Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-08
TuE RICHMOND DISPATCH SUNDAY. AUGUST s, 1886.

bell. and called out for Jean Vic
torine Marie any name be could
think Of. to come and clean my poor
dress. We in the dining-room, smiled
at his despair. but, surprised that no
ore answered him, ], too, jumped up
and went out to beg him not to trouble
himself. But he paid no attention to
me and ran on down stairs, and /,
Mesdsmes--excuse me, we were young,
III only twenty -ope, be not very
much more--sfter him helter-skel-
ter to the kitchen, where, oil
course, ! expected to find only
my own familiar servants. Judge, then,
Of my--of our-suprise when, burst
| ing open the door, we found that We had
iniruded upon an eyeipg party. We
stood transfixed at the door, framed By
| it, / in the dress which was the cause
Of our intrusion, by my side my tall,
handsome Bernard in his evening
clothes. buckled shoes. and silk stock
iDgs, dinner napkin still in his hand,
and within regular t0bleaa cirdnt.
Two couples standing up to dance, mute
and metionless aow. Jean. clumsy,
short, heavy, in his Breton costume,
with his long, black locks hanging
over his shoulders, holding his part
per's hand; she, my maid, a fine, tight
laced Parisian in the neatest of cos
tunes, her high.heelcd, buckled shoes
showing beneath her short, well-msde
skirts, her cap prim in shape in obedi-
cree to me, but put on in the most CO.
qnettish manner. The opposite couple,
. rough stranger boy in blue blouse
in his stockipged feet--he had kicked
off his wooden shoes TO dance his
partner humdrum, stupid-looking little
housemsid, whom had taken out of all
orphsnsge. Victorine, the cook, was
seated in her high-backed, wooden
fduteul, a hand laid on either knee, in
one of them holding the sock she was
slways knitting for her absent Pierre.
The younger servants at different ends
Of the room, one washing dishes, an
other carrying bread and cider in
through an opposite door, and standing
in Der sstonisbuent stockstill to gazs
at us. The table, which usually stood
in the middle Of the room, vas pushed
up against the wall, and on it was seated
another stranger tall, dark young
man, with penny whistle in his thin,
strong fingers. remember even thea
noticing how strong and heshless those
fingers were.
"yictorine = | almost gasped.
"'Oh, Madame she said, jumping
up. 'Oh. Madame beg Msdsme's
pardon. This is nv son, OF whom
Madame has often heard me speak,
come home Unexpectedly, and--and-i
comrsde of his, Madame. l have told
him, Madame, he must never bring his
friends here sgain-such things are not
done in good houses like Madame's--
but for this once be is young, igno-
rant, has not seen ahouselike Madame's
befoie-if Madame will this once par
don him.
"Mean time the tableau vicaat had
changed. Before us stood culprits
awaiting sentence. Only the strange
young man with the whistle kept bis
self-possession he had slipped noise
lessly off the table and stood By it cree.
like a soldier, watching US.
Suddenly Henri and both smiled,
and then the ice was broken.
60 So this is Pierre, | said. why.
you have stolen in upon US like thief :
II you had let us know when to expect
you we should have given you better
welcome. The mother Victorine and |
had it all arranged, had we not?' | said,
appealing to her.
ITO my surprise, something, either
in my words or manner, seemed to con-
fuse both Pierre and his mother, and /,
feeling as if | had, in some unintention-
al manner, been severe, and hardly
knowing how to set them atease, turned
to the young man near the table, say
ing:
"' You are the band, Monsieur, |
SUPPOSE
"He shrugged his shoulders with an
air almost OF patronage - whistled,
Madame the others danced
"You like music p | inquired.
"'Yes, Madame; it is my profess
sion. | am military bandsman.'
"'Listep, Celestine,' ! said, turning
to my maid. Perhaps this Monsieur
plays the fiddle too it would be better
to play ard better to dance to than this.
Run upstairs and get the one there is
behind my secretaire.'
alt was an old fiddle cared little
for and only kept for old acquaintance
sake. My dancing master had used it.
Something about the young man in
terested me, even surprised me, and |
felt great curiosity to hear him play.
So when Celestine reappeared | asked
him if he would begin the music he
fore We went upstairs. lie took
the instrument up, calmly tight
ened the strings, and then. be-
gan. First he played with infinite
pathos the quaint III pIeW bergere,
and then, the poor little old in
strument vibrating under his long,
1.-THE fingers, he changed to the slow
measure Of country dance. adapting
to it first the familiar air of Plus or
est de fous plus on rit, and then with
skilful cadence Te s0uuienS-tu.' My
brother and listened, sstonished, and
watching the young musician, who, his
face flushed now as he warmed to his
art, looked like The picture Of some
Italian imprOrisatore, with his brown
throat, his dark hair, and his express
sive countenance.
"But when be paused Bernard
nudged me, and remembered we were
probably wanted upstairs, and not
downstairs. So, turning to Victorine,
/ said
"'Do not hurry to end your soiree,
my good NictoriDe. And pray arrange
with Pierre to come again soon and
bring his friend with hiM. On Sunday
you might give them little dinner, and
have some music after
"Then Bernard and | went upstairs,
where he made the most of our adven-
ture, and gave a graphic account Of the
scene, emitting no detail from me,
framed in the doorway, aghast IN my
pretty stained yellow gown and pow