The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-12-13

VVW0 cred With eScutch-
cons and orr
eammes-and seem to redden even
the starry eastern sky. The long
file of carriages advanced slowly
through the double line of Gu
rious ~on-lookefs, always attracted by
a splendid fete. Under the dazzling
light the ladies, in superb toilettes q
sparkling with diamonds, appeared IN
open carriages, for his January even
ing was as balmy as spring and the air
was heavy with the perfume OF the
countless orange trees. The oriental
animation, spreading from the side
walks to the equipages, was mingled
In one joyous hum. The multitude, COM
posed of Greeks who have preserved
the innate taste, nay, the worship or
beauty, constituted itself a tribunal; 1t
Judged boldly, awarded prizes, proph-
esied triumphs and even went so far as
to name these d~ivinities of the hour. In
the carriages, the loud clapping of
hands applauded the choice Of the
pavement, the braves of the gilded
youth responded to the popular enthu-
siasm and the fair ladies thus glorified
passed on, touched and delighted;
prouder, indeed, Of this spontaneous adj
,miration than Of the more refined IN
n which awaited them in h diplo-
matte salons. Each carriage in Its turn
stopped lat the vestibule, which. was
hung with rich purple draperies, fringed
with gold. The guests entered a vast.
corridor, a veritable fairy land. Before
high mirrors, framed in silver, the la
dies laid aside their graceful wraps and
were attended by young girls cladAin
the picturesque Greek costume, a tu-
mic of white muslin with the full panta-
Ion of cherry satin, their long lark
tresses braided with sequins and falling
on their shoulders. At the head of the
grand staircase IN Immense gallery,
hlled#With camelias, led to- the four
magnificent drawing rooms, furnished
in oriental style. In the first the consul
welcomed his guests standing near his
wife, who was half reclining on a di-
van. She was still wonderfully beau-
tiful and covered with jewels At for an
empress. The second salon was the ball
room, the orchestra skillfully hidden
behind a screen Of myrtles and orange
trees. There Martha, the queen Of the
fete. reigned, for this ball was given in
honor of her eighteenth birthday.
Draped in white tulle, almost covered
with pearls, Martha de Sorgnes at
tracted all eyes. Small, very small, she
was still, but with such perfection of
feature, such exquisite grace, the pose
of the beautiful head SO noble, that she.
might well have set for a Hebe. An
other toilet attracted almost as much
attention as that Of the petted heiress
of the house. It was a graceful gown
Of pink tulle, over which were strewn
pale pink roses. The young girl who
wore it was tall, blue eyed, blonde and
as fresh, as rosy, as Aurora. It was
Tiomane, who had just passed her nine
teenth birthday. To a close observer
the moral contrast between the two
young girls wen greater than the
physical contrast. Martha was still an
indolent, spoiled child, whose brain had
no other occupation but the thousand.
and one trifles which make up the life
of a frivolous young woman Of the
world. Tiomane, On the contrary, had
expanded ike beautiful flower and
every line Of her noble face denoted her
superiority. Both danced with the zest,
the intoxication, Of the first ball. .sThe
white" and THE rose,'. as q young Off
Ger had just named them, found them
selves ~vis-a-vis III the same quadrille.
Maritza's partle. was a very handsome
young man, Of ipre Arab type, with the
elegant manners Of a refined European
He wor the Egyptian fez and on his
black coat shore the grand Gordon Of the
SMedjidie. 1t was Prince Hassan. SON Of
the late Prince Mourad. who, although
only twenty-four years old, had already
made himself name by his daring ex-
ploits In the terrible wars which had so
recently devastated Egypt. He had q
high diplomatic position in Constants
nople but was now visiting his uncle.
the governor Of the province. Martha
had evidently made a deep impression
Oh her elegant partner. Attentive and
empresse, the prince knew how to min
re the most delicate batteries with the
ordinary commonplace 81 the ban
room. The auadrille being ended, Ma
leaning on the arm Of the prince,
11M