Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-03-04
Ell DORADO
The Lost Land and How Il We Found

terrace, sitting out with a partner who,
had laughingly declined to dance. The
fragrant scent of dollhouse flowers
hung in the air, and the strains of the
famous Eel Dorado" waltz floated out
from the ballroom.
He was a tall, determined looking
man; he had strong chin and good
honest brown eyes. His was the face
OF man who had fought a hard bat
tie and conquered.
The woman-the woman who didn't
want to dance-was a slight creature
with a pair of haunting gray eyes and
cloud of fair, exquisitely silky hair.
There was something indescribably at
tractive and alluring in her whole per
sonality. The Ell Dorado" muir
INJURED Vanessa, listening to the mu-
sic She gave a slight, delicate laugh.
then she turned to her companion.
Do you think there is an Ell Dorado
such a country" she asked medita-
lively, "or it is a fairy tale. like the
rest?"
Her sigh was infinitely pathetic. 1t
was difficult to realize for the moment
that an eminently successful woman
was asking the wistful question.
woman whose art had made her IA
nous, and who played the violin as
none other could or would.
Curious, too, that she should ones
ton David Royant on the subject II
there was a man on earth who had
found the land of FL Dorado this man
had, for Royant was a millionaire. and
more than a millionaire, a man who
had built up a miraculous fortune. as
1t were, in the twinkling of an eve. He
mad stumbled on a gold mine by pure
accident.
"Oh. no. believe in Ell Dorado. or
course there is such a land-there
must be-" he continued, otherwise
all the poets and dreamers have been
mad-all the singers, all the must
clans. And it would be rather a pity
TO believe that, wouldn't it?"
This was not the first time he had
met Vanessa Leasing by any means.
for they were friends now of long
standing; but the woman interested
MIN. For all her fame, for all her
magnificent success, and her curious
and indefnable beauty, her face was
not the face of happy woman. The
eyes were hungry eyes.
Some people"-Vanessa smoke slow
iy and very softly-"some people hold
mat I'll Dorado is land of gold. 1t
Is the city Of the rich man, and no one
can enter It unless he has great
wealth"
David Royant shook his head.
Don't believe that story" he said
decidedly; at is a fable. 1 am a rich
man myself, but''-he spread out his
hands-'I haven't found the land Won
speak OF. though came near to find
ing it-once"
His strong. rugged face softened. A
new look came into his eyes.
Tell me-" she leaned forward. "bow
dld you come near to the country;
how did you lose your chance of land
ing in ita"
1t is very ordinary story" he
smiled, then crumpled his program up
INTO a hard ball; lust the story of a
young man passionately in love with
young woman, who goes abroad to
try and make a fortune for her. He
comes back years after with his for
tune, but the girl"
Yes, the girl?" murmured Vanessa
She's the mother of girls herself"
he answered simply, "a sparkling
young matron of &c. Happy enough.
I've no doubt, even though the man
she married doesn't happen to be quite
so wealthy as 1 am. oh, 1 don't sun
pose she cared much for me, really"
he added with dry laugh, "else she |
would have waited as other women
have waited"
Things are better for you than thev
were for me-" she muttered.
Tell me-" He was gently insistent.
What's your trouble?"
my trouble?" She smiled. but a
tear fiickered on her eyelashes. "Oh.
brought all my trouble on myself. |
killed the woman in me for the sake
OF the artist, and now, now, when it is
too late. the woman is stirring in her
grave clothes"
She shuddered as she spoke.
Years ago, when was young, bare
ly 49," she went on, 81 was engaged to
be married. He was struggling young
barrister, and 1 was one of a family
OF many sisters. There was no earth |
iy prospect of our being married for
years; but that didn't matter In the
least, we were quite happy. And then.
one afternoon, when 1 happened to be |
playing my violin at a small afternoon
party, big musician heard me. and |
told me that If 1 chose to work hard I |
should have a future before me-a |
great future. or course, was excited
-hattered. Then, later on, when the
big mans opinion was corroborated |
by other great musicians. 1t seemed
natural that 1 should accept the great
offer made me by liberal patron of
musician offer to pay my expenses in
Paris If chose to study music there,
and definitely take it up as profess
sion. My kind friend made one stipu-
lation, however: 1 was to break OF my
engagement-for time. For an artist
cannot serve two gods, she said, and
suppose she was right. For music
de-