The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-06-16


broke from those other danes of Paris.
Not one of them but was stated with
the blaze of diamonds, the rich, red
light of rubies and the fathomless
radiance of sapphires. Silks and satins
and cloth of gold and silver had few
novelties for them. The costumers of
Paris, center of the world of art, even
in those times of unrvaed extrava-
gance and unbridled self-gratification,
held no new surprise for these beau
ties possessed so long of all that their
imagination required or that prncely
liberality could supply. Yet here in
deed was surprise.
AS she stood at the regents right,
calmly and composedly looking down
the long board as she arranged her
drapery before reseating herself, this
new favOrite of the regent appeared
in the full costume of the American
native! A long soft tunic of eXquisitely
dressed white leather fell below her
hips, intricately embroidered in the ma
tive bead work of America, and stained
with great blotches of colors done in
the quilts of the porcupine-hcavy
reds sprightly yellows, and deep blues.
Down the seams Of this loOse-fitting
tunic depended little waving fringes.
The belt which caught it at the waist
was wrought likewise in beads Be
meath the level of the table, as she
stood. the inquiring eyes might not
SO clearly see; yet the white leggings,
fringed and beaded, and covered by n
sweeping blanket of snowy buckslin,
might have been seen to finish at the
ankle and blend in texture and Orna-
mentation with tiny shoes, which coy
cred the smallest foot yet seen in
Pars-shoes at the side of which there
dangled the little bells of metal whose
tones had told her coming.
Here and there upon the bead work
Of the native artist, who had made this
attire at the expense of so much pa
tient effort, there blazed the changing
rays of real gems, diamonds, rubies,
emeralds-every stone known as pre-
cious. AS the full bosom of the scOrn-
ful beauty rose and fell there were
cast about in sprays of light the reilec-
lions of these gems Bracelets of dull
beaten metal hung about her wrists.
In her hair were ornaments of some
dull blue stone. Barbaric beautiful,
fascinating, savage she surely seemed
as she met unruffled the startled gaze
of these beautiful women of the court,
who never, at even the most fanciful
bal masquc in all Paris, had seen cos
tune like this
Ladies, la vOila!" spoke the regent.
"Ma belle sauvage!"
The newcomer swept careless cOur-
tesy as she took her seat AS yet she
had not spoken word
Your grace" said Madame de Sa-
bran, was it not understood that we
were to meet tonight none less than
the wizard, Monsieur L'as?"
Monsieur Las will be with us, and
his brother" replied Philippe. But
now | ask You to bear witness to the
shrewdness of your friend Philippe in
entertainment. | bcthought me that,
as we were to have with us the master
of the Messasebe, 1t were well to have
with us also the typilied genius of that
same Messasebe. Twas but little
enfant, what is il to you? What do
you know of our controller of flnance?"
The face of the woman at his right
had suddenly gone white with a pallOr
visible even beneath its rouge and
patches. She half turned, as though to
push back her chair from the board,
would have arisen, would have spoken
perhaps; yet act and gesture were at
the time unnotced.
His excellency, Monsieur Jean Las,
lie controleurgeneral," came the soft
tones of the attendant near the door
Monsieur Guillaume Las, brother OF
the controleur-general."
The eyes of all were turned toward
the door. Every petted belle OF Paris
there assembled shifted bodily in her
seat, turning her gaze upon that man
whose reputation was the talk of all
the realm of France.
"Ah, Monsieur Las, Monsieur Las"
exclaimed Philippe Of Orleans, stepping
forward to welcome him and taking
the hand of Law in both his own.
you are welcome, you are very well
come indeed. The soup will be with US
presently, and the wine of All is with rs
now. You and your brother are with
us; and all at last is we'll These ladies'
are, as | believe, all within your ac-
quaintance You have been present at
the salon of Madame de Tencin You
know her grace the Duchess de Faiari,
recently Madame d'Artague? Mademol-
selle de Caylus you know very Well,
aud of course also Mademoiselle Aisse.
la belle Circassienne-but what
Diable! Have you gone mad? Come,
is the sight of my guest too much for
you also. Monsieur Las?"
There was irritation in the tone
with which the regent uttered this pro-
fest, yet he continued:
Monsieur Las, It's but little sur
prise had planned for you. Mademoi-
selle, my princess of the Messasohe,
let me present Monsieur Jean Las,
king Of the Messasebc, and hence your
sovereign This is my fair unknown,
whose face have promised you should
see to-night-this, Monsieur Las. is my
princess, the one whom have seen fit
to honor this evening by the wearing
of the chief gem Of France"
The regent fumbled for an instant at
his fob. He stepped to the side OF the
faltering figure which stood arrayed
in all It's savage fiRery. One move
ment, and upon the dark locks which
fell about her brow there blazed the IN
speakable fires Of a stone whose mag