Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-02-11

| lilies ana crimson roses, HoWerinG
orange trees and luscious, loaded
vines, tall myrtle trees, in the midst
of which shone cciored lamps and
marble statues, silvery fountains, and
huge vases filed 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 II was a brocade; every
alternate thread was white, gold and
violet. The effect was beyond all de-
lscription; in one light the dress looked
like snow, with the sun shining on II;
in another, like cloth Of gold; and
again, II shore like a large opal, with
just the same ever.changing, lustrous
hues II was a most decided success,
and the countess prided herself upon
ii. 1t 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
fell in waving masses and bright dia-
monds shone like flame among it. Miss
Leigh looked imperially beautiful, in a
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 loveliness as hers Is
rare amongst the dark browed 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
Sltani had spared neither expense nor
trouble. her pretty little BOULDER had
been converted into a dressing-room;
l, OF N In al tic -
rangements: fine LACK net stretched
across 1t made the illusion of the pic
lures perfect There was hushed
breathIess silence amidst the audience
when the curtain was drawn up, re-
yealing the finished and beautiful
scene Of Fair Rcsamond and the angry
queen II 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 lneellng 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 Of Eleanor the
queen; 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 gcldon-haired girl at
her feet,
Men, and women too, gazed with
bated breath; there was 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 Eleanors place. she would most
probably have done as Queen Eleanor
did
The second picture WAS equally adj
mired, although not quite so tragic.
The interior Of room in the king $
palace-a small. oakel room, with
dark oaken furniture--the door OF
which was half open, and looking il
was Quecn Katherine Of Arragon A
black velvet dress loll in picturesque
folds around her; brilliant diamond
cross shone upon her breast on her
head she wore a small crclet OF
diamonds, With black, low mantilla;
and the face of Beatrice Leigh, as
Queen katherine, was very fair to
see: So dignihed, 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,
amoruus, debonair king must have
done slightly ashamed in the pres
ence of that diglihed, sorruwiue
queen, yet boldly resolved to brave Il
out: holding the white haul he had