The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-27
Gbe Maid OF maiden Eame>
BY AMELIA E. BARR.
Copyright, 1900, by Amelia e.

| my aunt's to discuss the dresses and
ceremonies proper for a very fine we'd
ding"
For your own wedding, in fact. Is
not that SOP"
well, then?"
well, then, who knows more on that
subject than Joris Hyde? Was 1 not last
year at Lady Betty Somer's splendid
nupuals, and at Fanny Paget's and the
countess of Carlisle's? Indeed. I main
tain that in such a discussion I am
an absolute necessity. And 1 wish to
know Nine. Jacobus I have long wished
10 Know her. Upon my honor I think
ner 10 De one of the most interesting
women in New York
Will advise you a little. Save your
compliments until you can say them to
my aunt. l never carry a word to any
one -
Then. take me with you, and 1 will re-
peat them to her face
SO? Well, then, here we are. at her
say-you must make your own excuses,
sir
AS she was speaking she assembled the
whlte steps leading to a very handsome
prlcK mouse, on the west side of Broad
way. 1t had white iron piazzas. and a
fine shady garden at the back, sloping
down to the river bank, and was alto
gether on the outside, the very similitude
of a wealthy and fashionable residence
The. door was opened by very dark
man. Who.5Was not a negro, and who
was dressed In splendid and outland-
lsh manner-a scarlet turban above his
straight black hair, and gold-hooped ear
rings, and long coat or tunic, heavily
embroidered in strange devices.
He was an Algerine pirate,' whis-
pered Arenta. MY uncle Jacob brought
hit
would not, not for moment"
AS soon as the front door closed Joris
perceived that he was in an unusual
house. The scents and odors of all
strange countries 1oated about it. The
hall contained many tall jars full of pun
gent gums and roots; and upon its walls
the weapons of savage nations were
crossed in idle and harmless fashion
They went slowly up the highly polished
! stairway, into a large, low parlor facing.
the vivid, everyday business drama of
Broadway; but the room itself was like
an Arabian Nights dream; for the east
ern atmosphere was supplemented by
diVans and sofas, covered with rare cash
mere shawlS and rugs of Turkestan,
and with cushions of all kinds of Oriental
splendor. Strange tables of wonderful
mosaic work held ivory carvings of price
less worth, and porcelain from unknown
lands Gods and goddesses, from the
yellow Gehanna of China and the unut-
terable idolatry of India, looked out with
brute cruelty, or sempeternal smiles from
every odd corner, or gazed with a fasci-
mating PRESENCE from the high chimney
piece upon all who entered.
The effect upon Hyde was instantaneous
and uncanny. His Saxo-Dutch nature
was in instant revolt against influences
so foreign and unnatural. Arenta was
unconsciously in sympathy with him, for
she said, with a shrug of her pretty
shoulders, as she looked around, st have
always bad dreams after a visit to this
ROOM
Hyde watched her fitting about the
strange room, and thought of a little
brown wren among the poisonous, vivid
splendors of tropical swamp flowers, so
out of place, the pretty, thoughtless
Dutch girl looked among the spoils of
far India and Central America, and of
Arabian and African worship and work
mapship. But when the door opened
and Nine Jacobus, with soft, gliding
footsteps entered, Hyde understood
| how truly the soul, if given the where
withal. builds the habitation it likes
best. Once possessed of the marvellous
beauty, and yet extraordinarily inter
esting, she seemed the very genius OF
the room and its strange, suggestive
belongings. She was unusually tail,
and her figure had kept its urdulating,
stately grace. Her hair, dazzlingly
white, was piled high above her ample
! brow with jeweled combs and glittering
pins. Her face had lost its fine oval
and youthful freshness. but who of any
| feeling or intelligence, would not have
preferred the worn countenance, ex-
pressing in a thousand sensitive shades
and emotions the story of her life ami
| love? And if every other beauty had
failed, Angelica's eyes would have
softly black, slow moving, or again in
a moment flashing with the fire that lay
hidden in the dark pit of the iris
/ 1t was said that her slaves adored her
and that man who came within her
influence had been able to resist hcr
power-no man, perhaps but Capt. ia
cobus; and he had not resisted he had
been content to exercise over her a
greater power than her own. He had
made her his wifa he had 1avished on
her for ter years the spells of the four
| quarters of the world; and his Worship
! Of her had only been equaled by her
passionate attachment for him Ten
years of love, and then parting and ST.
| lence-unbroken silence. Yet she still
| insisted that he was alive, and would
| certainly come back to her With this
faith in her heart she had refused to
put On any symbol of mourning
She came in with a smile of welcome.
She was always pleased that her fine
home should be seen by those strange
TO it, and perhaps particularly pleased
that Gen. HyGe's son should be her Wis