The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-12-03

the door. Nearly all the costumes were
rich. Some were original. Among the
latter was, a clown. His costume was
I'm perfect keeping. Indeed, his whole
makeup, his insolent eye coarse lips,
high cheek bones and Il beard so red
that 1T seemed TO emit flames in the
reflection OF the dazzling lights were
In accord. He carried In his left haiHI
a canvas banner, upon which were
painted six or eight pictures, coarscly
designed like those found In strolling
fairs. In his right he waved n 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 81
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 opportuni-
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. Fauvcl had not assumed a fancy
costume, but merely threw over his
| shoulders Il short silk domino. On his
arm leaned Nine. Fauvel, nee Yalcn-
tine do Ia Verberie, who graciously
greeted her friends. Hcr beauty had
once been remarkable, and tonight the
effect of the soft wax lights and her
freshness of youth. No II would have
supposed her to be forty-cight 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 cmbraSure of
n window, where he kept his eyes upon
a couple not far off. 1t was Madeleine,
dancing with n splendidly dressed doge
the Marquis dc Clameran. He APP
| pStiSu W NC tNSiIlIit, lNJuN SliblCb llN
to all appearances triumphant. At the
end of n quadrille he leaned over his
| partner and whispered compliments
with the most %unboundcd admiration.
She seemed to listen, if not with pleas,
urc, at least without repugnancc, now
smiling and now Struggling her Shout
dcrs.
"Evidcntly," muttered the clown,
this noble scoundrcl is paying court to
the bankers niece. So / was right yes
terday. But how can Mile. Madeleine
listen so graciously to his flattcry?
Fortunately Prosper is not here"
He was interrupted by n distinguish
ed looking elderly man in Il Venetian
mantle, who said to him:
"You know, Nj. Yerduret"-half seri-
ously, half neutrality-suspicious. you
promised me?"
The clown bowed respectfully, but
with not the slightest shade OF humil.
ity.
81 remember" he replied.
"But do not be %imprudent, 1 beg of
you"
Monsieur the count need not be un-
easy; he has my promise."
every good. 1 know what that
MEANS"
The count walked off, but during his
short colloquy the quadrille had end
ed, and the clown lost sight of M. de
Clameran and Madeleine.
~ shall find them near Nine. Eau
vel" thought he.
And he at once started to search
among the THONG for the bankers
wife.
Incommoded by the sitting heat,
Nine. Fauvel had sought a little fresh
air in the grand picture gallery, which,
thanks to the talisman called gold, had
been transformed into n fairylike gar
den, filled with orange trees, %japonicas,
laurel and many rare plants. The
clown saw her seated lear a grove not
far from the cardroom. Upon her
right was Madeleine. On her left
stood Raoul dc Layers, dressed in a
costume of Henry III.
~ must confess" muttered the clown
from his post Of observation, chat the
young scamp is very handsome"
Madeleine was very sad. She had
plucked n camellia from n plant near
by and was mechanically pulling 1t r
pieces az she sat with her eyes down
cast. Raoui and Mime. Fauvel were
sitting together in conversation. Their
faces were composed, but the gestures
of n and the trembling of the other
betrayed p~reoccupation and a serious
discussion. In the cardroom sat the
doge, NJ. de Clameran, so placed rs to
have full view of Nine. Fauvcl and
Madeleine, although himself concealed,
ut is the continuation OF yesterdays
scene" thought the clown. "If 1 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 a bejeweled Persian. At the same
moment Raoul won't into the cardroom
and whispered a few words to De Cha.
meran.
"Thero 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 q
commotlOn In the picture gallery. There
was to be n wonderful minuet danced
in the ballroom. Tie Countess dc
Commarin and the Princess Korasoff
with her superb cmeralGs, which were
reported to be the finest I'm the world
had both arrived. In an instant the