The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-11-18
CHAPTER vIIL-CoETINUED.

tight and pretty facade of the chief
hotel, she at once perceived that Kath-
ieen was being a great deal noticed and
silently admired Little wonder too,"
1t swept through her mind, ''for es she
walks there now her form and face
seen 20 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 wrinlzled face, gouty
step, and cane big enough for a
British squire besct by the same malady
as herself, came hobbling forward.
''My dear Mrs. Kennaird, / 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 Eve
young men are always tormenting me
for presentation to her, knowing that
1 know You. It's that lots OF tiresome
old persons like myself, of whichever
sex, make my life 4 burden with their
longirgs." Here Mrs. Madison shook
her head, and so brisllly that her gold
trimmed glasses trembled on her high,
clear-curving nose. ''Ah, Mrs Ken
naird. it's we old things that are the
wiscst lapidaries for pronOuncing on
the color and water of that dearest of
all diamonds. YOUTH
''My 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
blardlv with this old alienated Knicller-
booker (for who could forget that the
MadiSons were leading people in the
palny days of the Van Leriuses, and
that = Madison once married q Van
Lerius. IS far back as 1852 she was
secretly throbbing with discomfort and
chagrin.
Alonzo Lispenard here in Saltravia!
And not only that, but on terms of
special favor with the ldngi 1t was
ruin of all those delicious hopes! For
the very moment that he heard Clari-
mond had admired Kathleen, what
would ne be sure TO do? Prejudice his
royal friend, beyond doubt, against
both herself and her child. Oh, it was
too aggravating, too maddeningl
When she reached Kathleen, Mrs.
Kennaird grasped the girls wrist with
a tremor and force that instantly be-
trayed her trouble.
My dear Kathleen" she began, 81
have such wretched news!''
''Wretched news, mamma?'
eyes, don't stare at me. Everybody,
I hear, is staring at you. There
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, mamma?"
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 adecided languor.
No. only wish it We're! 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 me!''
Kathleen. had visibly started, and her
change of color was manifest. "Gone?"
she repeated. 81 heard that he was
here in Europe. You remember, NAM
ma, something was said about an Aus
trian grand duke having wanted him to
purchase works of art for his private
gallery-but 1 never believed the re
port. 1t was never confirmed /"
''Kathleeni Believe the report now,
if you chooser'
believe it, mammal
Eyes. But change the Austrian grand
duke to Saltravian king"
Kathleen looked fxedly 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 a measure
understood.
''Alonzo is here?" she faltered. ''You
mean that?"
''He lives here, and lives under the
very wing. so to speak, of Clarimond.
1t seems that his friend, Eric Thaxter,
sent 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 ascended
its steps. kathleen sank into a chair,
not trembling, but looking as if tremors
might at any moment begin.
I'VE must go away from here,
mamma, she presently said, ,glancing up
into her mothers face while that lady
stood IN placid grandeur beside her.
''We must so at once"
''Oh, now, my dear Kathleen! You
surely won't be so foolish.
He will think we came solely on his
account"
But I tell you he isn't here
''Still, he may return any hour. No,
mamma; viii not stay. Let Us go to
Fallambrosa tomorrow. We intended
going there, you know, when you sud-
denly got this craze for Saltravia."
Mrs. Kennaird tightened her lips
together, stared straight ahead, and
gave not a syllable of response. Oh, of
course Kathleen must have her own
way. 1t would be folly to keep her
here against her viii. for that VIII 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 lordly edifice of shining and
prismatic dreaml All. it was too hard
rowing. 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, 20 head |
herself and her daughter off. Scalding |