Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-02

| have avoided. But there was no re-
sisting Lady Marion when she chose
to make herself irresistible. There
was something childlike and graceful
In the way In which she looked up tc
Madame Vanira, with absolute wor-
ship OF her genius, her voice, and hel
beauty. She laid her white hand on
Leones.
you will think me very gushing
young lady, fear, Madame Vanira, II
| say how fervently | hope we shall al
ways be friends not In the common
meaning OF the words, but real, true
warm friends until we die. Have you
ever made such compact Of friend
ship with any one?"
Leone's heart smote her, her face
flushed.
YES" she replied; II have once"
Lady Chandos looked up at her
quickly.
with a lady, ! mean?'
mo" said Leone; II have no lady
friends. Indeed, have few friends Of
any kind, though | have many ac-
qualntances.
Lady Marion's hand fingered caress-
ingly on the white shoulder Of Leone.
Something draws me to YOU" she
said; land | cannot tell what 1t ls.
You are very beautiful, but 1t is not
that; the beauty OF woman would
never win me. 1t cannot be altogether
your genius, though 1t Is without peer.
1t Is strange feeling, one can hardly
explnin--as though there was some
thing sympathetic between us. You
are not laughing at me, Madame
Vanira?"
mo, am not laughing" said Leone,
with wondering eyes How strange 1t
was that Lance's wife, above all other
women, should feel this curious, SYM
pathetic friendship for her!
They entered the boudolr together,
and Lady Marion, with pardonable
pride, turned to her companion.
Lord Chandos arranged this room
for me himself Have you heard tho
ilattering, foolish name for me that the
London people have invented? They
call me the queen OF blondes"
THAT Is u very pretty title" said
Leone, they call me n queen, the
queen OF song"
And the two women who were, each
in her way. a queen, smiled at each
other.
you see," continued Lady Chandos,
that my husband used to think there
was nothing in the world but blondes.
have often told him II | bring n
brunette here she Ia quite at dlsad-
vantage; everything Is blue, white,
or silver"
Leone looked around the sumptuous
room. The ceiling was painted by Il
master hand; all the story of Endym-
ion was told there; the walls We're
superbly painted; the hangings were
of blue velvet and blue silk relieved
by white lace; the carpet, of rich vel
vet pile, had a white ground with blue
corn-nowers, so artistically grouped
they looked as though they had fallen
on the ground In picturesque con-
fusion. The chairs and pretty couch
were covered with velvet. A hundred
little trines that lay scattered over the
place told that 1t was occupied by n
lacy of taste. Books II beautiful
bindings, exquisite drawings and pho
tographs, n jeweled fan, n superb bou-
quot holder. flowers costly, beautiful,
and fragrant; room that was fitting
shrine for goddess OF beauty.
My own room" said Lady Chandos,
with smile, as she closed the door;
land what II luxury 1t Is, Madame
Vanlra n room quite your own!
Even when the house Is full of visitors
no one comes hcre but Lord Chandos,
He always takes that chair near those
flowers while he talks to me, and that
Is, think, the happiest hour In the
day. SIT there yourself"
| Leone took the chair, and Lady
Chandos sat on footstool by her
side. It was one OF the most brilliant
and picturesque pictures ever hehcld
The gorgeous ROOM with its rich hang
ings, the beautiful. daTk-eyed woman
with the Spanish face, her dress like
softeucd sunbeams, the fire Of her
ruhies like points OF flame, her whole
self lovely as picture, and the fail
queen OF blondes, with the golden hail
and white roses-a picture that would
have made an artists fortune.
"How pleasant this u.s." said Lady
Chandos. "a few minutes respite from
the music and dancing! DO you low
the quiet moments OF your HE
Madame Vanlra?"
Leone looked down on the fair
lovely face with n deep sigh
mo, think not" she replied. '
like my stage life best"
} Lady Chandos asked in half pity
ing tone:
why did you SO on the stage? Di
, you always like IT."
And Leone answered, gravely:
| "A great SORROW drove me there"
"A great sorrow? How strange