Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-03-18

watching a Chinese attendant lighting
the colored lanterns suspended along
the balcony roof. A sudden rocket
went swiftly and sizzling up from out
and my eyes followed its swift flight
into the black sky until 1t burst into
q thousand miniature stars.
When turned once again. now half
inclined to beckon a waiter and order
the serving Of dinner. a newly arrived
company OF guests had taken posses
sion Of the small round table Just
within the open window. Three were
in the party, apparently father. moth
er and daughter. beyond question Of
high social class. Paterfamilias, sit
ting in stately dignity at what might
be considered the head of the board.
broad napkin spread across his right
knee, was typically aristocratic. Of
spare figure. Stern lean face. with iron
gray hair. and mustaches trimmed to
perfect point. his eyes. cold and
emotionless. cleaning like steel points
behind gold-rimmed glasses-a man
| certainly over 60. possessing to the
extreme that irritating hauteur pos
sible only to an EnSlishman OF recog-
nized family and position. The lady
occupying the seat opposite him. whom
I naturally presumed to be his wife.
was fieshy enough to own an ample
double chin which dropped to vaster
| expanse below: most expensively
gowned, her fingers laden with dia-
monds. and a lorgnette at her eye.
through which she deliberately sur
| veyed the assembled company. Her
| evident attempt at duplicating the
| calm haut-ton of her emotionless COM
panion was nevertheless somewhat Of
counterfeit. as 1t failed to conceal
| wholly slight twinkle Of amusement
curving the corners OF her mouth. and
certain slight vulgar uneasiness Of
| manner. His ideal was evidently that
OF n marble statue. cold. immaculate.
| his slightest movement revealing the
frigidity OF one born to the purple.
while my lady retained some sem.
/ blance to flesh and blood. although
well yeneered by long social artifice.
He was nature. while she had evident
ly been developed by skill: yet the
matron. TO my thinking. proved far the
more interesting specimen OF the two.
| ! must confess. however. wasting
precious little attention upon either.
for my eyes early rested upon the
| younger woman seated between tho
two, and hence directly confronting
me. | will not say | never saw n fair
er picture OF womanhood Just when
the lovely flower becomes n blossom
fully blown. yet assuredly none other
ever possessed for me the same in
dcfinable fascination. the same in
effable charm. Twenty-Five. possibly.
although her age was difficult 20 guess.
with oval face and clear. fresh skin,
the rich, red blood of perfect health
crimsonipS the rounded cheeks: eyes
of deepest, darkest gray. the kind Of
eyes pledging n thoughtful soul be-
hind TO yield them such rare power Of
expression: a face rejecting the joy
of living. yet responsive, and, In mo-
ments Of quietness. saddened beyond
its years: an enhancing dimple visible
in the rather broad chin: the lips
moist and rosy with health. sufficiently
parted to reveal a tantalizing glimpse
/ OF white. regular teeth behind; the
forehead low and broad. the wealth Of
shadowing hair OF darkest brown. yet
with an odd CLEAN of reddish gold
causing the gathered masses TO seem
an aureole OF beauty. But it was not
the outward face alone, nor any COM
biration of pleasing features. which
yielded such rare and indescribable
charm-it was rather a distinct and
unusual personality which gave to
| these both life and attractivencss. Her
| slightest glance or movement, natural
and unaffected, seemed a new revela-
tion Of self, the outer expression OF a
secret inward life which instinctively
longed to penetrate. the guarded mys-
terry of which was invitation.
The three conversed little, speaking
! English with that lack OF restraint
common to those who have been ac-
customed to having discreet servants
behind their chairs. the man grum.
bling icily over the quality of food fur
nished and the Indifferent service. my
lady commenting with audible distinct.
ness on the personal appearance OF
the various people present. the girl
contenting herself with an occasional
monosyllable when directly addressed
I dispatched my own order. and while
idly wing the return OF the servant,
had my attention attracted toward
group gathered about a second table
Just beyond the one occupied by the
English family party.