Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-06-26

girl in q white satin gown, with a
necklace Of milk-white pearls about
her softly rounded throat. She was
pulling the petals from . red rose and
smiling roguishly out Of the frame.
l had always been in love with her
from the time I used to spend my
schoolboy holidays at the manor until.
az young man / ran down to Ker-
sey for week.ends. ostensibly to see
my Aunt Elizabeth, in reality to spend
most of the time before the great fire
place in the dining blowing rings
toward the ceiling and dreaming as
watched Marianne dropping the petals
OF her crimson rose
Il am going to have a house party
on the 25th OF June" wrote my aunt,
land you must not fail me. my dear
Reginald. | shall refuse to take no
for an answer
This was Of the nature OF sum
mons to Windsor castle. and I dared
not disobey. Besides. | did not alto
gether object to a house party at
Kersey manor in rose time. However,
at the last minute ! was delayed. and
1t was not until the evening of the
Goth that | drove up the oak-lined ave-
nue. in the soft moonlight. My aunt
met me in the great hall.
They are having tableaux in the
MUSHROOM she said. will you come
there as soon as you have changed?"
The light was turned low as
softly entered and stood unobserved
In the back Of the mushroom. There
was a hush over the audience as the
curtain was drawn to reveal a lovely
picture. My cousin. Jeanne, smiled
winsomely out of the frame as the
Countess Potocka in the famous por-
trait that is familiar to every one.
The clapping of hands drowned the
little murmur of admiration as the
curtain was drawn over it, My cousin,
Jeanne, evidently could not endure the
ordeal OF keeping still to be looked at
again, so the encoring died away and
the low murmur of conversation was
resumed
Suddenly the conversation ceased;
the curtain was about to be drawn for
the next picture, and / turned per-
tunctorily toward the little stage.
gave a great start and clasped
could see the sheen Of her white
satin gown, the long necklace of
pearls about her snowy throat. 1t was
Marianne, but living, breathing Mar
ianne
Suddenly the lights fared up. the
buzz OF conversation grew louder.
everyone was talking at once about
The tableaux One or two old friends
saw me and came to welcome me. so
1t was several minutes before | could
make my way to my aunt
Aunt Elizabeth" demanded. pre-
sent me, beg. to the lady of Kersey
manor Where did you find her? Did
she step down from the frame today?
How did it all happen"
Even as | spoke Marianne came bv.
Marianne in her white satin gown.
her shimmering pearls and the red
rose still in her hand
Marian" cried my aunt. stop
moment while | present your cousin.
Reginald
| bowed low. | felt that I ought
to have plumed hat u sweep the
floor before this lady of an olden
time.
Why did you not come down from
your frame before?' ! asked. II have
waited for you for years centuries
aeons. and | have been so lonely,
though | knew you would come at
last, Marianne, lady of Kersey ma
nor"
She smiled ravishinGly and looked
st my aunt questioningly.
He is our court jester" the lat.
ter replied with a smile.
But ] am not TESTING" | cried
with mock solemnity. She is Mart.
anne, Marianne Of the portrait" / in.
sisted Deny II If you dare"
Yes, she is Marian" my aunt ac.
knowledged. But. Marian. the goat.
great-grandniece of the lady of Ker
Soy manor and your distant cousin"
Not at all" I begged TO differ
She is Marianne herself, Marianne
who sat to Gainsborough. Marianne
who pulled red rose and fling the
1etals at her feet--you are. aren't YOU.
Marianne?'
Aunt Elizabeth smiled indulgcntly.
Inen some young upstart bore of
my Marianne for the cotillOn n
could not dance 1T with her show.
cred her with favor5 and danced with
no one else When she mischieyous.
~ brought me a testers CAP and
bells in one figure, put it on re.
Iuctantly
The next morning we walked in
the garden together Just a. We used
10 do in the old days and gath.
cred her roses. VIC flung broad
crumbs 70 the trout that rose greadiIv
70 snatch thcm. aud We pclfed tho
cross old peacock With flowers and
then We leaned on the sun-dial. and
Marianncs taper fngo- traced tho
letters Of the caryed inscription lust
a ! had dreamed Of her doing Her
Lair rnrlnA 1inLnm-L.- n-----..L.--,