The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16

| liz curled and Quivered with angry seornmof
but especially she Gesnised Raiywood for bav..
ing succumbed to 1solde,s shallow beauty
Thls 1t will he seen that Mile. Selplorf was in .
eIDed TO undefrnte Nine. de SaRan's points
Isolde was not only wonderfully pretty, but she
was endowed with superficial cleSerness and
kindliness and tact nll Of which rendered her
Irresistible - nine men out OF ten. mere
chame!eon; isolde almost always believed in
herself and her own moods; therefore It was
humor she reflected believed In her also, and,
moreover. thought her as adorable and as full
OF delicious changes as Cleonatra.
. Isolde had told the story OF her adventure to
Valerie, dwelling on the facts that tho hero de.
also that Ia physique lie followed the most m1s
proved English pattern. and was an excep.
tionally good specImen at that Altogether
attractive to induce her TO pay Rallywood that
qpYGuettish little visit in tho anteroom Of the
,, While these things pensd through her
slTe plume Of smoke that rose and melted over
abouts Of the blockhouse used by tho frontier
patrol, and there Iiallywood had lived during
de Sagah suddenly then, az Valerie made no
immediate answer. she added. Shall tell you,
:. The other. turned with the pink OF sunset
lighting np her pale face.
don itnaRin you can guess" she said with
a faint smile.
Nine. do Sagan,s little trill of laughter was
not quite 80 childish and irresponsible as
sp n E"1 rather o enA 81 . ass
The EHess 50 near the truth startled Va
etantly Valerie was on the defensive Her
delicate nostrils quivered slightly and her
Isolde more rmy npon b na1S ea9
letter as she replied. with that firm directness
which was 40 surprising trait In her fathers
Yes, I was thinking OF him-and YOU. The
bloekhou.e where he lived is down there; |
all by the way. Isolde, Il seems that some
young. men have shade of interest about
This one is rather unlike, all. the others"
returned Nine. de- sagan with gravity. HE
saved my life, and. well, he is different from
y Is fact worthy Of consideration that
while man rare ~ establishes claim on
always establishes claim on ma ma man by being
rendered service. Perhaps this is AS 1t
No" repeated Valerie thoughttully. he GER
tainly assumes
o,o What do you mean by that yaorie1" ex;
your ncomprehenslble moods to-day. What
do you think Of Rallyv ood2'
-, II hardly know what TO think yet. Very
likely shall never come to any conclusion
about him. He is not nv affair. and what can
be more undressing than 9 man who has
You have recommended Won Elmur to nav no.
profit In studying him"
\ Scrynnt entered.
His Excellenev Baron Won Elmur wishes to
walt upon your ladyship."
his hostess he turned to Valerie with man
ner thar was new in their intercourse, He
dropped from the courtier to the man pure
and simple.
Kissing the girls hand. no said earnestly:
-, Il lea feared yon we're not to arrive until to.
Nine. dc Sagan who had raised her eve
,hrows ana made little Grimace at Valerie be-
hind the Minister ) Ia X. here interposed:
Il rersuadcd her to travel here with me.
hone Hargn you fee! how greatly have be-
You will INA m" grateful. madame. In the
meantime, / have teen sent t. warn you that
his Highness has already arrived at the foot OF
ban. where the Count is waiting to receive
Come Valerie" said she Countess. with a
little catch in her breath and an added Hsrk OF
Tho great hall was half filed with servants
which has obtained at Sagan during the mem-
Urv Of man. for the ceremonious rc"eption of
the reignng Duke Half dozen nuntsmen
held in leash rs many COUPLES OF huge boar
hounds AT one side Of the hall on the other.
srryart3' CARRYING go'1 trays OF refreshments;
the numerous guests who had already arrived.
AZ the Countess, looking, very young and
fair and slender. walked down the centre.
S,igan. who had been draining goblet Of wine.
thrust the Gun back upon the tray, and, catch
W. IL,
dble oath;
You're late
ais angry grasp; but few had time to mott lee the
Incl lent. for the outer door changed back upon
its hinges to admit the Duke. Who. shiyering
SaCan advanced to meet him, but tho Duke.
glancing round the hall with shudder. cut
his formal greetings short.
'Sngan wears more gloomy and cutthroat
air thnn ever, cousin h. said irritably.
saGnn,; resnonss was covered ny the en-
hrongh; IN by Hollywood and couple Of
troopers OF tho Guard. Then SaEan, with
cup o. wine, and, comparative silence being re,
stored, the ducal answer came peevishly TO all
ears: o, c,,o ,,- ,. t., ,;,.o
self, rather too strong and n triile rough for
my taste. Ley Briot be called, have brought
SO saying he waved the attendants aside.
and, aprr2aching Isolde he raised her as she
There is one point madame. in which can
wine may be more naatable. but could nevor
his!' he said. with malicious Gulantry.
Then Aending forward. he kissed tho Coun-
trembled under .the. cartss, though she was
hardly aware of i, for her eyes were0n her
n.sbaqd Nh nn daily dinersasns dislike 9r
hinH b" hshnd the countess overheard
Sagan and the Duke-eacl man gratifying the
spleen Of the moment mt the expense Of a wo-
man, who was 9bigg.d TO submit, 70 their Dis;
courtesy. OF all the guests, Mile. Sepdorf
alone stood erect. forgetting. in her indigna-
ton. to Joir in the general obeisance. The
Grand Duke. looking up, found her flushed and
flashing, and surer!atvely handsome. His
nabby cheeks twitched and his bleUrod eyes
frightened;
| can at least claim the right your Duke to
salute you, he said steprng toward her.
Observation-Disclosures sank into an exaggerated
courtesy. thus udroitly avoiding the Duke = out
stretched hand and ready lips. His feeble legs
failed. he stumbled forward and pitched into
tho arms Of Elmur who SET him upright, with
a gentle skilfuluess that almost cheated the
eyes Of the spectators.
The Duke slightly shaken and exceedingly
ANNOYED. TUNED upon the girl:
"lfademo's elle grows proudp
Forgive me, sire: ] did not dream that you
would stoap so low rejoined the girl, with ap-
parent humility
III you will not accept the salute OF your
Duke. made noise!le, may | ask you to what
you aspire?' he added c0ntemptuous!y,
Valerie was not OF n meek spirit and she saw
a way In which she might revenge Isolde. little
Comprehending the far reaching consequences
OF h"r thouRhtless words.
81 nat,irn 20 H.. N, al - honor m tho Grand