Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-14

the Cuban, and Mr.. Bentinck saw her
gliding away in the arms Of another
man with a distinct feeling Of outrage.
But. although he staid by Nine. D'Arco,
furnishing up his best French for her
benefit, further pleasure was not given
to him that night. He had not even
that of putting her into her carriage,
and all the music all the flowers, all
the jeweled dancers, all the beautiful
women, were no more than phantoms
moving 10 noiseless measures.
it was of little use for Mr.. Bentinck
to attempt his Congressional duties the
next day The clerk seemed to be
droning Spanish, the calling of the roll
was only an iteration of the syllables
of Gloria Campeadors name, and be-
tween the leaves Of the folio he pre-
tended TO consult swan in that beauti-
full pale face, and he kept saying to
himself:
She walks in beauty like the night
OF cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best Of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.
He was, after all. an innocent young
fellow. with a talent for telling speech
e., and he had been pushed along By
the people at home more for his prom
ise than his performance and partly be-
cause youth is plastic and sometimes
easily nodded to the purposes Of 9TH
eTs.
He had been born to one of the big
fortunes, he had been occupied with
books and debates and business, he had
once gone down into Mexico about some
land titles and caught up little Span
iSh. and he had been more than once
abroad in various ways, but he had
never had time to fall in love before.
When at length he was called into
ClOakrOOm for a consultation with one
of his colleagues about certain boun-
". he agreed to everything the other
said without having heard a word, and
he escaped at last as if from bear
garden, TO his own rooms a toilet and
the Arlington.
Several people were before him. Nine
D'Arco. filling and overlooking her arm
chair, sat by the fire slipping her chloe
olate. and Gloria sent away dark
youth and invited Harry Bentinck TO
a place among the cushions beside her
self She was in a shapeless robe more
like a cloak than a gown he thought,
of some thin white silk. with great
"fots" Of lace. the drapery curling
| round her feet as she rose. A white
lace mantilla fell from her hair, and she
wore the pearls again.
DO yvu always wear pearls?' he
said
Yes" she replied. 81 had other
/ things, TO be sure-Spanish topaZes. l
would have given them TO the maids,
but | sold them instead As for the
/ diamonds, they are my aunts, ENABLED
anyway. And so are the great star sap
phires from CeylOn, whose history is
part of the history of queens. But |
/ wear pearls for the sake of Cuba. the
/ Pearl of the Antilles. That is senti-
mental. fantastical? At any rite
AT any rate, it is beautiful" he said.
IF YOU mean that the pearls are
I beautiful, why. l know it. If you mean
that Cuba is beautiful, oh, then you win
my heart ..
Il would mean anything for that,
he said.
You know I did not intend But
perhaps l shall put you to the test, she
AIDED archly. rs il two Jumps or three!
Not any tea? Nor chocolate? Then
Won will have a cigarette?' And she
rolled him one, and then she rolled an
other for herself. rs il disenchant-
ing?" she said, holding it off after a
fairy puff, and with laugh that at all
events was captivating. But II Is a
f ,,,-+,v, of NV pDnpfTN
Rather of old Spain, is it not?' said
Mr. Bentinck
In an instant the cigarette had flash
ed into the crate. TO tell the truth, l
never cared for it, she said, but it was
lust duty. youn know, to do anything
that is purely Cuban.
Or Russian
yes. yes, You are right. The only
thing that really seems to be purely
Cuban is suffering
- am afraid" he said, that | have
not considered it sufficiently. am Ill
informed on this matter that interests
you so deeply.
you shall be better informed before
Won leave us" she exclaimed, and she
leaned back among the cushions and
looked straight before her, 50 proud, Sc
pale so melancholy, that Harry dld not
know whether the thrill that went
through him was a pang Of sympathy
for her sorrow or of JOY for her beauty
But whatever she might have said
was interrupted by the arrival OF other
guests. do not go, said Nine. DArco
Reckoning him to her side Let them
mass And then for an hour or more
he had to endure the presence of an eX-
! Secretary of State. of a general who
had led triumphant battaiiOns, of one
or two officers of the Southern army
one or two Senators. some women Of
fashion and various foreigners.
Harry Bentinck. speaking now and
then with one and another, through n
all really saw no one but Gloria. the
ease with which she discussed with the
secretary the policy of his predecessor
the sparkle with which she met the sol
diers. the half gracious, hall lndluerehI
lassitude of her manner with the for
eigners. the fire that every once II
awhile flashed out through 1t all. u
am tired" she said, when the dool
closed on the last Of them. l shal
have to let you go But you will come
again?" And he vent up to night
session of the House as gloomily as Il
he had been shut out OF paradise.
1t was the next morning that some
Thing overdone. he ordered his horse 10
la canter out Rock creek way before break
fast. the roads being hard with frost.
was day when in the thin film OF mis-
.f-t- h.a y-h
phere seems one vast opal ana an IN