The Dillon tribune., 1886-05-29
CROWN OF ORANGE BUDS.

GROWN OF ORANGE BUDS.
Possibly but few have particularly not.
iced the old house, for it il very like many
others in the French part Of the city. Its
simple exterior. unOrnamentetl front. and
plain architecture would hardly attract
the attention Of any passer. OF the hun.
'retls that 60 by in the Dauphine street
cars daily probably not more than Que OF
two ever give u glance at the square. two
story brick building, with its large shut.
ters always closed tight and its mahogany
door apparently never opened. The drip
ping water from the window stills has left
yreenish stains beneath each opening. that
tell, perhaps. more HANDWRITING else, the
respectable old age Of the house. In the
middle OF the front door, with curious
twisting Of it's tail. q notwithstanding dol.
phin IN brass serves as knocker. hut II
has t,eei SO long since the laughing
lnulatt0 girl, with her bright tignon and
blue apron, has rubbed its surface with
brick dust the brass has, chanleleon-like,
taken the color of the surrounding mahOg.
any of the door. Three small indentations
just above the panels show where once
sioor-plate was. but it has gone the way oil
many other things of those days. What
Incomes OF dOOr-plates is a question anti.
tI,,arians might consider with possibility
of securing some very interesting nforina.
liOM.
The other morning, in taking q stroll
through the quiet precincts of that section
of the city, the writer was surprised to sec
the shutters OF the lower windows IF this
residence open, and IN aged negro man,
moving about the spacious parlOrs, brush
in hand, apparently engaged in busting
the furniture. 1t was so remarkable t.
find the windows open and the interior en-.
posed t" view that an expression Of sur.
prise could not BIO suppressed. Natural
curiosity led to closer view. and OH ap.
preaching the window the picture pre-
scented amply rewarded one for the short
halt in the ante-prandial promenade.
1t was as ii looking in upon a salon OF
the days Of Louis XIV. The furniture was
deliberately carved and finished in gold,
the brightness Of which time had not
materially tlimmed The heavy sofas were
upholstered in satin. but the beautiful
designs Of the fabric had melted into the
deep crimson of the backgrounds and ex.
pepting here and there, where u huge
flower or Il cupid's face yet remained,
there was u little to Indicate the tlorid
character of the composition. Large mir.
rOrS confronted one another on the walls
leading the eye OFF into imaginary vst;s
chat increased the apparent size Of the
parlors wonderfully The carpet was OF
heavy velvet, but. as with the furniture
lis pattern had faded into the yellow and
brown Of the wool. In the center If thu
room, just beneath Il profusely orl,l ncnt ed
arch that served to half separate the twin
,arlors. stood Il rich table Of mlhl. inlait
with mother-of- peril. Persian in de>igl
and Of rare workmanship
About the apartments there rested i'll
atmosphere OF other days. The heav,
curtains. faded cushions, and even thu
brass shnvels and longs that stood besi.l.
the Fireplace told Of age, and a delicatcl,
wrought scene. representing cuur
ladies a, tennis play, seemed to have
the mllor of death about it, II wa
neither til" furniture. The curtains nor tn
hric-a-hrar that held The eyes with >l,cl
Irresistible attraction, but II picture tla
snc'lpie'! conspicuous position on tn
wall. This pertort.e held the gaze. an,
although other details would creep int
the range Of vision. this was the cent II,
object. A lovely girl of ~ looked out o
the canvas with tender eyes that We're in
,oNicatinS in the voluptuo,l>ness of thci
dreamy softne>>. The face was ari,t>
cratic. dignitiel. and reflected such
nobility of soul i, left the impression tina
ii was an ideal creation rather than Il 30,
trait. Suspended from the lower part q
IF the frame hung IL withe,p.l wreath G
orange blossoms. black. Shrivcled an
Shrnnken. the homes. rs it were. of one
fragrant petal and emerald spray Say
the servant that daily kept the room in %,
der. no one had entered it these thirty -!iv
wears.
On IL beautiful spring evening in Marcel
1850. even the street gaMins could not hel
stopping to tax. \ look at the Brilliant
lighted residence OH the Rue Dauphin,
The mellow light Of hundreds of wa
candles made each window glitter .,s
gem against the surrounding darkness ,
the walls. and with tantalizing effect til
delicious notes OF \ soprano voice. came ~
upon the street III titful measure rs til
evening wind blew the curtains back al,
forth. With the swce, st rains. and rs Il t
accompaniment the perfume uf Oran.
flowers filled the atmosphere around til