The Lamar register., 1912-09-25

as muCu as might ne 10 HIS uduSuIeT.
She. Drimming with the ardor and
etfervescence OF eighteen years, &C
cepted these responsibilities gladly;
pending that period she had referred
to. turned the monks great refectory
INTO ballroom, and then. when the
gales had swept away. proposed the
sands themselves as a scene for d.
version both for her guests and tse
people. This. despite the demur vi
his Excellency, her father.
rs it WISE, he had asked, ito court
the attention OF the people?"
"Oh, 1 am not afraid she had
answered. And they are going to
dance. tool
They" He frowned.
why not? 1t is the queens own
idea. Let the people dance, she has
said, and they will keep out OF mis-
chief. Besides. with prouder poise
of the bright head, why shouldn't
they see. and-like me?
They like nothing except them
selves. and" dryly, Ito attempt to
evade their just obligations
Can you blame them?' She made
light gesture. obligations, mon
pere. are SO tiresome!"
We'll. well. hastily. have your
own way" Although he spoke rather
shortly, on the whole he was not dis
pleased with his daughter; her be-
trothal with the Marquis de Beau
villers, a nobleman OF large estates,-
arranged while she was yet a child
promised a brilliant marriage and in
measure offered to his Excellency
some compensation for that old and
long-cherished disappointment - the
birth OF girl when his ambition had
looked so strongly for an heir to his
name as well as to his estate.
And SO my lady and her guests
aanced 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 sullen and silent; though ex-
changing meaning glances now and
then as II 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 entity until an unlooked-for
Incident. justifying in a measure the
Dnx ave lAVt tv.
evenings festivities and claimed her
attention.
On the beach. lighted by torches.
dainty minuet was proceeding gaily,
when through the throng OF onlook-
ers, young man with dark head set
on 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
erai peasant women, he seemed con-
tent to attract as little attention to
himself as possible. His look, at first
quick and alert, that of a man taking
stock of his surroundings, suddenly
became intent and piercing, as, pass
ing In survey over the lowly spec.
tators to the glittering company, II
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. Hell
lips, too, were busy, but such was thu
witchery OF her motion-all fire and
life!-the silk-stockinged cavaliers
whom she thus RECALLED with Wit
mockery, or jest, could. Tor the mos,
part, respond only with admirins
glances or weakly protesting words
That pretty fellow, her partner.
with contemptuous accent on the
adjective, lis the Marquis de Beau
villers, kinsman OF the king!" sale
one OF the women in the throng.
Ma fol! They're well matched
dancing doll for a popinjay!'
The young man rohind the head
dresses, now nodding viciously, moved
nearer the front Dressed in the
rough though not picturesque fashion
of the northern ifs rmen, touch
color in his Apparel lent to his bearing
49, -.