The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-23
CEAPTER vi

Eric was right. On the evening Of
ace together. They entered the great
room q little before ten o'clock.
Here the entire assembled court were
waiting. and presently to a golden clash
OF music from the orchestra on IN up
per balcony mufled in choice living
flowers. the king entered with the
princes Of Brindisi on his arm. L was
q sight Of extreme splcndor. The enor-
nous nom. tapestried IL gold and white,
and hung with mirrors of huge size that
rcdupliCl-cL the chandeliers in endless
CIittering 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 4 Sumptuous
kind of rivalry was tonight manifest,
each one wishing. as it would seem. to
eclipse the other in the eiory Of her
jewels But there were two ladies
present who outshone them all, and
these were the princess herself and her
cherished ward. Blanca d'Este The
mother of Clarimond was literally
mailed in gems. Her stomacher and
corseIet OF mingled rubieS and diamonds
blazed, as the light caught them. with
vivid and luxurious fires Her hair was
oversprinllled with brilliantS and her
neck and arms were afiame with them.
Possessing - much natural presence
and carriage. she looked more than
merely regal Her worst foes tand there
were two or three of these who now
razed II her with the most amiable de
Ineanorsl must have granted that she
was altogether magnificent.
With Blanca d'ESte it was quite an
opposite affair She, too. was mag
nificent, but n a way that became her
maidenhOod and her youth. \ collar
Of pearls five rows deep engirt her
throat. and these. with d cluster at her
breast OF sapphires, diamonds and other
stones, in imitation Of Z spray Of flow
ers- were the only jewels that she wore.
But the pearls had belonged to her an
-cestreSs. Mary OF Modeaa, 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 handsome fortune in itself.
The princess having begged Bianca's
wear Il on this special occasion. il 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-
TOT Every body else II the quadrille
was Of the blood royal except this up
start young American. Beautiful?
Yes. amazingly 50. 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 slope OF the arm and shoulder, |
and with that imperial kind of dainti- |
ness in her motion, she made eery other |
woman look artificial, got up for the
occasion, srldimGHcAee. But what (que
didbIe,) had that TO do with the kings |
behavior? Whether she were hagor !
A0uri, 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 her? !
Was this to be his latest daring deed of |
unconventionalism?
Look at him now" whispered lady 1
of highest rank to a gentleman equally |
lofty, after pause had followed the |
first general dance. He has those two 1
Americans at his side, Eric Thaxter and |
NJ Llspenard- What revolution he
has wrought in his motheri The prin- /