Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-04-11
VOL. XXVII.

The De Saintvilles were somewhat sur
prised. The son was disposed to send a
polite message of acquiescence; but the
marchioness was not so easily to be dealt
with
can impertinent person p she ex-
claimed "to dare attempt to interfere
with gentleman's recreation with her
paltry PRAYERS Tell your Mistress" she
charged the servant, the Marquis de
Saintville is surprised at her request, and
suggests the expediency of Madame Cut
tlewent 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"
l fear the effect of this sparring was not
a softening one, and, from some circum-
stances that followed, feel justified in
entertaining doubt whether Mrs. Cutie
vents prayers were not seriously inter
fered with.
1t might be difficult to disturb the ele-
CANT composure of the noble family be-
low but such was now the determination
of the irate English lady, and she set to
work to surmount the difficulties with a
zeal worthy of better cause. The soft
carpet on the floor deadened the some
what heavy tread of her feet to the aristo
cratic ears below but no obstacle should
stand in the way of her purpose, and one
of her maids was soon busy removing
corner of the carpet. Mrs Cuttlewent's
chair was drawn comfortably to that part
of the room, her feet placed upon the
spot of bare floor, and a lively devils tat
too began to be played by pair of active
English heels incased in French boots.
There was a pause in the practice be-
| low Cfairc inolIirino u1a acf of
the ceiling, 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 prayers or had she
changed that occupation for this one, in
accordance with the marchioness' sug-
gestion =? By the morrow, she would
probably have finished her noisy piece of
work, whatever it might be, and he could
then practice in peace.
Little did the innocent marquis know
what power for work lay in those same
English heels. AS day by day the poud
ing went on, he began to understand
what weighty thing 1t is to insult an En-
glish dignity. But his spirit was up. To
stop his music now, were to acknowledge
himself beaten by a woman; and so the
! quis made point of practising his music;
every day Mrs. Cuttlewent gave him the
accompaniment of the furious heel-tattoo,
| occasionally varied by banging of tins
and pounding with the poker, some
| times performed by Mrs. Cuttlewent her
self, and sometimes by the hand of one
| of her four servants, who doubtless SYM
pathiZed with their mistress in the bitter
feud. rf
The climax was reached one night,
when very select entertainment was ar
ranged by the De Saintvilles for few of
their grandest friends, among whom
were no less personages than the Duke
and Duchess de Mariner themselves
| The usual arrangements were made for
| the amusement of the guests, and music
was to form a prominent feature.
''The old lady has been very quiet to-
| day." the young marquis had remarked
to his mother, as the evening was closing
in.
"She is not in, probably" replied the
marchioness. "When will she cease her
persecution of us? 1t is too much for
patient endurance"
"Don't excite yourself, madam" said
the marquis, who was of more phleg-
matte temperament than his lady mother;
''let us be thankful for to-day's respite
| Perhaps she has grown ashamed of her
tricks, and will abandon them al
together"
7'That would be too much joy" sighed
the long suffering lady,
| The time sped on; the guests began to
arrive; nobody disappointed the mar
chioness who was all ease, dignity and ele-
gance, which no one could suppose it pos
sible to ruffie. The duke and duchess
were affability itself, and the rest of the
guests reflected their spirit. The butcher,
the baker and the candlestick-m had
done their duty, as a French butcher,
baker and candlestick-maker alone know
how to do. The distinguished musical
artist who had been engaged for the even
ing was promptly in his place, and every
thing promised success.
After dining, the party distributed them
selves about the salon, and, some one men
tioning music, the duke, turning to the
marchioness, said:
"Ah, madame! I see, with your usual
kindness, you have prepared a treat for
US. That is certainly the celebrated M.
P, the pianist. Shall we not have
some mus:c?"
The marchioness gracefully replied, mo-
toned the musician to the piano, and the
feature of the evening began. Such beau
tiful music! l wish you could have heard
how the great man-great in his art
made that 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
was no less. The courtly old duke, who
was an enthusiastic lover of music, nodd-
ed a soft accompaniment with his noble
head; the duchess, not Over-musical, but
an enjoyer of nice tunes in general way,
was listening with good humored atten-
ton; the rest, the lesser folks, were show
ing their appreciation or hiding their
misrepresentation in characteristic ways
when suddenly frightful sounds forced
their way into the room, shrill, shrieking,
piercing, clashing, deafening, soatttortuT-
ing!
| Everybody started to his feet. What
was the matter? The musician paused
in the very midst of a bar; there were
signs of fainting on the part of the ladies;
every ear was 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 a popular tune trembled
upon the frightened air.
''There is revolutionl'' exclaimed the
duke; and similar exclamations of alarm
and CONSERVATION broke from the lips 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 a fresh turn
: to affairs.
, "My. son has gone madl" cried the
mafchloness, forgetting her dignity and
''There, don't smother me, madame. I
am not mad Oh, I beg pardon-pray ex
cuse me, ladies-oh, it is too absurd
Ha, ha, hal" And he burst out afresl
with laughter.
The company began to catch the infec
ton, and to feel a sense of relief; but thu
marchioness begged him to explain hi
untimely mirth.
"Do you hear it, he cried?'' ''Ther'
it begins again. Oh, my poor ears
What horrid noise! and what a horriG
old woman! 1t is the crazy old woman
. who lives upstairs. Did | not tell YOU
madame, she has been unusually quiet al