Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-15
CHAPTER XIII.
Observation-Disclosures.

I" HE great Gothic apartment
was ablaze with light from
| n hundreds of wax candles in
sconces set between the
banners on the wall, or in the massive
candelabra standing upon the long
table which was glistening with a
gorgeous service of rare and mas
sive plate Ancient flagons Of curl
GUS shapes from Flanders, cups from
| Italy that Cellini might have chased
exquisite dishes of the finest Sevres
| pate tendre, the royal porcelain of
France, first coming into use at that
time-Madame de Pompadour's one
good gift to humanity-were ranged
upon the board. Wine of the rarest
vintage, fabulously old and each drop
| priceless. sparkled in the tall crystal
goblets which some rowing ancestor
| had brought from Venice. The
damask linen cloth was strewn with
strange and beautiful orchids from
the matchless Conservatives of the
chateau, their odd shapes and Law
ender hues wildly outlined against
| the snowy napery.
| Servants in the gorgeous medieval
livery of the de Rohans fitted noise-
lessly about serving the numerous
guests. Musicians from one of the
ships in the harbor discoursed sweet
melodies in an adjoining chamber. In
short, nothing had been left undone
to give honor and magnificence to the
| feast. The resources of the chateau
had been lavishly displayed, and Yer
sailles itself could scarcely have af-
forded more splendid showing of
luxurious elegance and wealth.
Around the board were grouped men
bearing the names of some of the
noblest families in France At the
head, of course, sat the Marquis de
ChabotRohan himself, old Jean.
Renaud standing erect behind his
chair. On his right, in the seat OF
honor, was placed Admiral de Con-
fans, who, in addition to his exalted
naval rank, was also marshal of
France. Next to the marshal-admiral
was placed the venerable and princely
archbishop of Vannes. Below him sat
his hfghness the Prince de Beauffre-
mont-Listenois the vice admiral of the
Overwhelmingly not destined to
I add to his renown in the coming cam.
paign.
After these in order of rank were
ranged the chief officers and captains
OF the van division of the great French
Armada. Among them, near the foot
OF the table, sat Denis de Wire. He
had been duly exchanged since his ar
rival and promoted to the rank oil
capitaine-de-fregate. and recently ap.
pointed executive officer Of LIE These
still under the command of the Conte
de Kersaint de Kerguelen.
Grafton's glance took in this line
with one quick survey, and then turned
to the other side of the table. His gaze
swept past the marquis and rested
upon the person who sat at his LEFT
hand. This place was occupied by the
granddaughter of the house. He
looked at her for second, then closed
! his eyes as if the sight had dazzlet
him Never had he seen her SO beau
tiful, never had she presented Sc
splendid ard, glorious picture. No
in his most rapturous lovers dream
had he imagined this.
She wore dress of pale violet satin
with pippings of white and laclng
, of silver over the pointed bodice
was cut low, of course, after the fash
ion of the day, and afforded a full view
of her dazzling neck and shoulders
The gaze of other men upon then
seemed to Grafton a proclamation.
She was perfect blaze of diamonds
The jewels of centuries, known an,
storied in the de Roman traditions, ha,
been wrought by cunning artificers in
to rare and beautiful forms to pre-
sent fit setting for her radian
! beauty. A coronet of gems flashed il
the maZes OF her powdered hair Dia
mond stars caught the bertha o
, matchless point lace which fell low
over her corsage; diamond cluster
l fastened the little white plume tina
curled backward, like sunbeam in
twilight, over her hair, rising softl
: from her sweet brow in the fashion
: of the time.
Low at her corsage she wore buncl
of priceless orchids whose purple an
: violet hues shot with touches of gol
2 blended SO eXquisitely with the fab
t rio of her gown.
: Grafton had eyes for no one but hel
He had known that she was beautifr
2 even in the simplicity in which sh
had always been robcd when he ha
seen her He had known that sh
was the fairest of women, to him a
any rate, but he never realized unit
now how magniflcently royal she wa
in her rare and exquisite lovelines.
His heart sank as he looked at he,
. She was one in a world Surely thi
treasure in which Nature summed u
= the achievements of the past and ar
ticipated the possibilities of the fl
ture could not be for him! But if nc
for him. for no one, he swore. Yet h
felt an intense sympathy for poor d