Middletown transcript., 1912-07-13

And so my lady and her guests
danced and made merry on the SANDS
below, and the people came out from
the mainland, or down from the
houses in the town at the base OF the
rock. to watch A varied assemblage
of gaunt-looking men and bent, low
browed women, for the most part they
stood sulIen and silent; though ex-
changing meaning glances now and
then as If to say: do you note all
this ostentation-all this glitter and
display? Yes; and some day" Up
on brooding brows, in deep-set eyes,
on furrowed faces a question and an
answer seemed to CLEAN and pass.
Endowed with natural optimism and
a Vivacity somewhat needless, my
lady appeared unconscious OF all this
latent enmity until an unlooked-fOr
incident, justifying in a measure the
governors demur, broke in upon the
evenings festivities and claimed her.
attention.
On the beach. lighted by torches.
a dainty minuet was proceeding gatly,
when through the throng Of onlOOk-i
ers, young man with dark head set
on a frame tall and powerful, worked
his way carefully to a point where
he was afforded at least a restricted
view of the animated spectacle. Alb
sorbed each in his or her way in the
scene before them, no one noticed
him, and, with hat. drawn over his
brow, and standing in the shadow
of the towering head-dresses OF sew
eral peasant women, he seemed con-
tent to attract as little attention to
himself as possible. His look, at first
quick and alert, that of man taking
stock of his surroundings, suddenly
became intent and piercing, as, pass
ing In survey over the Iowly spec
tators to the glittering company, it
centered itself on the young mistress
Of festivities.
In costume white and shining, the
Lady Elise moved through the grace
full numbers, her slender supple figure
now poised, now swaying, from head
to foot responsive to the rhythm Of
that 'pastime of little steps," Her
lips, too, were busy, but such was tha
witchery of her motion-all fire and
life!-the silk-stockinged cavaliers
whom she thus RECALLED with Wit,
mockery, or Jest, could, for the most
part, respond only with admirine
glanees or weakly protesting words
That pretty fellow, her partner"
with a contemptuous accent on the
adjective, rs the Marquis de Beau
villers, a kinsman of the king!" said
one of the women In the throng.
ma fol! They're we'll matched. A
dancing doll for a popinjay!"
The young man behind the head.
dresses, now nodding vici0usly, moved
nearer the front Dressed in the
rough though not picturesque fashion
of the northern fishermen, touch Of
color in his apparel lent to his bearing
a note Of romance the bold expression
of his swarthy face did not belle. For
a few moments he watched the girl;
the changing eyes and lips, shadowed
by hair that shone and flashed like
bright FURNISHED gold; then catching
her gaze, the black eyes cleaned. An
instant their eyes fingered; hers
startled, puzzled.
Where have l seen him?" My
lady, in turning, paused to swing
over her shoulders a glance.
L.
the dance-a fair, handsome noble
man Of slim figure and elegant bear
ing.
That's just what l can't tell you"
she answered, sweeping courtesy
that fitted the rhythm of the music.
only face 1 should remember!"
"Should?" The marquis look fol-
lowed hers.
But the subject of their converse
tiOn, as if diVining the trend of their
talk, had drawn back
"Oh. he is gone now." she answered.
"a malcontent, perhaps! One meets
them nowadays"
mo, no! He did not look"
Some poor fellow, then, your beau.
ty has entrapped?" he insInuated.
Humble admirer!"
Then [ would remember him!" she
laughed as the dance came to an end.
Now in tented naviIinn- servants.
richly garbed in festal costume,
passed among the guests, circulating
trays, bright with golden dishes and
goblets, stamped with the ancient in
sigma of the Mount, and once the
property of the affluent monks, early
rulers Of the place. Other attendants
followed, bearing light dehcacies, con-
fections and marvellous frosted towers
and structures from the castle kit.
chen.
THE patron saint in sugar!" Merry
exclamations greeted these examples
of skill and cunning. Are we to de-
your the saint?"
"Ah, no; he is only to look att"
But the Mount in cake-?"
you may cut into that-though be-
ware!-not so deep as the dungeonsI"
"A piece Of the cloister!"
"A bit Of the abbey!"
"And you, Elise?"
The girl reached gaiIy. "a little of |
the froth Of the seal"
Meanwhile, not far distant, q barrel