The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-18

six or eight pictures. coarsely do
signed like those found In strolHn
fairs. In his right he waved /
cry now and then strike his banner
like a quack retailing his wares
Quite a crowd surrounded thh
clown. hoping 20 hear some witt,
speeches and puns; but he kept pea
the door, and remained silent
About half past ten he quilted hi
post.
VI. aud Mce. Fauvel followed bl
their niece Madeleine. had just Ell
tered.
A compact group immediately
formed near the door. During tn,
last ten days the affair of the Ru'
de Provence had been the universe
topic Of conversation; and friends ant
enemies were alike glad 20 seize thi
opportunity of approaching the boni<
er. some to tender their sympathy
and others to offer equivocal condo
lence. which of all things is the mos
eNasperatiug and insulting.
Belonging 10 the battalion Of grave
elderly men, N. Fauvel had not as
suned "a Fancy costume, but merely
threw over his shoulders a short sill
domino.
On bis arm leaned Nine. Tauvel, nee
Valentine de la N,rberie, bowling and
gracefully greeting her numerous
friends.
She had once been remarkably beau
tiful. and tonight the effect of th,
soft wax lights, and her very beaom
ing dress, half restored her youthful
freshness and comeliness No ont
would supposed her TO be 45 year
old
She wore a dress Of the later year,
of Louis the Fourteenth's reign, mag
nificent and severe, of embroidered
satin and black velvet. without tn,
adornment of a single jewel.
She looked so graceful and elegan
in this court dress and powdered hair
that some ill-natured gossips said IL
was a pity to see "A real La Verberie
so well fitted to adorn n queens draw
ing room, as all her ancestors hat
done before her, thrown away upon 4
man whom she had only married fol
his money.
But Madeleine was the object OF
universal admiration, SO dazzinglI
beautiful and queenly did She appear
in her costume of maid of honor
which seemed to have been especially
invented 10 set forth her beautiful
figure.
Her loveliness expanded In the per
fumed atmosphere and soft light OF
the BAH room. Never had her hah
, looked so black, her complexion So eX
| quisite, or her large eyes 50 brilliant
Having greeted the hosts, Made
leine took her aunt's arm, while NJ
Fauvel wandered through the room,
/ in search of the card table. the usual
refuge of bored men, when they ara
enticed to the ball room by thciI
womankind.
The ball was now at its height.
Two orchestras. led by Strauss auc
one of hia lieutenauts, filed the tive
mansions with Intoxicating music
The motley crowd whirled in the
waltz until they presented curious
confusion of velye's Satins, laces an,
diamonds Almost every head anc
bosom sparkled with Jewels the pal
est checks were rosy; heavy eyes now
shone like stars; and the glistening
shoulders of fair women were lil,
drifted snow in All April sun.
Forgotten by the crowd, the clowr
had taken refuge I'm the cmbrasure O0
a window, and seemed TO be meditat
ing upon the gay scene before him
at the same time, he kept his eyes up
on a couple not far or.
1t was Madeleine dancing with a
splendidly-dressed doge. The dog,
was the Marquis de Clameren.
He appeared to be- radiant, reiuve
mated, and well satisfied with the inn
preston he was making upon his part
ner, at the end OF qadrille h,
leaned over her and whispered com
pliments with the most unboundet
admiration; and she seemed TO listen
If not with pleasure, at least with
out repugnance She now and theI
smiled, and coquettishly shrugged hei
shoulders
Evidently" m4ttered the clown
I TINS uOOle scouhdrtl lS paying couI
to the bankers niece; so I was righ
yesterday. But how can Mademoiseli,
Madeleine resign herself 10 SO gra
ciously receive his insipid hattery
Fortunately, Prosper is not her
! now
. lie was interrupted by an clderl.
, man wrapped i'm a Venetian mantle
J who said 20 him:
, "You remember. Monsieur Verdi
, ret this name was uttered half Sc
b. rionsly. half bauteringll what yo
3 promised me"'
A The clown bowed with great re
t spect but not the slightest shade o
humility.
= II remember" Dice replied.
x "liut 40 not be mprujcut 4 bel
e Of you"