Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-05-26
Tsle Fatal Crinoilne.
a FRENCH STORY.

lived lately the happiest married couple in
all Paris-M. Valdemont, a chemist, and
his blooming and beautiful wife, Jeanette
Madam Jeanette adored her husband, who
was in truth, very intelligent and blind
hearted man, and of eminence in his pto-
fession, and he in turn worshipped his
hearts delight as he called his wife, with
p fetyor which scarce permitted him to
think of aught else but her comfort and
pleasure. The felicity of this youthful pair
was the talk Of the streets, and Valdemont
was the envy ofal his bachelor friends.
Madam Valdemont had but one failure.
She eagerly studied the fashions and hay
ing once. seen in the shop-windows, or on
the streets, new cut of dress, or a smaller
and more modish bonnet than she then
possessed, had no peace Of mind till her
graceful form or queenly head was decked
in the new style, Valdemont was too in
Idulgent and wise a husband to interfere
with these his wife's petty weaknesses, and
generally gladly procured for her all that
she asked.
Coming into his dinner one day, he no
ticed upon the conntenance of his jeanette,
that expression of faint melancholic longing
which the indul9ent husband will readily
recognize the unfailing tell-tale of some
newborn desire.
What is it, hearts delight \ asked he, as
dinner finished, they sat over their coffee
Nothing, dearest Charles was the an
swer, in that peculiar tone of voice which
assures the listning husband that nothing
was everything.
You seem feyerish, dearest, suggested
Valaernant, permit me to send for the
DOCTOR
No, no, pray do not begged madam.
Indeed, | feel quite well but-'and she
hesitated.
We'll; but what, hearts delight asked
the husband. If you have a wish unfdl-
filed, pray tell it to me. You know if
it is in my power, you shall have all your
heart desires
There was yet little pretty hesitation
on Madam Jeanette's part; but after sundry
requests from her husband,
she at length spoke out.
1t is a wish which | know You viii de-
clare absurd; but | viii tell it since you
ask me to. You have rediculed the new
fashion by which the new dresses of the
ladies are so beautifully distended. was
at first Of your mind, and thought the hoops
unbearable. But, alas [ see plainly that
unless one follows the fashion, she will be-
come the laughing stock Of her lady friends.
And walking out this morning, | saw, inI
the Boulevard de La Madeline; the most
beautiful cinolinesl Dear Charles, / feel
that tie happiness Of my life depends on al
purchase at that magazine. | shall not
dare to 90 out upon the Boulevard
again, without having previously my dress
arranged in the new style
This said, Madam Valdemont, reclined
upon the ottoman overcome by her feel
ings, and casting looks Of agonized entreaty
to her lord, who was meantime, with sad
dened expression, carefully examining the
flowers upon the wallpaper Of the room,
Dearest Jeanette, he said at last, you
know how gladly | have always fulfilled
your slightest wish, but this time, darling,
/ must demonstrate. / have an unconquer-
able dislike TO crinoEne.
But / shall become sick with disapoint-
ment, / am sufe,' urges Madam.
4 trust your common sense, and your
love for your husband viii prevent such a
calamity, my dear answered Valdemont;
for / must assure you that this one OF your
wishes must be disappointed. Crinoline
you cannot have
At these cruel words, Jeanette, weeping
with disappointment, withdrew to her bed
room and locked the door on her hard
hearted spouse, threatening never to emerge
from this apartment till her wish was grant
ed; and preferring death by starvation to
life without crinoline.
What was Valdemont to do? Sorrow
stricken at this sudden interruption to his
cherished bliss, but experiencing an exceed
ingly strong aversion to the article which
was the unfortunate cause of the disagree
ment, he retired to his laboratory to muse.
1t was already night when be knocked
at the door Of his wifs's selfcoustituted
prison.
pray open. 1t is I, Jeanette
Without the crinoIine there's no entrance
here, responded from the chamber, in firm
yet agitated voice.
Your wishes shall be fulfilled was the
answer; and in the same moment the door
was opened, and jeanette took in one arm
her husband ard in the ether hand the
loneed for garment.
What a shameful deceit. There was no
crinoline, but single skirt, colorless ard
formless. jeanette would have tainted but
Valdemont begged her to restrain the. inn
pulse, and attend upon his motions, where
upon he drew out small elastic pipe, and
through it blew with might and main into
the sharelsss gsrrneft, which shortly devol-
oped itseh into the noblest and most colos-
sal proportion. II was of India rubber
cloth, and the fruit Of Valdemont's genus
and domestic trouble.
Jeanette, as may be supposed, was al
most beside herself fer Joy at The discov-
cry, the size and grace of which far surpas-
sed the most famous crinoline. She hug
ged she husband to her heart, and thereaf-
ter each day walked out upon the Boule-