Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-27

9~ HOSE angels appointed to be
guardians Of the merry people
.,SzsSl of Rouen, posing one night be-
SS2SD tween earth and stars, discov-
erel Il single brilliant and resonant
spot set in the midst Of the dark, quiet
town like jeweled music box on
black cloth, for that night was the be-
ginning of Miss Betty's famous career
us the belle Of Rouen and was the date
from which strangers were to hear Of
her us 1.-The beautiful Miss Carewe" un-
til beautiful" was left of, visitors to
the town being supposed to have heard
ut least that much before they came.
There had been much discussion Of
her, though only one or two had caught
glimpses of her, but most Of the gal
lants appeared to agree with Crailey
Gray, who aired his opinion in an ex-
ceedingly casual way ut the little club
on Main street. Mr.. Gray held that
when the daughter of man as rich as
Bob Carewe was heralded as a beauty
the chances were that she would Prove
disappointing, and, for his part, he was
not even interested enough to attend
and Investigate. So he was going down
the river in q canoe and preferred the
shyness of bass to that Of O girl OF
eighteen just from the convent, he said.
Tom Vanrevel was not present on the
occasion Of these remarks, and the gen.
eral concurrence with Crailey may be
suspected as purely verbal one, since
when the evening came two Of the most
enthusiastic dancers and lovemakers Of
the town, the handsome Tapplngham
Marsh and that doughty ex-dragoon
and Indian fighter, stout old General
Trumble, were upon the field before the
enemy appeared-that is to say. they
were in the new ballroom before their
host; indeed, the musicians had not ar
rived, and Nelson, an aged negro serv-
ltor, was engaged in lighting the house.
The crafty pair had planned this ear
ly descent with view to monopoly by
right of priority in case the game prov
ed worth the candle, and they were
leaning effectively against the little
railing about the musicians platform
when Mr.. Carewe entered the room
with his daughter on his arm.
She was In white touched with count
less small lavender flowers. There
were rows and rows Of wonderful silk
and lace fiounces on her skirt, and her
fan hung from rope Of great pearls.
All, hideous, blue rough cloth Of the
convent, unforgotten, but laid aside
forever, what chrysalis you were!
Tappingham twitched his compan-
ions sleeve but the general was al.
ready posing, and neither heard the
words of presentation, because Miss
Betty gave each of them quick look,
then smiled upon them as they bowed.
The slayers were prostrated before
their prey. Never were lady killers
more instantaneously tanned and subju-
gated by the power Of the feminine
eye. Will Cummings came in soon,
and, almost upon his heels, Eugene
Madrillon and young Frank Cheno-
weth. No others appeared for half an
hour, and the FIVE gentlemen looked at
one another aside, each divining his
own diplomacy in his fellows eye, and
each laboriously explaining to the 9TH
ers his own mistake in regard to the
hour designated upon Mr.. Carewe's
cards of invitation. This small embar-
rassment, however. did not prevent
General Trumble and young Mr.. Chen
oweth from coming to high words over
Miss Carewe's little gilt fligree "pro-
gramme" Of dances.
1t may be not untimely to remark
also Of these FIVE redoubtable beaux
that during the evening it occurred to
every one Of them to be glad that Craf-
ley Gray was betrothed to Fanchon
Bareaud, and that he was down on the
Rouen river with canoe, a rod and
tent. Nay. without more words. 70 de-
clare the truth In regard to Crailey,
they felt greater security In his abb
sence from the fold than In his be-
trothal. As Mr.. Chenoweth, a youth as
open as out Of doors both In counte-
nance and mind, observed plaintively
to Tappingham Marsh in a corner,
while they watched Miss Betty's laven-
der flowers miraculously swirling
through u quadrille, "Crailey. you
know-well. Crailey's been engaged be-
fore" II was not Mr.. Chenoweth's
habit to disguise his apprehensions.
and Crailey Gray would not fish for
bass forever.
The same Chenoweth was he who.
maddencd by the generals triumphant
IL familiar way Of toying with Miss