The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-02

man in the regiment on whom she had
not tried her hand, probably because
he looked too clumsy OF too grim to be
lightly experimental upon, or possibly
because she had guessed his secret,
and was merciful enough to spare him.
An incident in the course ofthe even
ing seemed to belle this latter theory.
The cotillion was in progress aud Brent
ner, still in his attitude of looker-on,
was standing well out of the way Of the
dancers when, quite unexpectedly,
Pauline Degenthal stood before him,
holding out in her hand one of the
ribbon-favors with which the ladies
were occupied in decorating the gentle
men. She smiled as she looked at
hiul-the brilliant smile of a woman
who knows the value of her favors. Ia
his astonishment Brentner stared back
at her so long and so hard that the
color began to mount in her cheek. 1t
was the first time that she had seemed
to take any notice of him; could it be
that she wanted TO play him as she
played with the others?
al do not dance, Princess he said,
almost roughly, setting his teeth even
as he spoke.
The smile went out suddenly like
light blown out while another light
leaped to her angry eyes. 1t was not
in this way that she was used to see
her marks of eondescension received.
"Ah, you DON'T" she replied throw
ing up her dark head 50 vivaciously
that the diamond star seemed to spit
fire. "Then, perhaps, 1 shall find
someone else to relieve me of this biz
of ribbon"
A dozen hands were stretched forth
on the instant She looked about her
with dangerously bright eyes.
Count Neckers, you have one of
my eocardes already, / believe; but |
think your coat has room for a second"
And in the next moment she whirled
away in the much-envied mans arm.
the latter part Of the evening was "a
far worse ordeal to Brentner than the
earlier hours had been; for, dating from
the cotillion, Pauline's glances and
smiles were reserved almost exclusively
for Count Neckers. 1t was like driv-
ing nails into his own breast to stand
thus and watch them from afar, and
yet it was impossible not 10 watch them;
and when in the misty darkness Of the
January morning the wearied-Out man
stepped into the street, it was with the
Consciousness that be haled his sue
cessful rival with an intensity which
almost frightened himself. There was
something tearing at his heart with
what felt like real, sharp claws, aud he
knew that the name of the monster
which he carried with him was Jeal-
ousy.
"And to think that that boy imagines
he can love her as dor' he groaned to
himself in the solitude of his room.
When, two hours later, they met
again in the riding school-no longer
as dancer aud looker-on, but as supe-
rior and subordinate-the first glance
at the lieutenant's face, as fresh and
smiling as though he had not spent his
night in an over-heated ball room,
told the captain that the monster was
wideawake as ever. That smile of
serene assurance, and the sight of a
yellow rosebud peeping out from under
the uniform coat of the young Count
vas as goad to the horrible feeling
raging within him. He remembered
quite distinctly that Princess Pauline
had held bouquet OF yellow roses ia
her hands last night. His face dark
ened and the tone of his voice rang
suddenly sharper as he shouted the
next command to the lieutenant, who,
mounted on a half-broken horse, was
having some difficulty with his steed-
1t was the first time that he had ever
allowed his private feelings to influence
him in the fulfillment of his duty, but
to-day something had broken bounds
within him, and, although full aware
that he was losing his selfcontrOl, the
desire to humilate this man before his
comrades was too overpowering to be
resisted. He was the highest officer
present, and the spectators could do
nothing but listen in submission to
words that are generally only address
ed to raw recruits. AS the minutes
passed and the captains animosity be-
came unmistakable, look of under
standing began to touch one face after
another. 1t was one of those glances
caught by Brentner, and accompanied
by whispered word, which brought
about the catastrophe.
There was bar TO jump, which the
brute ridden by Neckers would not
even approach-the easiest Opportuni-
ty possible for a superior disposed to
harass his subordinate. Count Neck
ers, smiling till now, was beginning to
look grave.
"Spursp' shouted the captain, and
added with an unmistaka5le sneer-
'One would think you had never useG
your spurs out of bsil room.
1t was at this moment that he caught
the whisper alongside, and understood
that his secret was betrayed. Quite
suddenly he seemed to be looking at
himself through the eyes of the by
ISLANDERS. a black curtain seemed to
blot out the morning light.
"If you're afraid to use them here,
say SO, u he laughed disagreeably, land
will set someone else to put the beast
over.r And he added word which
he would not have spoken If he had
not been senseless with rage.
Count Neckers' boyishly rosy face
turned suddenly pale. He had borne
a great deal, understanding the reason
of his persecution, and perhaps tri-
umphing in il; but this time the insult
was too obviously Intentional to be ac-
cepted by the high spirit of his race
Before anyone could interfere the young
man had jumped from the back of his
foaming horse, and, forgetting every
thing but his threatened honor, had
drawn his sword upon his superior
4 4 - A -. H.. seN.