Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-15


grounds surpassed it. Tall white
lilies and crimson roses, Towering
orange trees and luscious, loaded
vines. tall myrtle trees, in the midst
of which shone colored lamps and
marble statues, silvery fountains, and
huge vases filled with scarlet flowers.
The moon never shone upon fairer
scene. Among all the numbers who
made their appearance that evening
none were so universally admired as
the two beautiful Englishwomen-
Lady Selwyn and Miss Leigh.
Perhaps in all her life Violante Lady
Selwyn had never looked so lovely.
She had gone that evening with the
express purpose of holding her own,
of doing her best, of tramping down
the shyness and the timidity that dis
tressed her husband, and showed her
to such great disadvantage.
She was the most exquistely dressed.
Countess Sitani had designed the rich
an dbeautiful fabric she wore purpose
" for her 1t was a bTocade; every
alternate thread was white, gold and
violet. The effect was beyond all de-
scription: in one light the dress looked
like snow. with the sun shining on it;
in another. like cloth of gold; and
again. il shone like a large opal, with
inst the same ever-changing, lustrous
hues. Ii was a most decided success,
and the countess prided herself upon
| IT. IT was cut square, showing the
white neck. on which hung brilliant
diamond cross; the wide-hanging
sleeves showed the white rounded arm,
bare to the shoulder, and clasped with
diamond bracelet. The golden hair
fen in waving masses, and bright dia-
monds shone like flame among it. Miss
Leigh looked imperially beautiful, in
superb dress of rich green velvet and
suite of diamonds Mrs. Selwyn
had declined attending the fete. As
Lord Selwyn entered the saloon, he
could not be insensible to the murmur
of admiration that greeted the beauti-
full women whom he had accompanied.
There was dancing first, in the bril-
liantly-lighted ballroom, and Lady
Selwyn was besieged with partners.
Such fair sunny loneliness as hers is
rare amongst the dark proved daugh'
tiers of Italy, and she, on this night at
least. reigned queen.
Then came that for which all were
eagerly waiting-the tableaux. Countess
Sitani had spared neither expense nor
trouble: her pretty little boudoir had
been converted into a dressingroom;
the stage was complete in all its ar
rangements: fine black net stretched
across il made the illusion of the pic
lures perfect There was hushed,
breathless silence amidst the audience
when the curtain was drawn up, re-
vealing the finished and beautiful
scene of Fair Rcsamond and the angry
queen. IL was terrible in its reality.
The picturesque, leafy bower, where
the young maiden had been hidden by
the king: the stern. naughty, imperial
queen. in her regal robes of ermine,
with deadly hatred and deadly purpose
in her beautiful, angry face. In one
hand she grasped a jeweled dagger, in
the other a golden cup-every inch
queen: and kneeling at her feet, with
rich masses Of golden hair falling over
her white dress and reaching TO the
ground. her fair face, so piteous in its
entreaty, so mild in its despair, so
touching in its sweet, simple loneliness,
was raised TO that CT Eleanor the
oneen: her white hands were clasped,
her white arms bare Words could not
render the beauty of the picture; the
stern grandeur and fixed hatred on the
face of the injured queen; the en-
treaty. the fear. and the love on the
features of the golden-haired girl at
her feet.
Men. and women too, gazed with
bated breath; there was a universal
expression of admiration. When the
curtain fell. il was raised again and
; again: people seemed never to tire of
locking. Countess Sitani thought to
herself that had Miss Leigh been in
Queen Eleanor's place, she would most
probably have done as Queen Eleanor
did.
The second picture was equally adj
mireI. although not quite so tragic.
The interior of a room in the kings
palace--a small, oaken room, with
dark oaken furniture-the door OF
which was half open, and looking in
was Queen Katherine of Arragon
black velvet dress fell in picturesque
folds around her; a brilliant diamond
cross shone upon her breast; on her
head she wore small circlet OF
diamonds, with a black, low mantilla;
and the face of Beatrice Leigh, as
Queen Katherine, was very fair to
see: So dignifed, so patient; love and
despair with the shadow of the com
ing evil, so forcibly expressed.
! Lord Selwyn was King Harry. and
! he looked just as that handsome,
amorOUs, debonair king must have
done; slightly ashamed in the pres
ence of that dignified. sorrowing
queen. yet boldly resolved to brave il
out; holding the white hand he had