American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-13

! The De Saintvilles were somewhat sur
prised.. The son was disposed to send a
polite message OF acquiesccnce; but the
marchioness was not SO easily to be dealt
with. 4.os
p San silnpertinent person ~ she ex-
claimed; - to dare attempt to interfere
with a sentleInan's recreation with her
paltryi pravers TEL your mistress" she
CHARGED siie servant, the Marquis de
Saintville is surprised at her request, and
suggests. the eSpediency of Madame Cut
| tleNent changing her hours of devotion,
| if she IS disturbed The Marquis de
| Saintville's hours are fixed to suit his
| convenience, and it is out of the question
| that he should change them" 49, 8
4 L fear the effect of this sparrins was not
| a softening' one, and; from some circum-
stances that followed, l feel justified in
entertaining doubt whether Mrs. Cutie
{ weate7 prayerswesGp not seriously inter
1t might bSwfafcait to disturb the ele-
CANT eofhpCsure OF the noble family be-
low bltt such was now the determination
of the irste English lady, and She set to
work to surmount the difficulties with a
zeal worthy OF n better 1cause- The soft
c,Rpe&s on the floor. des<1enel<slls some-
what }feavy-tread of her feet to the aristo-
stand in tie way of her purpose, and one
of her maids was suofr bnsy removing a
corner of thes carpet. q Mrs. Cuttleweat's
chair was drnwnscOMfortably to that part
oftf16 rtlbh, her feet placed. upon the
spot of bare ffoof;, and a lively devils tat
too began tobe played by a pair of active
Engfish heels inca sgd in French boots.
low stairs sonle inQ,iriRg glances cast at
the calling, and some wondering remarks
as to what the Old lady could be doing to
make such a noise. Could this be her
way. of saying her pray 2 or had She
changed that occupation for this one, in
accordapce with the marchiOness' sug
gestfon By the morrow, she would
probably have finished her noisy piece of
worlS. ,Ehateyet It might be, and he could
then practice in peace - = s,-l.--9 -
Litas did the innocent marquis know
what a power for work lay in those same
English Mbels. As day by day the poud-
ing went on, he began to understand
VIII t'aweighty thing It is to insult an En-
glisn dignity But his spirit was up. To
stop his music now, were to acknowledge
himself beaten by woman; and so the
struggle went on. Every day the mar
quis made a. point of practising his music;
every day Mrs. Cuttlewent gave him the
accompaniment of the furious heel-tattoo,
and a pounding with the poker, some
times performed by Mrs. Cuttlewent her
self, and sometimes by the hand of one
other four servants, who doubtless SYM
pathiZed with their mistress in the bitter.
feud.- .t-1 - az
The climax was reached one night,
when q very select entertainment was ar
ranged by the De Saintvilles for few of
their grapdest friends, among whom
were no less personaSes than the Duke
and Duchess de Mariner themselves.
The usual arrangensnts were made for
the amusement 0f the guests, and music
was to form a prominent feature. 80
'srhe old lady has been very quiet to-
day." the young marquis had remarked
to his mother, as the evening was closing
'sShe is not in, probably" replied the
marchioness. when will she cease her
persecution of us? 1t is too much for
patient endurance" az . =
-"Don't excite yourself, madam" said
the marquis, who was of a more phleg
matte temperament than his lady-mOther;
''let us be thankful for to-day's respite.
Pefha4ss she has sfroHp aShamed: of her
tricks, and will abandon them al
together" aTe
f'That would be too much Joy" sighed
the long suffering badly. IT1x = n
arrive; nobody disappointed the mar
chioness who was all ease, dignity and ele-
gance, which no one could suppose it pos
sible to ruffle. The duke and duchess
were, atiabuity itself, and the, rest of; tho
guests reflected their spirit. The butcher,
the baker and the had
done their duty, as a. French butcher,
baker and candlestick-makcr alone know
how to do. The distinguished musical
60 81
ing wAs promptly in his place, and every
thing promised a success. r- bo4s C.
ei Afserdhing, the party distributed them
selves about the salon, and, some one men
tioning music, the, duke, turning to the
Darelsi0ness, said: ....ss
''Ah madamel 1 see, with your usual
Kindness, you have prepared a treat for
us. That is certainly the celebrated M.
P The Pianist Shall we pot have
some mus:c?' -. -. a. -
IS Ehamarc Aioness gracefully replied, mo-
toned the musician to the piano, and tie
feature of the evening began. Such beau-
tiful musics I Ukh,you could have heard
how the great man-great in his art
ihatfe mat piano talk! We heard it from
below, and even set the door ajar that we
might catch more Of the divine strains.
In the -marchioness salon the delight
Essno lesS The courtly old duke, who
was an enthusiastic lover of music, nodd
ed soft accompaniment with his noble
head; the duchess, not over-musical, but
an enjoyer Of nice times in a general way,
was listening with good humored atten-
ton; the ret; the1esser folks, were show
ing their appreciation. or hiding their
nsn-apprecistisR in characteristic ways
when sseddenly frightfal sounds forced
their way into We Hp9msshrill, shrieking,
piercing, clashing, deafening, souttOr
ing! ~ - I1sss -
was the matter n The musician paused
in the very-midst of bar; there were
signs of f1inting on the part of the ladies;
every ear Wes bent to listen. The sounds
had ceased, but only to recommence with
fresh energy. Clash, shrek, wheeze,
bang! Presently as the ear got some
what accustomed to the noise, the sounds
seemed to resolve themselves into form,
and the ghost of q popular tune trembled
upon the frightened air: sa-- - ~
''There is a revolutionr' exclaimed the
duke; and similar EXPLANATIONS of alarm
and CONSERVATION broke from the Inns of
the others, while visions of the guillotine.
heads on the lamp posts, and other cheer
ing probabilities, flashed through their
minds. Just then a-burst of laughter
from the young marquis gave fresh turn
To atEirs.e-,t r11r 80
my son has gone mad!- cried the
marchioness, forgetting her dignity and
making a rush at him.
d, There, don't smother me, madame;
am not mad. Oh, beg pardon-pray ex-
euse me, lasies-ol, II is too absurd,
with laughter. 4fof
frhn II. .,