New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-27
'TITE ROULETTE.
BY GEOP. y w. CABLE,

Kristian Koppig % = rosy faced, bcarG
lees young DutormaG. He was one of tina
army OF gent!emen Who after the purchas
of Louisiana swaIIned from all parts of tn
commercial wora, over the mountains G
Franco Spanish exciUsiveness. like tn
Cloths over the Pyrenees, and settled dow
in New Orleans to pick up their fortunes
with the diligence OF hungry pigeons. II
may have been German; the distinc tio
was too fine tOr Creole haste and disrelish
He made hrs home in room with on
dormer window looking out. and somewha
down, upon building opposite, which still
stands, flush with the street. a century old
Its big, round -arched windows in long
seconG-stOry row, are walled up, and two o.
three from time to time have had smaller
windows let into them again, with odd LITTLE
iarticed peep-hOle s iD their batten shutters
This had already been done when Kristiar
koppig first began to look at them from his
solitary dormer window.
AL the features of the building lead me
TO guess that it is remnant Of the old
Spanish barracks, whose extensive strac.
ture fell by government sale into private
hands long time ago. At the end toward
thu swamp great, oriental looking pas
sage IS left, with an arched entrance, and a
pair Of pOnderOus wooden doors. You look
at it, and almost see Count O'Reilly's ar.
hllery come humping and trundling out,
and dash around into the ancient plaza to
bang away at King Charles birthday.
do not know who lives there now. You
might stand about on the opposite ban.
quette for weeks and never find out. sup
pose it is a residence, for il does not look like
one. This is the rule in that region.
In the good old times of duels, and baga-
telle clubs, and theatre balls. and Cave.
:ane's circus, Kristian Koppig rooming as
described, there lived in the portion of this
house, partly Overhanging the archway,
palish handsome woman, by the name
or going by the name-of Madame
John. YOu would hardly have thought of
her being ''colOred' Though fading, she
was still OF very attractive countenance,
hne, rather severe features, nearly straight
hair. carefully kept, and that vivid black
eye SO peculiar to her kind. Her smile,
which came and went with her talk, was
sweet and exceedingly intelligent; and
that she was one who had had to learn q
great deal in this troublesome life.
But the Creole lads in the street
would say-'-her daughter y and there
won.d be lifting Of arms, wringing of fin.
gers, rolling of eyes, rounding Of mouths.
gasping and clasping of hands. $50 beau,
thu. beautiful, beautiful! White white
like q water lily! White-lke mag
noliar'
Applause would follow, and invocation
Of all the saints to witness.
And she could sing.
'Singp ldisdainfully l-'if q hooking
bird can sing! HaI'
They could not tell just how old she was:
they would give her about seventeen"
Mother and daughter were very fond,
The neghbors could hear them cali each
gether, sewing, talking happily to each
other in the unceasing French way, and see
them go out and come in together on their
little tasks and errands. "'Tite Poulette."
the daughter was called; she never went
out alone
And who was this Madame Johna
Why, You know-she was"-said the wig
maker at the corner to kristian koppig-
IL tell You. You know!-she was"-and
enc was the best yellow fever nurse in
Thousand yards round. but that is not what
the wig maker said
A Dioek nearer the river stands house
altogether different from the remnant of
old barracks. 1t is of frame, with q deep
front gallery over which the roof extends,
IT has become den of Italians. who sell |
inei oy dayngnt' and BY night are up to no |
telling what extent of deviltry. This was |
once the home of q gay gentleman. whose !
first name happened to be John. He was
q member of the Good Children social clnh
As his parents lived with him, his wife
would. according to custom, have been
called Madame John; but he had no wife
His father died, then his mother; last of ali.
himself As he is about to be off in comes
Madame John, with 'Tite Poulette, then an
infant. on her arm.
"Zalli, said he, II am going
she bowed her head and wept.
> You have been very faithful to me,
She wept on.
Nobody to take care of you now, Zali.n