The Florence daily tribune., 1899-02-16
AT THE CORONATION.

particular streets and Scheyeningen with
that long arcade Of fishing nets The
poorer the quarter the prettier the show
seemed the rule. The little queen ha~
rather an anxious face at times rs well
she might have with heavy crown to put
ON at Is. Even in The Hague Their, were
ugly Socialist mutterings. Just "a she
was going To start for Amsterdam they
threw dead rabbit into the palitce cuurt-
yard, dressed in coronation robes, with nm
amiable intimation that winter necks
might be wrung just ms easily.
I'd never bccn in Holland before excerpt
as II tourist. Inn very much afraid | shall
never get such IA reception again. But
ask anybody, IT "A man never says a woul
and never looks word, how can one tells
Baedekcr ought to put in few notes
about Dutch loycmaking. II is 81 very pc
culiar. My Kind hostess only had married
sons, 80 they didn't count. but she had
nephew. and he very much did They
were always telling me Belaerts had "A
good heart, but didn't see what that had
to do with a person who doesn't own one
because it's away somewhere near Fashoda.
He was tall stout and serious
thought he disapproved Of me because
had a good many frocks, and economy
seems 10 be the cardinal virtue in cotln-
try where the windows are cleaned four
times a '"@~k. I'm dark, and naturally I'D
broue . an orange blouse rather good, In
chiffon. with heaps of lace applique
Wherever we Went Belaerts went like
Mary's little lamb, and now and then he
paid me very direct complimcnt-so di-
rect | never Thought it was genuine; not
often There were other men. and they
said pretty things In French whenever the
orange blouse was ON or when | stuck II
al IN hiF 4
that on tho coronation night, when there
was grand concert at Schcveningen and
l.angcrhuizcn sang the prcttiest little
Dutch songs. We went to what they call
the American bar after, and the Hunga-
rian band played dcliciously
Things went on very pleasantly. was
awfully happy, because, you see, every
day The Times came, and knew things
We're all right. Whenever regiment clat-
tered up the Zeestraat, | thought Of the
Twenty first and drew contrasts inwardly.
But ouuNartlly | was very Dutch, and l
bought about 100 pins and albums and
pictures, in most of which Wilhelmina
looks 30.
Nearly the last morning, when the flags
were all being taken down and fierce
preparations for cleaning every house from
top to bottom well begun, | and my
friend Bette were sitting on the fiat gray
shore looking at a still gray sea She's
dear, but imagine my horror when she
calmly told me how pleased all the family
We're that Belaerts had at last found some
one he could love, and that | was the
some one. She said that all the relations
approved of me They had been so glad
to find that though | was English could
actually speak French.
IL wrote to his mother that you spoke
III
tinguec," she continued complacently
He has n very excellent employment and
told him-for could not doubt IL after
seeing your beautiful chateau in England
that l was sure you would have dot,
although believe IL Is not invariable, as
with us -
But, Bette, began family, your
cousin has never said II word to me--nut n
word, and ! never thought of him like
that. -
Naturally he has waited till he could
go to England and see If everything was
satisfactory. He would not he so dsloyal
as TO give you hopes and then change his
mind "
| thought of somebody clse-somebody
who said all in hurry ON u crowded stair
case in London, 81 mayn't speak, I'm too
poor, but, Kate, | may get quietus out
all the world to me" All, when | read
of their charge, how proud was, how
glad to remember whispered back some
thing that made our last dance together
heaven
Bette construed my silence into acqui-
escence lit was the blouse that first
made him think Of you, she cooed on
''Belaerts is very reserved. He has been
a great deal beloved too But you looked
so distinguee in that orange and You
sang Neerland's Blind so we'll in tune
The Van Brediuses are noble, ancient
family, but for his sake they would accept
you even without u title"
1t took me half an hour TO try to make
her see could never marry a Dutchman
and live opposite horrible gracht in Am
sterdam without being awfully rude. She
couldn't sec it thon So hRd to get out
of it by telling the truth "I-I-care for
some one else; only it's great secret, and
you must keep 1t now I've trusted you
She put her big brown eyes up with
such sweet look of sympathy that told
her everything except his name, and II
you will believe me, she quite cheered up
when she heard he was too poor TO marry
me yet.
He will probably be killed by savages
You will presently adore Belaerts in
stcad, she prophesiod comfortably, and
he will give you nice menage "
They all came to the station-one boy
with whole kilo of hoppjes, which are
the best sweets in the world; Belaerts
with big bouquet all over orange bows.
Miss, l shall hope soon to have the honor
of seeing you in England. That was all
Only just for an instant there was some
thing in his eyes that made me feel sorry
And truly | never flirted. he never
seemed to want to tlirt
l haven't even paid for that wretched
blouse, but nothing shall make me put it
on again, not even the arrival o. Mynheer
van Bredius at Lettice Close in full state.
/ shall not wear the national colors tho
next time l go to coronation rejoicings.-
Rowland Grey in Black and White.
MiIcs nj Ribbon