Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-07-15
LITTLE CANDLE MAKER.

Ii one follows the stream of early wor-
shippers that pours out of the old st. Louis
cathedral after low mass, he will notice that
the greater number pass down the alley on
the north side of the edifice and distribute
themselves up and down the Rue Royal.
Just below this, Rue st. Anne crosses the
more busy thoroughfare, and is but a stone
throw from the cathedral The immediate
neighborhood thereabouts has an air of
sanctity and ecclesiastical quiet about it
that is due, perhaps to the close proximity
of the great parish church. Show windows
are brilliant with gilt crucifixes, altar can
dlesticks, communion wreaths and ornate
rosaries; and as temptations to the eye Of
youthful lovers, little blue velvet prayer
books look coyly out from hiding places ON
their shelves, inviting the devout gallant to
make the heart of his belle flutter by such
q present Artificial flowers in great
clusters bloom in handsome sevres vases,
and near them tasty biscuit vessels for holy
water fill up the garniture of the store
windows Here one could, in fact, furnish
all the altar paraphernalia for either a
grand cath edral or modest private chapel,
and when high mass is sung in the old
building SO close at hand, it is not difficult
to imagine each window an altar, and un-
seen acOlytes swinging their incense holders
as the rich organ tones fill tho little side
streets
Around the corner from Royal street, on
St Ann, for many years stood one-story
house fronting Immediately on the street.
The years had evidently some ill will toward
it, for the weatherboards seemed more dilap-
idated the chimney more tottering, and the
green, mossy herbage on the root more
grasping in its clutches on the shingle roof
than any thereabouts. Just before the fire
of a few years ago it was what would be
called a tumble down affair" but in 1851 it
had somewhat more presentable appear
ance This was perhaps due to the neat
ness and taste of that dapper little maid,
Mile. Pierrette, who occupied the premises,
rather than its architectural qualities Every
spring she had the outside regularly white
washed, and the heavy shutters given coat
of glossy green that quite renewed the youth
of the old building. Like the larger stores
around the corner her front room had
caught the ecclesiastical spirit, and in two
large, upright glass cases hung in long rows
the results of the energetic maiden's h2ndi-
work.
Not even the modest sign or other notice
gave testimony to the world of the articles
TO be found on sale within, but all the Creole
population knew the place. Every year,
just before the time when the little ones take
their first communion, the store would be
crowded with children, selecting their tall
wax candles for the interesting ceremony.
Mile Pierrette commenced the manufacture
of altar candles, so it was reported, away
back in the days of Gen. Jackson. In fact,
some of the envious shop keepers over the
way intimated she had made the wax lights
for the marriage of some of the old Spanish
hidalgoes when they occupied Louisiana, but
these sarcastic remarks were due, perhaps,
to jealousy of the little lady's thriving trade.
No matter how long ago it was when she
commenced the business, it is nevertheless
true that for delicacy to taper, grace or or
namentation, and purity of wax, there were
no communion candles in New Orleans that
could compare with hers. Even the tinsel
paper with which she adorned them had a
chic about it no one else could copy, and
the tall ones measuring nearly five feet in
length were marves of the cand!e-maker's
art
1t was source of much satisfaction to her
on great occasions, to stand tar back in the
cathedral, near the vestibule, and looking
over the heads of the kneeling congregation,
gaze with pride at the hundreds of soft
lights, all from her hand, that shed their
mellow radiance on altar and picture. She
had never been known to miss a mass, not
even during the cholera time of 1S47, and
her reputation as a devotee was not less than
her renown as a candle maker Except in
the shop she was never seen elsewhere than
in the cathedral, and the sweet faced Ma
donna looking down from the pew could
hardly be said to be oftener seen than Mile
Pierretre
Way back in the twenties young lady of
remarkable beauty produced quite a stir in
New Orleans society by her varied accom-
plishments and rare conversational powers.
With an aged father she arrived from tho
West Indies, and soon afterward presided
over a handsome establishment in the
French quarter of the city, purchased by
her indulgent parent at the sale OF an
estate. Her artistic taste was said to be
exquisite and from the imitation of nat
ural flowers in wax to the execution OF an
oil painting she excelled all amateurs ever
seen here before. Modest and unassuming,
she bore the praises that were shOwered upon
her in an unaffected, charming manner,
and even her rivals could not but admire her
girlish grace and naive frankness. 1t was
not long before she had many admirers at
her feet, for her reputation for wealth was
uost enticing for those seeking fortune in
Conspicuous in his attentions was young
gentlemen of pleasing address and promls-
ing ability, whose name just then was In
every body's mouth. At celebration OF
Of the anniversary of the battle OF New Or
leans he had delivered an Grafton that had
general attention, and the press OF
the city was loud in praises OF its exquisite
sentiments and lofty rhetoric. Raoul Chap
pelles was a law student in the Office Of an
old attorney, and like many others was
quite poor. A gambling father had left him
without sou of his mothers estate, and at
the age of 10 he had commenced the study
IF the law, subsisting on what he could
make by commercial collections.
His family connections gave him the |
sntree into good society, and, poor as he |
was, every body saw brilliant future be- |
fore him.
The beautiful West Indian girl and the |
aw student met frequently, and it was
,asy to see the young man had made deep |
impression The father Of the girl at first |
not to notice the advances OF |
Raoul, but as month after month passed
md the acquaintance between them ripened !
nto an intimacy, he startled the daughter |
me morning by the announcement that he
would admit Raoul no more to his house.
The fiery, impetuous temper of the girl was
aroused at this, and for some days she
would not leave her room or hold communi- |
.ation with her father Surreptitiously she |
billet doux to Raoul and mutual
owe was acknowledged.
There were stormy scenes in that big |
,ouse on Esplanade street. An old negress
vas placed on guard over the girl Her |