The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-02-11

turned his face aside ana cnOkeu. III
mu t have seemed to him like the kiss
of betrayal, giving him over in hostage
to the fiends of ambition.
"Come, my child he said, softly.
The carriage is waiting. Let us not
delay
''But, once in the whirling midst of
the Assem- blage of celebrities, the vision
of the deaths-head cane vanished be-
fore the magni6cencc about me. The
great lady was so dazzlcd at my sud-
den transformation that instead of
placing me in one corner, deputizing
certain gallants to take turns in anus
ing me till l should be summoned to
sing, she took my arm and led me once
or twice up and down before the great
company. This browning act of di-
plomacy taught me the secret of world
ly success
"When at last was called upon to
sing, there was generous futtcr OF
interest in my behalf; the murmurs
suddenly hushcd as ! ventured. with
the timidity which gave my voice an
added sweetness and tremor, Upon the
opening notes of q Spanish love song,
and / felt the hot blood mount to my
checks. Oh, how strangely sweet and
tender were my own notes to me!-like
the mellow colors of a rare picture
taken from a garrett, framed in white
and gold, and set up in place OF favor
in a royal salon.
81 had sung twice ere l noted the
great princes eyes upon me, and from
that moment sang but for him. When
the soft cadence fell trembling at the
close. 1 turned shyly. His highness
had risen, and stood staring with that
calm impertinence which is the prerog-
alive of royalty only; but l struggled
bravely under the glance, conquering
Then came the presentation and few
interchanges of civilities, and, offering
his arm, he led me down before the
staring army of rivals for the honor of
his interest, and a moment later
found myself seated beside him amid
the rare and odorous cxotics of the
conservatory.
"'You sing divinelyr he said. 4
brought you here, first, that l might
tell you so; second, that the remem.
brancc of your sweet voice might not
be married by those whose efforts fol-
low yours. Come; Is not this q naive
confessionT
"'Yonr highness is very gracious 1
murmured. 4 can but thank you.
'For half an hour / walked as in the
clouds of glory upon some sublime pin
nacle, and then supper was announced.
To my surprise and added triumph,
and to the dismay of my rival betters,
l was granted the privilege of accom-
panying him to the banquet; and
thither, down through the lantern-lit
vista of palms and flowers we wan
dered, chatting leisurely, my former
awe somewhat diminished, my better
qualities in command. Even at table
was at ease. Nothing seemed to over
wheim me now. The great silver cam
delabra, the ever-recurring surprises
of epicurean art, the sparkle of cut
glass, and the incense of rare flowers,
seemed my due, as if had been born
amid them in some prenatal existence,
and at last was restored to them. Sud-
denly-oh, how could it have hap
pened!---I overturned a glass into the
princes lap. A slight shudder at the
icy shock, and with the dizziness of a
magician the great man covered my
disgrace, and leisurely bore on the
thread of conversation as if nothing had
happened. His tact made profound
impression upon me.
"'Your highness,' said 1, moment
later, almost whispering like an ere
mite saying his beads before his patron
saint, you have taught me wherein
lies rulers success: the tact which
helps others to conceal their errors
while bestowing their homage
He smiled, much pleased at the
naivete. .Ah, my dear lady, he said,
softly, 4 would rather you had poured
it upon my head, in the manner of the
vestals of DID,
"When the guests were about leav-
ing l was one of the first to re ceive the
service of the maids, and Soon loitered
down the grand staircase as I had
done some two years before. recall
that far-off hour as an angel might re-
call the poor little triumph of earth
recall and smile pityingly. Suddenly,
through the dazzling groups, spied
the prince. With sign of recognition
he arose and came toward me, abrupt
ly leaving bevy of the favored, who
watched their defeat in angry conster-
nation.
"sAh! and shall have the added honor
of escorting you to your carriage he ex-
claimed, bowling; and so led me-oh, how
thankful was that had carriage!
from the brilliant corridor, out upon
the wide marble steps before which
was the long line of equipages await
ing the guests.
AT the first breath of the outer
world / was struck with a terrible
thought Father! how could l con-
ceal him from the great prince?
"'You are alone? said his highness.