Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-29
CHAPTER XIV.

little WaVeleJSs just uppeu WAIn roam,
on the vine-clad shores. A thousand
stars shone in the dark blue sky, a
thousand sleeping flowers bathed in
silvery mOonbeams, gave their sweet
breath to the night wind. The silver
flowers of the orange trees cleaned
white in the pale moonlight, the pur-
pie grapes hung in thick, dark clus-
tiers; over heaven and earth, over
water and land, over hill and valley
there hung a sweet, fragrant silence
such as one can fancy reigns in the
starry thresholds of the great court
above.
The Villa Pisani was brilliantly IL
Illuminated. The rooms were filled
with guests; the queen of the fete was
Beatrice Leigh. IL had been given
in her honor, and she was the most
beautiful and brilliant woman present
at il.
Her costume of green velvet, with
diamond ornaments, added to the
regal style of her loneliness. So
looked the queens and expresses of
old. when men laid down their lives
W SCI VIC anu uAIu viii a clllllC.
She had said to herself that on this
might, more than on any other. she
would show Lord Vivian Selwyn what
he had lost. Diamonds flashed on her
beautiful neck and white breast, on
her rounded arms that might have
served as a model for a sculptor, from
the thick coils of dark hair that
crowned the graceful, stately head.
On her toilet-table Miss Leigh found
a bouquet of rare camellias-from
Vivian. II was but a little attention
such as a gentleman often pays to the
ladies of his household: but it seemed
TO Beatrice Leigh an emblem OF
triumph She looked, with a nod and
a charming smile, at the face in the
mirror.
Il shall shine her down." she said
and she kept her word.
A little group stood together near
one of the numerous fountains that
played amongst the fiowers-Beatrice
looking superbly beautiful; Countess
Sitani; an English lady, Mrs
Rochester; Lady Selwyn, and Prince
Cesare; they had been admiring a
rare Indian plant. whose flowers re.
sembled crimson bell.
Prince Cesare thought, as he looked
at the group of fair women, that he
had never seen Lady Violante look to
so little advantage. The chief at,
traction in her beauty had always
been its brightness, the light of her
violet eyes, the sheen of her golden
hair, the exquisite coloring of her
face; but tonight she looked dim and
faded-it was as though tears had
washed away all radiance-had
quenched the light of the starry eyes.
She looked pale and wearied; there
was no animation in her manner; she
was distracted, Indifferent, and duh,
differelng far as the moon from the
sun TO the bright, queenly woman by
her side.
"Ah, Miss Leigh" sighed Prince
Cesare, sentimentally, what will
Florence do next week. when it has
lost one of its brightest stars?"
Much as it did before that stan
shone," replied Miss Leigh, with a
low, happy laugh. You know, Prince
Cesare, | leave many stars behind
me-"
But he, looking at Lady Selwyns
pale, sad face, thought one of them at
least was eclipsed.
Lord Vivian Joined the group at
that moment, and he was struck, as he
had never been before, by the superb
beauty of Beatrice Leigh. Shining
down a rival was an occupation so
agreeable to her that her face glowed
with triumph-the diamonds on her
white breast were not brighter than
her dark eyes. Lord Vivian looked at
her, then at his wife, who stood by
her side "eclipsed." He wondered
what Violante could have done to
herself-even her dress seemed either
ill-ftting or ill-chosen.
He asked her if she felt tired, and
his words were cold as they were
courteous. She answered him, mo"
and her voice was, if possible, colder
than his own.
Il came in search of a runaway
partner" said Lord Vivian to Miss
Leigh-"are you ready, Beatrice?"
Her face was good to see, as she
raised it to his.
] This will be our last dance for
many long months" she said. as they
walked away together; "and, Vivian,
when it is ended, shall not care to
dance again."
! why not?" he said, simply. 1t
never entered his head to imagine that
! Miss Leigh was what would be called
flirting" with him.
! Because" she said, promptly, 81
never find another partner like you;
/ every one else seems awkward or
stupid; too tall. or too short"
He interrupted her with a laugh.
you fatter me. Beatrice" he said;
Il had no idea you valued my dancing
so highly"
! I value all you do and all you say"
she replied, and he touched the white,