Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-29
CHAPTER XII.

Eric was right. On the evening of
the ball he and Alonzo sought the pal
ace together. They entered the great
room a little before ten o'clock.
Here the entire assembled court were
waiting, and presently to a golden clash
Of music from the orchestra ON an up
per balcony muffled in choice living
flowers, the king entered with the
princess of Brindisi on his arm. It was
a sight of extreme splendor. The enor-
nous room, tapestried in gold and white,
and hung with mirrors of huge size that
reduplicated the chandeliers in endless
glittering vistas, had been profusely
adorned with roses, lilies and orchids
from the royal lighthouses. The Sal
travian mobiles all wore their uniforms,
and between the many beautiful ladies
who were their wives sumptuous
kind of rivalry was tonight manifest,
each one wishing, as it would seem, to
eclipse the other in the glory of her
Jewels. But there were two ladies
present who outshone them all, and
these were the princess herself and her
cherished ward, Blanca dEste. The
mother of Clarimond was literally
mailed in gems. Her stomacher and
blazed, as the light caught them, with
vivid and luxurious fires. Her hair was
oversprink1ed with brilliants and her
neck and arms were ahame with them
Possessing SO much natural presence
and carriage, she looked more than
merely regal. Her worst foes land there
We're two or three of these who now
gazed at her with the most amiable de-
IL
was altogether magnificent.
With Blanca dEste it was quite an
opposite affair. She, too, was mag
nifcent, but In way that became her
maidenhood and her youth. A collar
of pearls five rows deep engirt her
throat, and these, with cluster at her
breast of sapphires, diamonds and other
stones, in imitation of a spray of flow
ers, were the only jewels thatshe wore
But the pearls had belonged to her an
cestress, Mary of Modena, queen of
England, and hence were not only su-
perb but historic besides. As for the
matchless bouquet, it was owned by her
mother, was famous throughout Europe
and worth a handsome fortune in itself.
The princess having begged Bianca's
mother by letter to permit the girl to
wear it on this special occasion, it had
been sent from Italy under the guar
dianship Of five trusted men, who now
waited in one of the halls of the palace
and would receive the glorious bauble
from the hands of its wearer the instant
that she quilted the ballroom.
Shortly after the entrance of Clari-
mond and his mother the royal quad
rifle was danced, and to some conserva-
tive watchers, when they beheld the
king lead forth Kathleen as his part
ner, the sight was one of absolute hor-
TOR. Everybody else in the quadrille
was Of the blood royal except this up
start young American. Beautiful?
Yes, amazingly SO. Her beauty, in its
perfect plainness of apparel, dimmed
the fire of all those necklaces, bracelets
and tiaras. With such eyes, with such
a heavenly look about the brows, with
such a slope of the arm and shoulder,
and with that imperial kind of dainti-
ness in her motion, she made every other
woman look artificial, got up for the
occasion. sndimanchee. But what (gue
diaolsD had that to do with the kings
behavior? Whether she were hagor
hours, why should he make her an ex-
cuse for smashing etiquette and then
dancing on its debris? The thing was
too idiotic. Did he mean to marry herr
Was this to be his latest daring deed of
unconventionalism?
ssLook at him now, ;" whispered Lady
of highest rank to gentleman equally
lofty, after pause had followed the
first general dance. '.He has those two
Americans at his side, Eric Thaxter and
NJ. Lispenard. What q revolution he
has wrought In his motheri The prin-