creature
who had lately arrived here from the
planet Mars"
''Whatdo you mean? 1 thought they
adored YOU"
Some of them detest me, my dear
Lonz."
"Ah! Jealousy of the knng?"
Partly. But there's another cogent
reason. Many of them look upon me as
hideous vandal."
"a vandal-you?'
"Yes-and it's so odd when one thinks
of it. A vanda1 of culture! / swooped
down on their dear valley and shattered
tat Clarimond's command) its immemo-
rial ugliness. Talk of the romance of
the past! Adobe huts are scarcely dis
mailer than were some of their ances-
trail Judgments. Oh, yes, I've been to
them, as It were, very barbarian OF
civilization"
But this was the kings tyranny, not
yours
''They imagine that I have put all
these atrocious refinements into Clari-
mond's head. They realize that he is
that anomalous and unprecedented per
son, nineteenth century king; but
they blame me, at the same time, for
aggravating his fallacies-"
"Then they think it is fallacy to be-
lieve in surrounding oneself with beau
typ"
''They prefer to surround themselves
with memories. And they had many.
Saltravia, you know, is ridiculously old.
After all, it was very stern demo
lition. 1 probably tore up hearthstones
that were eight or nine centuries old
was quite pitiless."
''Pitiless as Caligula?"
''Ah, LonZ, you're angry at me!'
"No."
"Wen, well, persevere in your grudge
and you'll make me apologize" Here
Eric looked with melancholy at his hall
consumed cigar. IAN apology, you know,
is the murder of a prejudice. And I'm
so fond of my prejudices! They're my
cherished children. / spend half my
time in training them to live thrifty
reputable lives. Besides, we're not Il
begin our bachelor days together by
even the semblance of q quarrel.
Alonzo started. Are we to live here
together, you and I?'' he asked
mot unless you desire it,
sob, Eric!' And Alonzo's eyes filled
with tears. "In this lovely castleI''
"a castle pour oire, my friend
''But-but Eric! It's too INTERNALLY
sweet of YOU
Internally sweet is just what wan
to be called. 1t reminds me of the fl,
de steele art. It makes me think of LIE
conte de Lilies poetry. Bandelaire Ca:
tnaJ wOnQcr1ul Saycr OF happy Cn1nSS
Oscar Wilde, not long ago declared
when he dropped into Saltravia ant
spent q few days in the palace will
Clarimond) is chiefly great as poet for
having discovered the beauty in ugli
ness Nothing except that is left u.
now, in this unacademic age. The mo
ment that one is classical nowadays hi
is DENOUNCED as commonplaces'
But AlonZo was not listening. If hi
wounded life needed any balsarnil
touch it was just these tidings that herr
in this lovely valley, in this choic,
abode, he should secure q lasting home
with the friend of his heart.
at is too kind, too generous of you
Eric" he at length found voice to say
''And when 1 make my trips herr
and there about the continent you have
decided that I am always to return
to-yourself?'
UNLESS you are very bored. Their
you will be frank and tell me, and theI
we shall certainly quarrel. For the in
slant ! become conscious that hav,