The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-09

" enough, it was his palIor tnar wa,
against him; from time to time he
turned chalky, q ghastly white. His
lips were as thin as a line drawn by Il
paint brush; his eyebrows met in 4 per-
petual frown.
An hour winged by, freighted With
testing, confessions and laughing
words; smiles and diamonds flashed;
the magic Of the deep mirrors reflected
in an infinitude Of blue distance every
gesture, every candle flame. Cantal
and T sank into reyerie. The coffee
was smoking in its transparent cups;
Cantal, with a Havana between his
lips, was wrapping himself in blue
rings, like d demigod in cloud. Baron
ron H., with half closed eyes, q
glass Of champagne in his pale hand,
leaned back on 4 diyan. He seemed to
be following closely the magical modu-
lations Of the nocturnal duet in ''Tris-
tan and Isolde" played with much
feeling by Susannah. Antonio and Clio
The Fair, with locked hands. listened.
radiant, to the music.
I listened, too, looking the while at
our three Graces. All wore velvet that
night. Antonio, Of the violet eyes, was
in black. Against the severe line Of
the decolletage her throat and. shoul-
ders rose like veritable Carrara. She
had a narrow gold ring on her little
finger, and three sapphire cornfowcrs
shone in her chestnut hair that fell in
two svf. braids far below her waist.
Clio the Fair, an exquisite blond, with
brown eyes-the goddess Of imperti-
nence, a iisenchanted young person
whom Prince Soltikof had baptized by
pouring champagne foam on her hair
wore we'll nodded green velvet gown
and a ruby necklace. This young ere
ole of 20 was quoted as the model Of
all the reprehensible virtues. She
would have bewitched the profoundcst
philosopher Of Greece OF the austerest
metaphysician Of Germany Susan
nah Jackson, the Scottish Gree, with
night black hair, in red velvet. looked
like 4 dark lily-the meaning OF her
name, by the way, in Hebrew, she told
me. A red, green or black mask hung
from each belt
When Susannah left the piano took
q bouquet from the table and offered it
to her with jest: "You are diva!
Wear one Of these flowers for the sake
of unknown admirers" She gracious
" fastened spray Of hortensia in her
bodice. 81 don't read anonymous let
ters" she said. laying the rest OF my
.ssalaam" on the piano.
"Ah, cold Susannahw cried Cantal,
laughing. "You have come into the
world merely to show us that snow
bmnS."
At this moment Joseph entered car
rying bowl Of iced punch, for we had
resolved to drink like lords. Baron
Saturn seemed restless. I saw him pull
out his watch, draw q ring off his fin
ger and give it to Antonio and rise from
his seat.
''Lord Of distant. regions" I called
out to him. between two puffs Of
cigar, .you mustn't think of leaving US
for an hour yet. You'll pass for myste-
rlous, and that's the worst Of TASTE"
accept my apologies" he replied.
@but q duty that cannot ignore and
that brooks no delay calls ne away.
Pray believe that I am hopelessly in
your debt for the charmed hours spent
here"
.Is it really a duel. then?" asked An
tonie nervously.
"Stay with us and save cold. Look
at us; listen and decided" said Cantal.
Gentlemen" said Baron Saturn, II
will confess that am blind and deaf
as often as G0d permits"
This incomprehensible speech plung-
ed us into the most absurd conjectures.
We looked at each other with an awk-
ward smile. not knowing what to think
Of this Jest, when suddenly it flashed
across me where I had first seen the
man. For a space Of second every
thing about me seemed bathed In red
light a light that came from our guest.
the foreigner. whispered
In his ear:
Monsieur, pardon me If l am wrong,
but l. believe. l had the pleasure Of
meeting you five or six years ago at
Lyons. at A o'clock one morning. in a
public square"
Saturn raised his head and looked at
me intently. "Ah" he said. 'ls it pos
sibleY'
EYES," 1 went on, looking at him in
tently. -'Wait bit-in that square
there stood melancholy object that l
was dragged to see by two student
friends and that I've sworn never to
look on again."
"Indeedw observed Saturn. And
what was this object. if I am not in-
discreet In askingY
"a scaffold; q guill0tine, monsieur,
II my memory serves me. Yes, 1t was
the guillotine. Now I'm sure Of it!'
These words had passed in a very
low tone between us. Cantal and the
ladies' stood talking near the piano.
'sThat's It! / remember" l added,
raising my voice. What do you say
to my memory? Although you drove
by very quickly. your carriage, de-
layed moment by mine, let me catch
q glimpse Of you in the torchlight. The
stamped your face on
my mind. You had absolutely the
same expression then as now"
"Ah, ahw he replied. "lt is true.
You speak with great accuracy, ad-
->.4 u Axd lsia ct..id don't larnh ON rn mn