The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-05-25

ped by.
said Chloe to Strephon, For kiss
I'll return thee the choice of your flock.
Said Strephon to Chloe, What bliss:
With it I'll buy Phyllis new frock.
she concluded, throwing Il glance over
her shoulder.
A sudden distaste for the festal fer
ment the laughter and merriment. a
desire to escape from the very exu-
berance of high spirits and cheer led
the soldier to make his way slowly
from the ballroom to the balcony,
where, although not removed from the
echoes of liveliness within. he looked
out upon the quietude of the night.
Overhead stretched the sky, measure
less ocean. with here and there a sill
very star like the light on distant
ship; an unfathomable sea of ether
that beat down upon him. Radiant
and serene in the boundless calm of
the heavens the splendent lanterns
seemed suspended on stationary craft
peacefully rocked at anchor. Long
ings, suppressed through months of
absence, once more found full sway
Susan's words were recalled by the
presence of the count.
Suddenly the song of die Schon-
Drummer" ceased within. and as its
pulsations became hushed many of the
dancers. an elate, buoyant throng.
sought the balcony. Standing in the
shadow near the entrance, aroused
from a train of reflections by this alb
rupt exodus. the soldier saw among
the other merrymakers Constance and
the count. who passed through the
door. so near he could almost have
touched her.
Here she is" said the count as they
approached an elderly lady seated near
the edge of the balcony. "Ah, madam"
he continued to the latter, IF you
would only use your good offices in my
behalf! Miss Carew is cruelty itself
"Why, what has she doneT" asked
the good gentlewoman.
Insisted upon deserving the ball
roomr'
I'm my day" said the elderly ally Of
the nobleman, you could not drag the
young ladies from cotillon or minuet,
and the men would stay till the dawn
to toast them!
"And I've no doubt, madam, your
name was often on their lips" returned
the count CALAMITY, who evidently be-
lieved in the Spanish proverb:
Woo the duenna, not the maid;
Then in love the games well played.
The ally in his cause made some
laughing response which the soldier
did not hear Himself unseen. Saint
Prosper bent his eyes upon the figure
of the young girl, shadowy but obvious
in the reflected light of the bright con
stellations. Even as he gaZed her hand
removed the mask. revealing the face
he knew so we'll In the silence below
the fountain tinkled ever SO loudly as
she stood. half turned toward the gar
den. a silken head covering around her
shoulders. the head outlined without
adornment save the poppies in her hair.
Her presence recalled scenes of other
days-the drive from the races when
her eyes had beamed so softly beneath
the starry luster Did she remember?
He dared not hope so; he did not To
him il brought also harsher memories,
yet his mind was filled most with her
beauty. which appeared to gloss over
all else and hold him. a not impressive
spectator, TO the place where she was
standing. She seemed again Juliet,
stages. the Juliet he had known before
she had come TO New Orleans, whose
genius had transformed the barren
stage into a garden of her own crea-
ton.
And yet something made her differ
ent. An indefinable new quality APP
peared to rest upon her. He felt his
heart beating faster. He was glad he
had come. For the moment he forgot
his jealousy in watching her, as with
new wealth of perfume the languid
breeze stirred the tresses above her pal
lid, immovable features. But the ex-
preston of confidence with which the
count was regarding her, although os-
tensibly devotlng himself to her COM
panion. renewed his inquietude.
Had she allowed herself to be drawn
into Il promised alliance with that Ii
tied roue? Involuntarily the soldiers
face grew hard and stern. The counts
tactics were so apparent-fattering at
tention to the elderly gentlewoman and
a devoted but reserved bearing toward
the young girl in which he would rely
upon patience and perseverance for the
consummation of his wishes. But GER
tainly Constance did not exhibit mark
ed preference for his society. On the
contrary. she had hardly spoken to him
since they had left the ballroom. Now,
clasping the iron railing of the balcony.
she leaned farther out. The flowers of
the vine clambering up one of the sup
ports swayed gently around her, and
she started at the moist caress on her
bare arm.
1T is cold here" she said, drawing
back.
ALLOW me-your wrap" exclaimed
the count, springing to her side with
great sollcitude.
Rut -ba o1iuctad tho Cormant with