Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-07-22


Antonio and Clio the Fair with locked /
hands listened, radiant. to the music
h->--- -
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 tho !
decolletago her throat and shoulders
rose like veritable Carrara- She had
narrow gold ring on her little finger
and three sapphire cornfowers shone
In her chestnut hair that fell in two
soft braids far below her waist. Clio
the Fair, an exquisite blond, with
brown eyes-the goddess OF imperti-
nencel-A disenchanted young person
whom Prince SoltikoR had baptized a la
russo by pouring champagne foam on
her hair-wore a well-molded green vel
vet gown aud q ruby necklace. This
young creole OF 20 was quoted as the
model OF all the reprehensible virtues.
| She would have bewitehed the pro-
foundest philosopher OF Greece or the
austerest metaphysician of Germany.
She had just returned from Baden
Baden, laughing as merrily as a child,
and leaving 5000 louis on the green
/ cloth. Susannah Jackson, the Scottish
Gree with night-black hair, I'm red vel
vet, looked Nike q dark lily-the mean
ing 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
bouquet from the table and offered it
20 her with jest: ''You are dival Wear
one of these flowers for the sake of I'M
known admirers" She graciously fas-
tened a spray of hortensia in her bodice
Il don't read anonymous lettersl" she
said, laying the rest of my ~saIaam" on
the piano.
"Ah. cold Susannahl" cried Cantal,
laughing, you have come into the
world merely to show us that snow
burns"
At this moment Joseph entered carry
ing bowl of iced punch, for we had
resolved to drink like lords. Baron
Saturn seemed restless; saw .lira pull
out his watch. draw ring nF his finger
and give it to Antonio, and rise from his
seat.
Lord of distant regionsI" called
out to him, between two puffs of a
cigar, you mustn't think of leaving us
for an hour yet You'll pass for mys-
terious. and that's the worst of taste
Accept my apologies" he replied,
''but duty that cannot ignore and
that brooks no delay calls me away.
Pray believe that l am hopelessly in
your debt for the charmed hours spent
: here
ais II really duel, then?" asked An.
tonic, nervousIy.
"Stay with us and save a cold Look
i at us; listen and decided" said Cantal
Gentlemen" said Baron Saturn, 81
> viii confess that l am blind and deaf
: as often as God permits.n
: This incomprehensible speech
$ plunged us into the most absurd con
lectures. We looked at each Other
with an awkward smile, not knowing
: what to think of this jest, when sudden
" it flashed across me where had frs
! seen the man. For the space of n sec
; ond everything about me seemed
n bathed in red light-a light that can't
,, from our guest Approaching the for
eigner. I whispered In his cart
Monsieur, pardon me il 1 am wrong
: but believe 1 had the pleasure OF meet
IL ing you five or six years ago st Lyons
at four o'clock one morning, in publ
= square"
Saturn raised his head and looked a
~ me intently. "Ahl" he said, lit is posi-
BILE"
> "Yesl" went on, looking at him IN
,; tently. wait a bit-in that squar
= there stood a melancholy object that
D. was dragged TO see by two studer
friends, and that I've sworn never
Q look on again"
ne Indeed" observed saturnp "an
what was that object, If am not indii
TX Greet in asldng2"
-. "A scaffoldl guillotine. monsieu
y If my memory serves me. Yesi 1t WI
10 the guillotine. Now I'm sure OF It'll"
60 These words had passed in very 10
IL tone between us. Cantal and the ladi'
stood talking near the piano.
ng That's it'll remember" adde
us raising my voice. what do you say
AL my memory2 Although you drove
very quickly, your carriage, delayed
IA moment by mine, let me catch Gimp
DO of you In the torchhght. The circuI
IN stance stamped your face on my min
sw You had absolutely the same expire
40 sion then as now"
nu "Ah, ahl" he rephedi sit Is truei y
:, speak with great accuracy, I admit
no And his strident laugh gave me t
on feeling of a pair Of blHnt scissors sa
ar ing a lock of hair.
ue' "One detail among others impress
S.- me-" went on. From a distance
LIS saw you got out near where the Sc
fold was standing, and--unless his
I'm, been deceived by resemblance"
let You have not been deceived. my d.
the h : ,st,,-rad. ..it vraz re-
Gus A. .Hss xvord talt that the conver
ian .;--, hod e,r,1r,, tcv was hunting
uld co~,v,o1nloca nth which 10 chan
the current Of thoughts, when sudd
ice. Is Antonie turned from the piano q
% SAID, somewhat sadly:
ood p a. 49, w, L,,oxw thar. Z.