The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-09
CHAPTER XI

The court was already furnished with
rich material for busiest gossip; but
few more morrows were destined to
cast in shade even 50 pregnant topAe
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
hcly visited her at the hotel, spending
hours each dav 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
eof hysteria. narrowly verging upon
dementia. The kings open admiration
for her child filed her with 4 feeling
toward him which might have given
her. Il 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 ding her
self on her knees before Clarimond. and
press her lips % his hand. telling him
that he was the most gcdlike being the
world had ever seen, and that his good
ness in giving heed to Kathleen reused
her deathleSs maternal gratitude
The American saob. who is apt to be
the most mettlesome and affirmative Of
all snobs vet recorded. had risen ram
pant IN kathleen's mother. She could
not sleep; she could scarcely eat NOR
sci. and then did not know Of what
food she partook. 1T first she had ideas
Of sending to Paris for robe in which
TO array her child at the state ball.
Then. after this plan had been vetoed
by kathleen. she grew reeonciled to the
idea that the girl might create more
striking effect If clad with the utmost
simplicity After al. let her be attired
in the plainest OF white frocls What
other beauty in all Saltravia could stand
so trying test?
YES, IT is wiser she said. ezcitedly,
to kathleen. (Of late she had done and
sail everything excitedly, yet with her
effort TO appear seif-repreSsed hardly
better concealed than that Of the fugi-
tive ostrich My dear. you are quite
right People viii look at yo1 more,
and IL 50 doing they viii see you as you
really are. Besides, its IN far nicer
taste"
oh" said kathleen. Struggling her
shoulders. u should like Z handsome
gown: what girl in the circumstances
wouldn't? But 70 telegraph 70 Worth or
Felix. and to send either OF them money
we could 50 IL afOrd,-vhy. the very
thought OF it Is pure nonsense, mamma.
as you must be aware
i wasn't thinking of the expense"
replied Mrs Kennaird. with Z little IT.
rep-essible catching Of the breath
There are certain things one d}JcCys
can afford"
Kathleen laughed and shrugged her
shoulders You mean. 1 suppose. that
we could 20 back to Dresden and econ
onize more severely than we've yet
done"
'-Oh, no; didn't mean that IL
didn't mean that IL TIE s1s.,- 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 king!
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 q most gracious and friendly listen
er. He had asked her many questions,
to all Of which she had replied with
thorough cando-- As regarded the in
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
q certain age, had shown her but one
sort Of homage. To have king show
Il was entirely novel. and not little
drying. Moreover such king Is he,
filed TO his fnger-tips with al the
graces that please women. handsome.
courtly. amusing. in countless ways,
the choicest OF male companions,
For three afternoons he dropped N
upon her. and n each TINE her mother
received him in her blandest fashion,
eoutriving soon TO slip from the apart
ment and leave them together Mrs
Kennaird had no fear of the faintest
imprudenee on kathleen's part If she
had thought al al on this subject It
would have been 70 decide that her
daughters American blood would save
her from e-en dream Of folly Be
sid-s had she not already learned that
ClzEinond was the most honorable man