The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-13
The Euening Story

(By Louise Oliver.)

Palace or Bungalow.
(By Louise Oliver.)
The earl was coming to the ballet
Mile. Josephine's.
Celeste on her knees fastened the
last hook and pulled the light folds OF
her gown into place, arranging the
Frenchiest of French creations around
tn, trim silken ankles.
It was necessary for mademoiselle
to look her best. for was not the earl
likely that very night to ask her to be
his countess? And why else had her
father and mother left America to
take up their residence abroad il not
to educate their only daughter and by
hook or by crook. which means Amer
, ican dollars, marry her to nobility?
Celeste was thinking very hard. al
though it was not until she had twice
taken out the sapphire set when her
mistress distinctly said, Pearls to-
night, Celeste" that Josephine noticed
her maids preoccupation.
lis it your little boy, again. Celeste
Or perhaps your mother? I thought
they, were in pretty good shape now
Celeste hastened to assure her. "Oh.
yes, mademoiselle, they are all right
now, my little Pierre and my mother.
: The cough and rheumatism are all
gone since you sent the doctor and
medicine" The maid looked at her
young mistress with adoring eyes.
well, then, what?"
IT was thinking Of the earl, made
moiselle. and-and-M. Charles"
Josephine's brows contracted. Her
heart had given queer little tug, and
it was necessary to disguise ones feel
ings. 1t was really improper to feel
at all where Charles was concerned.
whom she owed everything, expected
her to become a countess-nothing
less. And Charles, who refused to re-
nounce Uncle Sam and the Standard
Rubber Goods company. Of Kansas
City. had nothing to offer but a bum
galow, a $3.50 motor and plain Mrs.
Woods. OF course in that case there
would be nothing coming from father.
Haven't told you, Celeste. you are
not to mention M. Charles ever, ever
again?"
Pardon, mademoiselle. you asked" )"
"Yes. did, Celeste. That's true.
Well. be a good girl and don't do it
again. Do look all right?''
"Glorious!" Celeste's eyes were un-
usually bright and spot Of color
famed in each cheek. 1t was not,
however, all admiration. as she would
have had Josephine 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
boudoir and began to undress quickly.
Downstairs, in the immense ball.
room, the guests were arriving in twos
and threes. uttering ordinations of
delight at the wonderful decorations
The lights, nestled in dozens of ala
baster bowls suspended from the CELL
ing, shed a soft glow over the room.
revealing millions Of flowers every
where. 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
flowers upon the guests. Immense
rose trees also screened the orchestra
from the dancers.
Josephine was radiant. The earl
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
and made her way through a small
door to the orchestra. The rose trees
hid her. Nor did they see the or
/ chestra substitute some music she
gave them for that which they had
intended to play for the next dance
Josephine to sit out with him In the
conservatory.
At the same time a white satined
lackey brought Josephine a note on
a silver tray. She opened 1T, sur
prised. The note was from Celeste.
Dear Mademoiselle-Wat the
earl after you get this. 1t IL the only
way. Forgive. CELESTE
The orchestra started a slow Rus
sian dance, but before men could
claim partners, a dancing girl glided
out upon the floor. The guests I'M
mediately applauded-it was another
surprise arranged for their amuse-
ment! All but the earl! Even in her
dismay and establishment at the In
terruption. Josephine remembered to
watch him.
At the same moment that she reak-
lied the dancer was Celeste, she knew
that the earl recognized her, too, and
he was afraid. Something cold seemed
to grip her heart. then slowly and
surely came a feeling OF elation. The
earl was frightened. She could see
that. even though she pretended to
watch the dancer.
| Then she felt, rather than saw. the
look Of calculation that crept into hig