The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-07-31

4 L J trlc lights shOne upon tho
NoN polished floor of the white
and-gold ballroom. The anteroom was
delicately fragrant with the perfume OF
roses; even the great staircase was
banked with flowers. Servants In the
livery OF great house were standing
motionless in long line; little sub
dued whispering passed from one to
the other. At the head OF the stairs
waited Jean Moussin, prince of major
d0mos, tonight unlike himself. white
and anxious.
what does IL mean, Monsieur Nous
sin?" a black-rObed lady's-maid wills
pered in his ear. "Tcn o'clock has
struck, we are all prepared, and no one
comes There is not carriage In the
courtyard; the silence Is as OF the
grave. What does IL mean, Monsieur
Noussinp
Jean Moussin was gray about the
face, and his voice shook. The honor
OF the house was his honor.
run away, foolish child!' he ex.
claimed. "You will he Lusy enough
Immediately. The clocks are fast.
Run back, and do not chatter"
The major-domo walked restlessly
TO and fro. The sound of carriage
wheels In the courtyard would have
seemed the sweetest music TO him.
How wide the door would have stood
open. how low his bow! But from
without there came no sound at all. In
hnI IA. hal
some one was playing the violin.
A servant touched him on the shoul-
der.
Madame In Comtesse would speak
with you, Monsieur Moussinw
II attend, madame" the old man mur-
INJURED.
At once he turned TO obey this sum
mons. He passed with bowed head
through the stately reception room,
around which only n short half-hour
ago he had gazed with pride and pleas
ure. The perfume of the flowers, the
soft splendor of the tapestry "a Kings
legacy, the glitterng vista of the ball
room beyond-ali these things went for
nothing. There was a ghostliness about
these silent rooms, the great, empty
floor polished so perfectly for the feet
OF the dancers. Madame la Comtesse
stood alone.
She herself was the most beautiful
thing there. save that in her face, as
she moved forward TO meet Moussin,
was the look of a frightened child. She
was radiant i'm white and pearls; in her
eyes and features the undimmed splen.
dor of youth; in her carriage and swift.
graceful gestures the charm and dig.
nifty of the woman of culture and
fashion. Moussin bowed low before
her and stood silent.
"Moussln," she exclaimed, what is
the meaning of this? | do not under.
stand. Are all the clocks wrong? Has
anything happened outside"
Madame" he answered. slowly. "thc
clocks are right. 1t is a quarter past
ten"
She moved impetuously TO one of tn,
six high windows and raised the blind
Beneath was a courtyard-empty. The
gates were thrown wide open, and ser
wants stood on either waiting
Outside in tho street the stream OF We
hicles flowed steadily on. She dropped
the blind.
"Moussin." she said "you made IL,
mistake in the date"
Moussin shook his head sorrowfully
Madame" he said, II have exam
ined the card. The date Is correct
Many of the journals. too. have an
nounced that madame receives tonight
Ahw
He sprang 10 the window. The soun,
OF wheels echoed up from the court
yard. Alas. IL was but singl,
brougham! No other carriages fol
lowed II. The long line of carriage
which in the old days had blocked tn
street was absent. Moussin also lc
fall the blind and turned detected.
around.
Madame" he said would II not IN
well If announced to this single Wis
itor that Madame In Comtesse Is in
disposed and docs not receive to
night?"
She shook her mead. She had not TN
blood of race of conquerors In hc
veins for nothing. She moved towar
the reception room.
by no means, Moussin. | will Sc
who this daring visitor may be. BC
sides" she added. resting her sma
white hand tenderly for momcn
upon his shoulder. LIT would he uselcs,
All Paris will know of this to-mol
row."
Moussln hurried forward. A littl
sob caught IN his throat Up the stair
tall. wcll-groomed young Englisl
man made his wondering way A doze
servants sprang forward TO receiy
his coat and hat. Save for those vi,
lins somewhere In the backgroun
there was n hush everywhere. An
this. he had been told. was TO be II
greatest function OF the season in Par
the temperance into society of Il
beautiful young widow of Arman
Count of Bordierc.
Moussn bowed low before him. an
remained deaf to his whispered inte
rogatlon.
Lord Herbert Wentworth
She moved step forward 20 me
him. lie. OF all other men. to con
slsl lie held her fingers and look,