The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-04-18

i high cheek bones and q beard so red
that it seemed to emit flames in the
reflection of the dazzling lights were
in accord. He carried in his left hand
a canvas banner, upon which were
painted six or eight pictures, coarsely
designed like those found in strolling
| fairs. In his right he waved little
switch. with which he would every
now and then strike his banner, like a
quack retailing his medicines. A crowd
surrounded this clown, hoping to hear
some witty speeches and puns, but he
kept near the door and remained ST.
lent. About half past 10 he quilted his
| post. NJ. and Nine. Fauvel, followed
by their niece Madeleine, had just en-
tered. A compact group Immediately
formed near the door. During the
| last ten days the affair of Provence
| street had been the universal topic of
| conversation. and friends and enemies
| were alike glad to seize this opportun-
| ty of approaching the banker, some to
assure him of their sympathy, and 9th
ers to offer equivocal coincidence, which
| of all things is the most eXasperating.
Belonging to the body Of elderly men,
NJ. Fauvel had not assumed a fancy
| costume, but merely threw over his
| shoulders a short silk domino. On his
arm leaned Mme Fauvel, nee Valen-
| tine de la Verberie, who graciously
greeted her friends. Her beauty had
once been remarkable, and tonight the
effect of the soft wax lights and her
very becoming dress half restored the
freshness of youth. No one would have
supposed her to be forty weight years
old.
But Madeleine was the object of uni
versal admiration, beautiful and queen
ly in her costume of maid of honor,
which seemed to have been especially
| invented to set forth her superb figure
Forgotten by the crowd, the clown
had taken refuge in the embrasure of
a window, where he kept his eyes upon
couple not far off. 1t was Madeleine,
dancing with splendidly dressed doge
the Marquis de Cameran. He ap-
peared to be radiant, rejuvenated and
to all appearances triumphant. At the
end of quadrille he leaned over his
partner and whispered compliments
with the most unbounded admiration.
She seemed to listen, if not with pleas
ure, at least without repugnance, now
smiling and now Struggling her shoul-
ders.
Evidently muttered the clown.
uthic nnhIn ;e, b
the bankers niece. So was right yes
terday. But how can Mile Madeleine
listen so graciously to his fattery?
Fortunately Prosper is not here"
He was interrupted by distinguish
ed looking elderly man in a Venetian
mantle, who said to him:
"You know, M. Verduret" seri-
ously, half neutrality-suspicious. you
promised me?"
The clown bowed respectfully, but
with not the slightest shade of humil-
ity.
II remember" he replied.
But do not be imprudent, | beg of
you"
Monsieur the count need not be un-
easy; he has my promise"
Every good. know what that
means"
The count walked off, but during his
short colloquy the quadrille had end
ed. and the clown lost sight of NJ. de
Clameran and Madeleine.
II shall find them near Nine. Fau-
vel," thought he.
And he at once started to search
among the throng for the bankers
wife.
incommoded by the Sitting heat,
Nine. Fauvel had sought little fresh
air in the grand picture gallery, which,
thanks to the talisman called gold, had
been transformed into fairylike gar
den, filled with orange trees, japonicas,
laurel and many rare plants. The
clown saw her seated near grove not
far from the cardroom. Upon her
right was Madeleine. On her left
stood Raoul de Lagors, dressed in a
costume of Henry III.
Il must confess" muttered the clown
from his post of observation, ''that the
young scamp Is very handsome"
Madeleine was very sad. She had
plucked camellia from a plant near
by and was mechanically pulling it to
pieces as she sat with her eyes down
cast. Raoul and Nine. Fauvel We're
sitting together in conversation. Their
faces were composed, but the gestures
of one and the trembling of the other
betrayed preoccupation and q serious
discussion. In the cardroom sat the
doge, NJ. de Clameran, so placed as to
have full view of Mme Fauvel and
Madeleine, although himself concealed.
"It is the continuation of yesterdays
scene," thought the clown. 'If could
only get behind those camellias, /
might hear what they are saying"
He pushed his way through the
crowd, but as he reached the desired
spot Madeleine arose and took the arm
of bejeweled Persian. At the same
moment Raoul went into the cardroom
and whispered few words to De Cla-
meran.
'There they are" muttered the
clown. "The two rascals certainly
hold these poor women in their tolls
What can be the secret of their pow
err"
His attention was attracted by a
commotion in the picture gallery. There
was to be wonderful minuet danced
In the ballroom. The Countess de
Commarin and the Princess Korasoff,
with her superb emeralds, which were
reported to be the finest in the world,