The Washington herald., 1914-02-13
Daily Short Story
PALACE OR BUNGALOW.
By LOUISE OLIVER.


The earl was coming TO the ball at Mile
Josephine's-
, cleste, on Tier knees. fasteDed the last
hook and pulled the light folds OF her
gown into place. arranging the french-
lest Of French creations around the trim
silken ankles.
IL was necessary for mademoiselie to
loo.. her best. for was not the earl likely
that very night TO ask her to De ms
countess? And why else had her father
and mother left America to take up their
residence abroad II not to educate their
only daughter and by hook or by crook,
which means American dollars. marry
her to nobility?
Celeste was thinking very hard, al
though IL was not until she had twice
taken out the sapphire set when her
mistress distinctly said. Pearls tonlsht'
Celeste" that Josephine noticed her
maids preoccupation.
lis il your little boy. again. Celeste?
Or perhaps your mother? ] thought they
were in pretty good shape now.
Celeste hastened to assure her. oh'
YES. mademoiseIle, they are all right now,
nv little Pierre and my mother Ihe
cough and rheumatism are all gone since
yor sent the doctor and medicine. The
maid looked at her young mistress with
adoring eyes.
r well, then. what?
Il was thinking of the earl. made
moiseIIe, and-and-M. Charles.
Josephine's brows contracted. Her
heart had given a queer little tug, and
IL was necessary to disguise ones feel
ings. II was really improper to feel at
all where Charles was concerned. The
world. including her parents TO whom she
owed everything, expected her to become
And Charles
who refused to renounce Uncle sam and
the Standard Rubber Goods Company, OF
Kansas City. had nothing to offer but a
bungalow a $3.50 motor and plain MIS-
Woods or course in that case there
would be nothing coming from father.
Haven't ] told you. Celeste. you are
not TO mention NJ. Charles ever, ever
again.
Pardon, mademoiselle, you asked.
"Yes, l did, Celeste. That's true. Well
be a good girl and don't do 1t again.
Do I look all right?'
Glorious Celeste's eyes were un-
usually bright ard a spot of color famed
in each cheek. II was not. however. all
admiration, as she would have had Jose
phine believe.
As soon as her mistress had left the
room, Celeste locked the door. There
was no time to be lost for what she had
to do.
She took out a bundle that had been
hidden behind the hangings of the bou-
doir and began to undress quickly.
Downstairs. in the immense ballroom.
the guests were. arriving in twos and
threes, uttering exclamations OF delight
at the wonderful decorations. The lights.
nestled In dozens of alabaster bowls sus-
pended from the ceiling, shed soft
glow over the room, revealing millions
of flowers everywhere The stage at the
end of the room contained "A fountain of
red roses. and the huge balls OF red roses
suspended between the lights burst open,
letting down a shower OF flowers upon
the guests. Immense rose trees also
screened the orchestra from the dancers
Josephine was radiant. The earl had
arrived. II was evident from the look
in his eyes that he thought her the>most
desirable thing alive. His eyes wandered
over. her face. her hair, her jewels. Yes,
she was beautiful.
He would dance with no one else.
When he could not have her he did not
dance at all.
No one noticed the girl who slipped
in Though the conservatory and made
her way through a small door TO the
orchestra. The rose trees hid her. Nor
did they see the orchestra substitute
some music she gave them for that which
they had Intended to play for the next
dance-fhe dance that the earl had asked
Josephine to sit out with him in the con-
servatory.
At the same time.63 white satined
lsckey brought Josephine a note On a
silver tray. She opened it, surprised.
The note was from Celeste.
Dear Mademoiselle-watch the earl
after you get this. 1t is the only way.
Forgive. CELESTE"
The orchestra started slow Russian
dance. but before men could claim part-