The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-19

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.
A Tale of the Latin Quarter, by Fanny Foster
Clark.


SoTbonne students. as, one December evening,
we went swinging along the Boulevard st.
Michael.
bon soir, messieurs," came back the answer
from young girl with short-crcpped hair and a
pair Of steady, observant grey eyes.
Shall we see you to-nightln said I.
.Oh, yes, replied Bib, II shall overhaul you
somewhere. Isn't that beautiful and she drew
from her muff bottle of spirit in which ugly
bit of human tissue foated about I'm going to
have an hours study with the microscope, and
then for dance'
"I'll come for you, petite" said Octave,
lively little Partisan.
mo you won't" answered Bib. shortly.
"Of course not, for shall claim tAe honor of
bringing Bib to the ball." This polite tender
came from Manuel, dashing Spaniard, who had
great. sleepy eyes, which were dangerous when
ever they CHANGED to wake.
''Will youl" Bib returned. de6antly.
Nonsense Bib will come with me- and we
shall talk English together said Arthur Kent,
the slender, handsome young Engllshman, who
had a room near mine chez la sirene. or, in other
words, at Madame Aline's very old, tumble
down house in little street back Of the Sor-
bonnie. La Sirene tradition said, was the name
By which Aline was known in her youth, and
deservedly, though in her age she was mon
strously ugly. Come. you little WITCH" Arthur
went on, filliping at the black lace scarf tied
about Bibis neck, 'let me see your rooms. I'm
sure they're neat and pretty All! Bib. now
don't be cruel" Close as he came to her, and
savagely as she rebuffed personal familiarity,
she never stirred, but only looked intently il
Kent's face Suddenly she caught his wrist
He tried in return. to give some sort OF an
affectionate grip, but her tiny hand held him
like wise.
"Hushp she said, anxously interested. II
must feel your pulse and with dexterous
movement slipped her fingers on the right spot
instantly. What pulse! Go home, Arthur
Kent; you've not the temperament to stand this
rollicking out at night. and you never ought to
drink drop of champagne"
"Ha ha! nal" came great chorus of ridicule
at this preaching from Bibi-Bibi who was hard
ly five feet high, not above twenty-three years
DID, and who smoked, tossed off her wine with
a relish, and was the highest. widest and most
staying dancer that the Latin Quarter balls had
ever known, besides being the most diligent and
clever medical student In the Sorbonne
''Oh. yes," she said, gravely shaking her head,
ssyau don't understand that most people, if they
have bad habits must be slaves to them. I'm
master Of mine. Go home, Arthur" and Bib
tripped away.
down into the Latin Quarter some TWO years
before, and had taken up the life there without
hesitation. She appeared at every ball dressed in
short crimson satin gown that fitted her slim
figure perfectly. and she used to execute extern
poriZed passeuls, sometimes as coarse AS can
can, sometimes a very dream of grace and re-
ifnement She accepted the rude compliments
of men with queer sort of good fellowship that
was far from modesty, and yet left Bibi's true
character quite moral problem. The Paulines
and Fannys, and Lisettes were all good friends
of Bibis, and with them and their lovers she
went to theaters and fetes, drank beer
in the brasseries, even accepted an es-
cort on such occasions, but nobody
own little purse and paid her own little way
punctiliously. Then there was a sort of fierce
ness about her which, together with the strength
and suppleness of a wildcat If It came to self
defense, made the American curiosity even in
the Latin Quarter, where life is rather loose and
few questions are asked. Bib (for her real
name was BOT known) kept her curly dark hair
cut short, had good gray eyes, but otherwise no
beauty except a neat figure and chic.
We fellows continued our evening promenade
down the boulevard. laughing. joking and jost-
ling one another and the passersby when no
gen-darmes were in sight It seemed immensely
funny to take up the whole sidewalk when we
met some pretty sewing girl, and funnier still to
force
gutter. But no one roared so loud and became
so inspirted by this rough nonsense as Arthur
Kent He was one of the swell students had
an allowance from lis father of four hundred
francs month, every sou of which he snent in
suppers and cigars and then sent his bills for
ordinary living home by mail. With an ex-
cellent understanding and a generous heart, the
Young fellow going TO ruin through a
temperamental tendency to excuses. He could
give bit of Sophocles generously, knew his
he ed nx.l
was something of musician; yet, with all these
resources, bottle of wine, an empty jest a
girls laugh could draw him into the maddest
Whirl of coarse excitement.
Presently, swinging along in our rufianly
way, we came upon Louise, who affected the So
ciety of Manuel. the Spanish law student
Come, now" said the pert blonde; come,
gentlemen, where we goipgs" and she placed
herself between Manuel and Octave, hand on
the arm of each
The Spaniards dangerous eyes began to wake
up as he growled
"Walk with me or with Octave It's all the
same, but make your choice and he shook her
off from him.
eveR speak to You. monster" and, while making
little grimace at her jealous lover, she caugh,
Arthurs arm. The two went at great rate,
the rest Of us following, until we al brought up
at a table in lies Quatre Grenadiers"
"Beer!" shouted Octave
'sAu diable with your beer!" shouted Arthur
much louder and clapping napoleon on the ia
Bile; champagne, champagne, ! sayw
''Ah, you're dear creature, screamed Louise,
squaring her elbows on the table and giving her
hat becoming tip. II adore these English"
'Huh, the pater has been generous lately,
remarked Octave.
''Yes," said Arthur monthly allowance has
Just arrived. Here's the letter that came with
it--excellent letter, full of good advice" And
he threw down ball of paper. that had been
crushed into his pocket. ''Rere's the wine
Come, fill up"
''Fill up!' echoed Manuel, more genial before
the promise of good wine Heres to the pater
and his money"
Lets see," said Louise. after draining hel
glass in one breath, lets see what the pateI
says But the postmark is Dresden. You DONE
live in Dresden, Arthur"
Don't /, then, don't IT. answered Arthur,
boisterously. ASK my father"
The celebrity with which Arthur fell into
drunken disorder was matter of wonder to us
hard -headed fellows Not half-fed erisatte in