The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18

the throat with bunch of blazing jewels.
Under these soft draperies, tinkling in
time with the movements Of an otherwise
noiseless tread there sounded ever the
faint note Of the little bell. At the toe
Of shoes otherwise silent, there peeped
in and out the flash Of diamonds, and in
the dark masses of her hair, shifting as
she trod beneath each new sconce in
turn. and catching more and more bril-
lance as she advanced, there smoldered
the flame Of mass of scntillating gems.
A queens raiment was that Of this un
known beauty, and she herself might have
been queen as she swept down the
great hail. scornfully careless of the eyes
Of those other beauties. -
She stepped to the place at the regents
right hand. with head high and eyes I'M
dropping. For a dramatic instant she
paused. as though in the rehearsal of a
part-a part Of which it might be said
that the regent was not alone the author.
This triumph of woman over other women
this triumph Of vice over other vice, Of
effrontery over effrontery akin-this could
not have been so planned and executed
by any but a woman. One another these
beauties might tolerate, knowing one an
others frailties as they did; yet the ele-
gance, the dsdain the Indifference of this
| neWcomer-this they could not support!
Hatred sat in the bosom of each woma n
there as she swept her courtesy to the
new guest Of the regent, who took her
place as of right at the head Of the board
and near the regents arm.
"Our gentlemen are somewhat late this
! evening" exclaimed Philippe. "'Tis too
bad the Able Dubois could not be with us
tonight to administer clerical consola- :
tion.
"Ah! lie drole Dubois" exclaimed Ma
dame de Tencin.
And that vagabond, the Due de Richie
| l1eu-but we may not wait. Again ladies'.
the glasses, or Bechamel will be ag-
grieved. And finally, though I perceive
most of you have graciously unmasked,
let me say that the moment has now ar
| rived when we make plain all secrets''
he turned his gaze upon the woman
at his right. AS though at a signal. she
| half rose. upclasped the circlet of gems at
her throat, and swept back across the
| arm of her chair the soft garment which
enveloped her.
A sigh a long breath of amazement
broke from those other danes Of Paris.
Not one OF them but was stated with the
| blaze Of diamonds. the rich, red light of
| rubies and the fathomless radiance of
| sapphires. Silks and satins and cloth OF
| gold and silver had few novelties for
them. The costumers of Paris, center of
the world of art, even in those times OF
unrlvaled extravaganza and unhridled
self qualification, held no new surprise for
| these beauties. possessed so long of all
that their Imagination required or that
princey liberality could supply. Yet here
| indeed was surprise.
AS she stood at the regents right calm
| ly and composedly looking down the lone
/ board as she arranged her drapery before
reseat ting herself, this new favorite Of the
regent appeared in the full costume Of the
American native! A long soft tunic OF
| exqu1sitely dressed white leather fell be-
! low her hips 1ntricately embroidered in
the native, bead work OF America, and
! stained with great blotches of color done
| In the quilts Of the porcupine-heavy reds
sprightly yellows, and deep blues. Down
the seams Of this loose-titting tunic de-
| pended little waving fringes. The bell
which caught it at the waist was wrought
| likewise in beads Beneath the level OF
the table. as she stood, the inquiring eyes
might not so slearly see: yet the white
| leggings, fringed and beaded, and COW
cred by a sweeping blanket of snowy
| bucksl<in. might have been seen to finish
| at the ankle and blend In texture and or.
namentation with tiny shoes, which COW
cred the smallest foot yet seen in Paris+&
shoes at the side of which there danglet
the little bells of metal whose tones ha(
| told her coming.
Here and there upon the bead work OF
| the native artist, who had made thi!
attire at the expense Of so much patien
effort. there blaZed the changing rays O.
| real gems, diamonds, rubies. emeralds-
every stone known as precious. AS thu
full bosom of the scornful beauty rose
and fell there were cast about In spray!
Of light the reflections Of these gems
Bracelets of dull, beaten metal huns
about her wrists In her hair were orna
ments Of some dull blue store. Barbaric
beautiful, fascinating, savage she surel.
seemed as she met unruffled the startled
gaze Of these beautiful women of thu
court. who never, at even the most tancl
full bal masque In all Paris, had seel
costume like to this
Ladies, la vola!' spoke the regent
Ma belle sauvage!
The newcomer swept a careless courtes!
| as she took her seat. AS yet she hat
| spoken no word. The door of the love-
end Of the hall opened.
} His Grace lie Due de Richelieu,' an
nounced the attendant, who stood beneath
: the board.
: There advanced into the room will
. slouchy, lll-bred carriage, a young maj
whose sole reputation was that OF being
the greatest rake in Paris, the Due de-
!, Richelieu, half gamin, half-nobleman
who counted more victims among TITLED
ladies than he had fingers on his hands
whose sole concern of living was to pla1
, some new impassioned avowal, some new
and pitiless abandonment. This creature
!. meeting the salute of the regent, an(
| catching at the same moment a view o
the regents guest, found eyes for nothing
else, and stood boldly gazing at the fac
of her whom Paris knew for the first tim
and under no more definite title than tina
, Of Belle Savage
Pray you, be seated, Monsieur lie Due,
, said the regent, calmly, and the latter wa
, wise enough to comply.
: Your Grace" said Madame de Sabran
, was it not understood that we were t
, meet tonight none less than the wizard
Monsieur L'as?"
Monsieur Las will be with us, and hi
= brother" replied Philippe But now
ask you to bear witness to the shrewdnes
Of your old friend Philippe in entertain
ment. I bethought me that, as we wer
to have with us the master OF, the Mes
sasebe, it were well to have with US ais
the typifed genius of that same Mes
sasebe. Twas but little conceit of m
, own. And why-mon enfant, what is
r to you? What do you know of our con
troller of finance?" -
t suddenly gone white with a pallor visibl
i even beneath its rouge and patches Sh
t had turned, as though to push back he
I chair from the board, would have ariser
r would have spoken, perhap s; yet act an
v gesture were at the time unnoticed
- To be continued tomorrow.
a HE WAS TOO FAST III
e The Office Boy, President of a Trus