St. Landry democrat., 1878-03-02
THE FASCINATING DUCHESS.

L
and was told the most aristocratic place
Of resort was in the Jardin Mabille. I
toe cab and proceeded thither. Ifound
myself in beaatifnl garden, brilliantly
lighted. There was crowd CT ladies' and
gentlemen, a fine band was playing and
quadrille forming. While was gazing
about gentleman asked me if | wished
to dance. said would like to, but
that was stranger and not acquainted
with any of the nobility present. He
smiled and said the French nobility were
exceedingly afable and obliging, and that
he would be pleased to introduce me to
lady of high rank and varied accom-
plishments: who would dance with me if
I wished. Then he presented me to the
Duchess d'Assafatida (that's as near as
I could the catch name).
I had never stood face to face with q
duchess betors, and therefore felt dlthdent
and i'll at ease. The graceful creature un'
derstood my case at once, and within
two or three minutes made me feel per-
fectly at home-more than at home, !
may say. l never met lady so easy
to get acquainted with as she
was. It must require high
cultivation, only to be attained in the
upper ranks of society, to give one such
self. if.pessession as hers. This duchess
smiled upon me in the most encouraging
way, and tapped me on the shoulder with
her fan, and then she looked up into my
face and charmed away all my embarass'
ment with burst of CHEEKY laughter
that was full Of happiness and garlic.
Next, she took my arm, beating tim
to the music with her fan, and still
utteriDg that fragrant laughter. Next,
she put her arm around my neck. This
was somewhat unexpected, I must say.
1t made me feel blissfully uncomfortable.
I enjoyed it, but at the same time, l was
afraid it might attract attention. init
mated rs gently de tcould, that the duke,
her father, might be in the crowd some
where; but she only laughed more
odorously than ever. Iteared the pater-
nal duke might invite me to breakfast
on pistols and coffee. like coffee, but l
do not consider that it improves it to
mix it with hardware. This l hinted to
the duchess, and she received it with one
of those peculiar laughs of hers that was
perfectly smothering.
Just then the music struck up furi.
ously; the duchess exclaimed, " Gomez
and dashed away with me. The
crowd closed up to our set, and
walled it On every side. / had never
before seen SO much curiosity displayed
in mere quadrille by disinterested par
ties. Dukes and duchesses began to
prance to and fro in the dance with wild
energy of purpose and extravaganza of
gesture.
I began to get interested. l glanced
across, my partner WAS just turning;
she miscalculated the length other limbs
and lifted her dress accordingly; she
came prancing over; / sailed forth to
meet her, and when we were within
yard OF each other, I wish I may never
be believed again if she did not kick the
hat of Of my head !! stopped to pick it
up and noble aristocrat fell over me
others followed him-both ladies and
gentlemen-and / never saw such
chaos of struggling limbs and frantic
drapery since the benches broke down at
the circus when I was boy. 1t was
Lure good fortune that nobody got hurt.
When 1 got out l went to my place at
the head of the quadrille and stayed
there. / had lost confidence this dance
was too high,toned for me. 1t had
peculiarities about it that were new and
unexpected. had seen plenty Of qua
driiles, but had never saen one with
the variations before. The duchess re-
sumed her mad career, and the rest of
the nobility danced just as she did.
Each sex seemed to have but one object
in view-to outdo its opposite in violence
of action and eccentricity of conduct.
These French people are very Frenchy.
If it had not known. that these people
were the flower of the French
nobility should have thought that
they began their education in
a gymnasium and graduated in circus.
The first time the duchess stopped by
my side for moment, whispered 70 her
to calm her gushing spirits, not to meddle
with her dress. and, for public opinion
sake, not to step so high. I said she. e..could
get over just as much ground at mod
crate gait; and, beside, the noble grand
duke, her father might happen along st
any moment. might IS well have talked
to the wind. She only laughed that
characteristic laugh of hers, that silyery
laugh that / could recognize anywhere if
were to the leeward, and then, bending
D. little, she grabbed up the sides of her
apparel with both hands, began 10 jerk
it to and fro in violent manner, threw
her magnificent head back and skipped
away on an Irish jig step, all
excitement, wild hilarity, distracted cos
;ume. frenzied motion! A spectacle to
zeal the eye-balls and to astonish the soul
# hermit! And when she reached the
.e,tra st,e snatched her cun.herino dresses