The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-06-08


girl in 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 rogushly out OF the frame.
I had always been in love with her
from the time ! used TO spend my
schoolboy holidays at the manor until,
as young man | ran down 10 her'
sey for week -ends, ostensibly to see
my Aunt Elizabeth, in reality 10 spend
most OF the time before the great fire.
place in the dlningroom, blowing rings
toward the ceiling and dreaming as
watched Marianne dropping the petals
OF her crimson rose.
u am going to have a house party
on the 25th Of June" wrote my aunt,
"anG 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 ! dared
not disobey. Besides, | did not alto,
gether object to a house party at
Kerscy manor in rose time. However,
at the last minute | was delayed, and
it was not until the evening OF the
2Gth that | drove up the oakl!ned ave
nue. in the soft moonlight. My aunt
met me in the great hall
They are having tablcaux 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 unobservod
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
wlns1moIy out Of the frame as the
Countess PotOcka In the famous por-
trait that Is familiar TO every one.
The clapplng 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 he looked at
again, so the cncoring 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.
fuuctoriy toward the little stage,
gave a great start and claspcd
The back Of the chair in front of me.
i could see the sheen Of her white
satin gown, the long necklace OF
pearls about her snowy throat 1t was
Marianne, but a living. breathing Mar
fame
Suddenly the lights Jared up the
buzz Of conversation grew louder,
everyone was talking at once about
the tablcauX One or two old friends
saw me and came to welcome me, so
Ct was several minutes before | could
mako my way to my aunt
Aunt Elizabeth / demanded, pre-
sent nc, beg to tho lady OF Kersey
manor Where did you find her? Did
she step down from the frame today?
Wow did Il all happen"
Even ~ spoke Marianne came by.
Marianne in her white satin gown,
her ehlmmcrIng pearls and the red
rose snll in her hand
Marian cried my aunt stop a
moment while | present your cousin,
Rcginald
! bowed low felt that ought
TO have a plumcd hat to sweep the
fioor before this lady of an olden
timo
Why did You not come down from
your frame before" asked Il have
waited for you for years, centuries.
acous. and have been so lonely,
though | knew YOU would come at
last Marianne lady Of Kersey ma
nor"
She smiled rayishIngly and looked
a. my aunt QuestiouinEly
lie Is our court Jester" the lat.
Ter replied with smile
"But ! am not testing" | cried.
with mock soemnity. She Is Mart.
anne, Marianne of the portrait" In
sisted. Deny II If YOU dare"
Yes, she is Marian" my aunt nc.
knowlodged but, Marian. the great
great Eraudueco Of the lady of Kcr-
scy manor aud your distant cousin.
Not at all l begged to differ.
"She is Marianne herself Marianne
who sat 20 Gaiushoroueh. Marianne
who pulled red rose ana nung the
petals at her feet You are. aren't You,
Marianne?'
Aunt Elizabeth smiled indu'ceutly.
Then some young upslart bore en-
my Marianne for the co,illon. II /
could not dance IL with her | show.
cred her with favors and danced with
no one else, When she mischicyuus.
Iy brought me a jcsters cap and
bells in one figure, put It on re.
luctantly.
The next morning we walked in
the garden together just as we used
TO do in the old days and | gath
cred her roses We flung bread
crumbs to the trout that rose grecdily
TO snatch them, and we pelted the
cross old peacock with flowers. and
then we leaned on the sun-dial. and
Mariannes taper finger traced the
letters of the carved inscription Just
as | had dreamed OF her doing. Her
hair cuyled riotously, bewtchingly
about her face that was flushed like
oh.