The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-02

us me nap1t OF. youth ana love.

When the night fell they separated
reluctantly, to meet again by her APP
| pointment in half an hour in the great
hall, for what reason he knew not. That
she wished it was sufficient for him.
There had come into Elizabeths head
a quaint conceit. She wished to sur
prise him. AS she left him she ran
hastily to the ancient wardrobe in her
private apartment in which, with the
prudent forethought of her ancestors.
her mothers wedding robe was laid
away in sprigs of lavender. Hastily
dohing her own garments and assisted
by the skillful fingers of her maid she
arrayed herself therein.
The body of the dress was of heavily
brocaded white satin, worn over mod
crate hoops; the bodice was cut low
and square across the neck and Shout
ders and terminated in a pointed
stomacher of delicate pale blue, laced
over the front with silver cord. The
short, rather full sleeves edged with
priceless lace left the sweet young
arms bare to the dimpled elbow. The
overdress or pannier, looped with gold
cord on either side, was of a fugitive
shade of pale wild rose; the dress
was lifted in front to show her dainty
feet in their diamond buckled, pre-
posterously high heeled, pointed toed,
blue satin shoes and rose colored. gold
clicked stockings. When she stood
up little train swept the floor.
T1,a >II ;c% of
was very decollete; she blushed at the
thought of it; but as it was in the
picture, she draped it with delicate
tulle. less white than her neck itself,
and caught here and there by tiny
diamond stars, and so She put it brave
ly on. To redress her hair was an
easy matter; the low couture, with the
hair unpowdered and rolled above her
broad low brow, after the style of the
beautiful but venal Pompadour, and
adorned with three delicate white os-
trich tips, and with string of pearls
intertwined in its mashes, was most
becoming. With eager hands rum
maging among her mothers jewels, she
soon found and twined the brilliant
necklace of the picture about her
throat: on her breast she pinned a
great sunburst of diamonds, in the
midst of which flashed cleaning
sapphire. A little black patch or two
On her cheeks completed her prepara-
tions.
Then, full Of anticipation for her
lover, she ran down to the hall. To
her great disappointment the room was
empty; he had not yet come. She
waited moment; her eyes fell upon
the frame from which the remnants
Of the tattered painting had been re-
moved. which was leaning on dais in
front of an alcove against the wall.
just beneath the spot where the pic
ture had hung. A new thought oc-
CURED to her. Why not? She eagerly
pushed the old chair behind the frame.
arranged it as it had been in the pic
ture, and sat down in exactly the same
position her mother had assumed when
the portrait had been painted. She
had often praeticed it before the mir
ror, and had acquired the pose per-
fectly.
The rich, dark old tapestry of arras
formed an appropriate background.
and life and love and expectation
threw light in her eyes and painted
uDon her cheeks hues that no skill
however cunning. could have duplicat-
ed. no palette save that of Nature in
her rarest mood supplied. The girl
had forgotten for the moment her en-
gagement to another; she had forgotten
the impending fate which hung over
the man she truly loved. She was only
a woman, loving. beloved, waiting
The thought of his surprise. the con-
seriousness of her own beauty, deepened
the color on her cheeks and the palpi-
tation of her bosom told of the beating
of her heart.
She looked hastily about her, and as
the door, opened settled herself in the
position of sweet repose of the picture
Never had earth borne fairer woman.
The first sound that struck her ear was
the somewhat harsh voice of her
guardian. A wave of disappointment
swept across her. She half rose as if
to discover herself and then as she
heard her lovers voice she sank back
and waited. motionless and eXpectant.
Lieutenant Barry O'Neill, marquis
de Richemont. bid you good evening""
said the admiral genially.
"Sir. good evening to YOU" replied