Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-09

Countess Isolde started. and flushed like
q pleased child, and her eyes lit up as she
laid her fan on Counsellor's stout knee with
a confidential, tmpulsive gesture.
But England does not like the idea of
pretty duchesses?" she ventured, re-
proachfully. And you are only a fat
tsrer, after ALL"
The major raised his bushy white eye
brows.
Have I that reputation"
"No, they say you are terribly frank"
then a design to sound this difficult and
usually unapproachable diplomat came into
her irrational head. Older men than he had
been vanquished by her beauty ere now.
England has not yet recognized my hus-
bands claim as next heir she whispered.
Major Counsellor, do you think your nation
| could ever be brought to recognize me as
duchess?'
"f the occasion arose." answered the
| willy old soldier, softly, II do not see
speaking as q man-how any request OF
yours could be refused. But l cannot an
swer for my nation. Still, II. the occasion
arose" he hesitated as IL searching for
words, but in reality waiting for his com
panion to take up the unfinished sentence.
The countess trembled with excitement.
This was indeed a triumph. She, SILLY
Isolde as old Sagan was ever ready to call
her, had gained a little bit of Information
they would give their ears to possess, but
she would keep 1t and use it at her leisure.
Meanwhile she. must strike while the iron
of old Counsellor's nature was yet hot.
But the occasion will arise, believe me!
Perhaps soon at Sagan!" AS she spoke she
started violently, and her face turned white
as Count Sagan stood before them.
DO you feel inclined for a hand at whist,
Counsellor? he asked. abruptly, with a
wrathful, questioning glance at his wife.
'Has my wife been boring you with her
chatter?"
ION the contrary, Major Counsellor has
promised to join us at the castle next
week" exclaimed his wife.
Sagan's bloodshot eyes darkened. He had
the guile Of a plotter, but lacked something
Of the self-control. Counsellor, who ap-
peared to be watching the dancers, turned
upon this and added:
And 1 have been thanking Nine. de
Sagan for the invitation"
"Ah l knew you wouldn't GOMEZ! Well,
you will lose nothing. We shall
count roughly.
81 have already accepted and will with
your permission, count, be one OF the FOOLS
replied Counsellor, g~enially.
The countess understood she had in some
way put her foot in 1t, but as the men
walked away together she nodded COM
placently to herself. with the words, Il
know what 1 know!"
The tide of dancers still swept backward
and forward as Nine. de Sagan idly OBJ
served them. until her glance CHANGED to
fall upon the opposite couple at the further
end of the saloon. Something in Valerie's
air fixed her wandering attention at once
with a little shock. What was Hollywood
saying to her? And where was Anthony
Unfair? The Countess Isolde had to the full
the all-devouring vanity of her type, but
now. for once in her life, she felt DESTROYS
of forwarding a love affair that was not
her own.
You are going to Sagan, OF course?"
Valerie had said to her partner, as they
stood together.
81 think not" Rallywood replied.
II thought you would be sure to be in at
tendance"-she glanced carelessly toward
the dais, where the countess was at that
moment laying her fan on Counsellor's knee
las usual"
mo, Unfair is the lucky man." Rally
wood answered, without significance in his
tone.
"Nonsense. Anthony is her cousin!" said
the girl impatiently.
~Rallywood's gray eyes were on her face.
Whose cousin? What do you mean?' he
asked, innocently.
Valerie bit her lip. She hated this Eng
lishman. OF all her acquaintances he alone,
in his laundering way, was able to put her,
somehow. at a disadvantage.
when the duke goes to Sagan,' she said,
without noticing his question, 'the count
has the privilege, as colonel in chief of the
guard, OF inviting any two officers he
pleases to act with the escort. So we shall
see."
IT wonder" said Rallywood, after a pause,
where you get your impressions,
mademoisefle?"
Il see-like other people. We all form our
judgments on what We see and-know!"
What do you know, for instance?"
II heard of you when you were at Kofn
Ford, near the castle of Sagan," she an
swered.
Hollywood was only human, and, how
ever moderately he may have returned Nine.
Sagan's preference, he was fully aware of it's
existence. In those days on the frontier he
had, rather from fastidiousness than
principle, perhaps, avoided her and her in
v~itations whenever possible. But that was
one thing. 1t was another to hear the matter
coofly alluded to by the girl beside him.
lnvoluntarily he drew a little way from
her. His notions were founded less on
actual knowledge and experience of women
for OF that he had little-than gathered
from that idealized version OF the sex with
which the right-minded male animal is
usually furnished by his own mental and
emotional processes. So far his intercourse
with Isolde of Sagan had been limited to
certain passages the initiative
lay with the woman, but Hollywood had
once or twice been distinctly wrought upon
by the appeals to his sympathy and pity
Now, however, looked at from a fresh
standpoint, the one, in fact, from which
Valerie viewed it, the subject became sud
denly repellent. and he slid away from the
discussion,
you are glad to come to Sagan?" per-
sisted his companion; SAY you are glad"
1--WE never been more glad Of anything in
my life!" Rallywood replied with truth, and
then. his good angel rather than his mother
wit coming to his rescue, he got away from
the dancing saloon, and found Counsellor al
the entrance preparing to leave.
"Il walk round with you, MAJOR he
proposed.