Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-05-21
| Comus and PerpleXitieS. |
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
: BY S. RHETT ROMAN. +;

- and green and blue flames of
the fire, burning ruddily in an open
fireplace, her rounded chin, leaning in
the pink palm of a particularly pretty
hand, and from the expression of her
gray eyes, the fire or the picture of
life she saw in it was not to her hk-
ing.
And yet, that so very pretty a wo-
man, among accessories which indi-
Gated a large command of the good
things of this world, it's pomps and
beauties, including a capable French
maid, just then engaged in putting a
few finishing touches to the evening
gown she expected to wear at the
last carnival ball of the season
should look as if everything was a
delusion and a snare, even some glo-
rious American beauties in a bowl on
the table-was unnatural, ridiculous
and incomprhensible, to say the least.
A smile, half-amused, half-bitter,
fitted over her face, OF was it the
flicker of flames shooting upward
which gave so dreamy and pathetic
a look to the curve of her red lips
and the droop of long lids, half-shad-
ing eyes Of exceptional beauty.
Laying a flimsy, glittering gown
with extreme care on a divan, after
having ascertained that its laces and
shimmering satin were as they
should be, her maid drew up a tabour.
cite and deity and silently prepared
the cup that cheers.
But still Beatrice pondered per
plexedlv and d~isconsolately over he1
problem.
The hall door down stairs opened
and closed with a bang, and a mans
voice was family heard, then a pea
of merry girlish laughter, which
sounds must have in some distressfu
way affected Beatrice's moody rev
erie, for Il hot flush spread over hel
face. Leaning back she took up {
pretty Sevres cup by her side and be
gan to sip her tea in a ~nonchalan'
manner and the careless grace OF {
thoroughly trained in of thu
world.
The gay voice, which was rich ant
resonant, seemed to be answering
some n as it's owner came running
up the stairs. pausing occasionally t.
hear what the deeper masculine tone
were saying in the hall below.
Evidently something of interest
for again o peal of laughter came
unmufied but distinct, through tn
heavy hangings and closed doors o
the luxurious room where Beatric
lounged before The fire.
Again the hall door closed heavily
and that of the room opened quickly
and lifting the PORTER, a young CIR
in a dark riding habit, well held uI
which showed two small paten
leather boots and a suspicion o
buckskin trousers, paused, then cam
rapidly forward.
'Bea, darling, it was perfectly dc
lightful! Just cold enough to max
a good gallop glorious. We pickle
these ferns for you, or, rather, whe
| saw them growing on the edge o
the road, going down into the pref
test ravine you ever saw, ! said hoy
much you loved ferns, and he jumpe
down and picked them. He carrie
them all the way home. We had t
race almost to get here in time TO
dinner. Give me a cup, too, Marie
Pm dying for something to eat O
DRINK. How nice and comfortabl
you look, Bea."
Julie Shelbourne Called Jules
Beatrice's sister, who had Away
been her pet and special care, tire
herself down on the white bearski
rug before the fire, after tossing he
small beaver, gloves and whip on
chair, and leaned her braids of shil
ing golden hair against Beatrice
knees and prepared to sip her tie
and gossip comfortably.
'You don't mean to say you weT
to Harby's gap?" Beatrice said. pas
ing a loving hand owe jules braid
Eyes, indeed. 1t was awfully fla
but he had so much to talk abol
we-a-didn't mind the distance
Jules said laughingly, glancing up
the beautiful face above her.
But the gray eyes remained il
scrutable; only the jewels on Be
trice's hand scintillated and fasht
in the freight, as if some unsteat
movement shook them.
There was a pause, interrupted
the soft rustling to and fro of Mari
the French maid, as she set thin
in order with deft precision, viii
glarcing sharply from two snapT
and obseryant black eyes at the tn
sisters, n much older than Il
other, but both possessors of RAJ
beauty.