The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-19
The
Second Wife
VOLUME III.
CHAPTER 4.

the purpose" was whichh obliged him 20
appear at the palace this special evening.
but she looked up In his face with
sweet, trustful smile. which, II the Hof-
marxchall had seen, would have rendered
him furious with passion, inasmuch as IL
would have assured him OF the perfect
harmony and sympathy existing between
his nephew and the hated second wife.
The dappls-gray horses dashed of, and
I'm few minutes later they were follow
ed by the steady, rather aged trottcrs
bearing the Hofmarschall 10 the concert
at the palace.
BY some means, that no one knew ex-
actly the origin Of. Baron Afainuas sec
ond marriage was generally regarded In
the town as a sort OF mesalliance, IN
. spite Of the noble birth of his nr.de.It was
reported that she wore black silk apron,
and that her chief mode OF spending her
time was in going about the kitchen and
Z cellars, looking after the washing and
servants. and with her key-basket on her
arm. giving out the stores and superip-
tending the cooking: that was all she
cared about. and 10 be a good German
housSs-eper was her highest aim IN life.
II was really too bad Of her and she
Baroness Matnau- the wife OF the rich
est man In the country How different 20
the dear mans first wife, who knew moth
ing at all about the domestic arrange
ments OF the castle who was far too aris-
tocratic and distingue to trouble her head
about anything so far beneath her notics
as experimenting her household. She was
fairy, beautiful lily of the fields. who
only consented to hive on earth so long as
her every caprice was satisfied, her love-
~ person enveloped in the most costly
FABRICS. and her delicate little throat pam
pered with every luxury that wealth could
purchase
Whereas the townspeople. who had new
or seen Lame imagined that because the
report went that her hair was red and
she had tall figure, that she mnst naces-
sarily have broad shoulders. and that her
hanos and feet must be large, ana her
freckles ms
These Impressions had gradually deem
eheo. and been. TO a certain extent con-
nrmed by the strange persistence OF Bar
on Malnua to keep HIS wife away fror,
the gayeties OF the court. owing .,
course. TO his reiuctan nce-so ran the scan
oaI IN the town-to be seen IN pthlio with
wire whose personal attractions were %
slch &c, very mega tive description.
men. too. IT began 10 be whlsnared
aoout tnat this long talked-of tourney ia
plete separation which was about 10 taL,
pace between him and his second wifs
ihis state concert which was tn ,aLa
Pac~ az the palace this special evening
was the nrst entertainment OF the kind
since the death Of the late duke. II was
10 De Followed by ball. and promised
10 be very brilliant affair. for the SttII
young and handsome duchess had eesher-
al around her all the noble fsmilIe. NJ
the neighborhood. besides those of ,hs
town who had right 10 appear In her
magnificent reception-rooms IN answer 10
the royal invitation.
The concert-room itself was brilliantly
iiiumined. as also were all the smaller
rooms which led from H. A huge gas
Chandelier hung from the centre OF the
ceiling, and at intervals along the walls
brightly burning candelabras shed their
hSht into every corner. and effectively
enhanced the briliancy OF the scene At
one end OF the immense music saloon.
opposite TO the orchestra, was an ex-
arranged winter garden, whore
small. cooling fountains OF perfumed wa
ter rose from dainty. lily-formed cups
OF crystal. which were surrounded by ex-
quisite and rare plants from all parts
of the world
All the invites had arrived dressed
in their best and most costly toilets.
Jewels flashed and silk rustlad in every
corner or the room, and a pleasant but
rather loud mumur of conversation was
filing the air with it's sound when sud
denly the door opened afresh, and Baron
Mainau entered. leading on his arm a
graceful. beautiful woman dressed in rich
but pure white from the lovely shoul-
ders 10 the tiny feet cased in their white
satin shoes.
Her sweet. lovely face was very pale,
and a cold, reserved bearing that she
must have borrowed from the r~fsmed
ice maiden Of the mountain, made all
those who were nearest her hush their
voices. and gaze at her with surprise and
curiosity.
Surely that beautiful creature can't
be the young Baroness Mafnau. She
looks like q queen!'
What a lovely woman
What a superb carriagel- Mailman p,ust
be fool not 20 care for such beauty"
What can he the meaning OF n all7"
Such, and hundred similar expres-
sions, escaped the lips OF the by-stand-
crs. who all knew the young baron. as
the bandsome couple slowly traversed
the floor OF the huge room. and they had
not taken nifty steps before every gen
tieman present young and old alike,
vowed In their hearts that 'Nainau was
a lucky dog to have won such a charm
ing girl for his second wife, and "a con-
oedted prig," II he had only brought her
here now to let the world see that "his
taste WAS not so bad" even II he did
intend sending her home. and going TO
the East himself.
But while they wondered and watched
the newly arrived pair. no one noticed
that Rsoul suddenly frightened his hold
on the hand which rested on his arm.
as ~ ne half repented bringing his young
wife among this host OF curious people
10 be stared at and commented upon by
so many admlring eyes and tongues.
and no one heard the tender words OF
newly awakened Jealousy
which he whispered 20 her as they passed
through the crowd.
Here and there he presented her 10 n
few elderly ladies OF his Acquaintance,
but not one OF them seemed 20 under
stand why he uttered the simple words,
my wife" In such a proud. earnest tone:
but as they responded 20 his inyoduc-
tion. and addressed IAane with the va
rious meaningless phrases usual on such
Introd ductlons. they thought within them
selves that this must be some new ca
price OF Baron Mainan's, intended for
The edif,cs tiOn--or not-Of the court, az
time and patl~ace only would prove.
Suddenly the orchestra ceased tuning.