The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-03-03
OLD STEP TO A NEW TUNE.

OLD STEP TO A NEW TUNE.
some, two. three, four, five, SIX |
One, two, three, four, five, six More
evenly, monsieur, if you please. You
must not rise SO much on the four.
Again ! Four, five. six One, two,
three, four, five, six /" with monot-
onous regularity that seemed to tell
of round of more or less stupid pupils
succeeding one another Hnendingly.
But Mademoiselle Gervaux, fashion
able dancing mistress of Silver street,
Golden Square, and every one admitted
who had ever taken a lesson of her one
of the prettiest girls to be met with in
town or country, had quick, laughing
eyes, which at present told of more in
terest than her business-like tone gave
hint of. She was of dark complexion,
with rather vivid color, and below the
middle height, and was more richly
dressed than, knowing her station, one
would have expected.
Her present pupil had observed this !;
and, bent as he was on attaining the OBJ
ject for which be had sought Silver
street, and on attaining it as quickly as
possible, he had yet given more atten-
ton than he otherwise would to his
teachers personal appearance.
1t was only II o'clock in the morning,
and, however dazzling such persons may
appear at their weekly assemblies and
evening classes, he had not expected to
find such paragon of neatness and
taste at that hour in the morning. Cir
cling round the room by oneself. with
ones hands hanging in an ostentatiously
easy position, and ones figure reflected
In number Of full-length mirrors, is
not way in which a young man, even
Of little vanity, would care to present
himself before pretty girl; and the
Vicomte Alphonse Carmignol, Of the
French navy, was quite as Withdrawing
indeed such reason as good looking
face and slight figure can give man
to be so-as most young men.
He was Frenchman who had been
for some time serving abroad, and with
distinction. He had just arrived in
London, and, rich, high-born and in a
small way famous, he found himself
warmly welcomed. Invitations to all
the best houses flowed in and Monsieur
lie Vicomte found it necessary to get the
assistance of friends we'll acquainted
with London society before he could de-
termine which Of his cards he should
use, and which he should tacitly or ex-
pfessly lay aside.
But of his many invitations one had
been accepted beforehand, and, in fact,
was the cause of his visit to England.
He was engaged to be married, and had
come over to be engaged to his fancee
literally to be introduced to her, for
they had never met. Their families had,
in French fashion, made up the match,
and the two persons whom English
people would have considered most in
terested had never come together at all.
This was Monday. On Wednesday
week there was to be state dinner at
the French Embassy, followed by ball,
for the purpose of introducing Monsieur
Alphonse to the daughter of the Marquis
de la Penthiere, French Ambassador at
st. James. A little of English preju-
dice had been allowed to creep in, in
Difference to which the Vicomte had re-
ceived private invitation to tea on the
same afternoon, until which time, owing
to her absence on visit in Shropshire,
the young lady would be invisible. In
one more week from that date they were
to be married. queer arrangement to
the English minds, but to the two famil-
les, and indeed to the two persons who
in English eyes would have been consid-
cred victims to it, the most natural state
of things in the world.
Oddly enough, the Vicon1te could not
dance the newest waltz which was then
the rage in London. New descriptions
of that dance succeeded one another so
quickly that in these days it is easy for
q sailor, French by birth and fashiona-
BILE by station though he be, to return
from the service Of his country and find
himself still sat sea on the well-waxed
boards of a ballroom. Such state of
things could not be permitted to con-
TIME. more especially as Mademoiselle
de la Pentiiere would certainly expect
her fdncee to dance, and to dance well.
So the Vicomte had called in Silver
street one morning at an early hour,
mad sent up his card, and had been duly
received by Mademoiselle Gervaux, and
had taken his first lesson at once. She
was not at all like the daneing-mistress
whom, from the description given by
the friends who had recommended him
to apply to her, he had expected to see.
But she evidently knew how to dance,
and she was very handsome and lady
like; and the young man found new
kind of pleasure in returning to take his
second lesson.
"Mademoiselle," said he, as he
stopped to rest and sat down on a stiff
backed chair, "shall / be perfect by
Wednesday"
In his French way, so entirely desti-
tute Of shyness, he had told her all
about the important event which was to
come off on that Wednesday, had ex-
planned how anxious he was to see his
future wife, and how graceful and
cta7n101ate she was-she must be "that
angel of a denaojselle." But all this
had taken place at the first lesson, and
for some reason Monsieur lie Vicomte on
this occasion had said much less of the
forthcoming event.
"Assuredly, monsieur, mademoiselle
shall have no reason to complain. But
You are no doubt consumed with anxiety
to see her?p
"Ah, am I not ?" replied the Vi
comte, with French ejaculation. ssBut
mademoiselle herself is entirely charm
ing !" and the young man looked very
sincere as he said this, though he added
no word of emphasis while mademoi-
selle, who should have been hardened
by long practice against the warmest fat
terry, seemed unaccountably embar-
raised, and resumed the business of the
hour with wonderful alacrity.
If they were not already in love, they
we're rapidly approaching that stage;