Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-06-07
EmlIe's NigIa at The Bell.
TRANSLATED from the French for the Daily

In 3 cbsmber quilted with satin.
tefore a blazing fire which flashed
against the tall copper and irons. sat
little Emile one evening in February
waiting for bis mamma II WAS eight
o'clock, The maid had tried to put
him to bed, but he had resisted with
all bis might. holding fast to the arms
OF the big chair. and resolved not to
90 to sleep until he had kissed his
mother. She told him that she would
be home for dinner. and she had not
come. With mournful look on his
little face ne had sat alone at the
great dining table, underneath the
soft lamp, and looked at the outlet
which the femme de chamber told him
he must eat. But the little fellow
could not eat--not even the cakes at
desert-and had pushed away from
the table to bury himself again in the
easy-chair, his legs curled under
him and his eyes fixed anxiously
on the fire, which shot up the
chimney in long flames. Finally he
became interested in the occupation
of Hortense, the femme de chamber,
who was laying out a beautiful skirt
covered with embroidery and mag
niticent corsage laced in front. What
did it all mean? He had never seen
his mother dressed like that. There
was something unusual going on. He
asked Hortense about it, but she
would not tell him anything. SO
struggling hard against sleepiness, he
made up his mind to find out in his
own way.
In all his trouble he did not think
OF finding fault with his mother. It
was II ortense who was to blame.
Why should she want to send him to
bed, the wicked girl, when he had been
waiting so long to see his mamma?
Probably she had been detained at
the dress-maker's. He remembered
that she had taken him with her once
to house where there were manne-
kins dressed like ladies, and grand ssl-
Ions with mirrors all over the walls;
and he had had to wait long, long
time. He remembered, too, that they
had got home very late. So it was
the same to-day. he decided moth
er had gone to the dressmaker's.
When everything was ready on the
bed-the silken chemises dainty with
lace, the white satin bodice, the finely
woven observation-disclosures came back
to the child with the fixed purpose of
putting him to sleep, Madame had
charged her to dc so before she should
return, as she was going to a ball with
her husband, ana wished to spare her
baby hoy the grief OF knowing that he
had been lett alone. But Emile had a
will OF his own, and do what she could
Hortense got always the same reply:
''No, no, won't go to bed. | want to
see mamma" Then. fearing that she
might take him away by force, he tor
titled himself in the chair with all his
strength and against the expected at
tack. Force and persuasion alike fail
ed to shake his determination, and he
sat silent and unhappy listening to
the carriages which rumbled down the
Rue de Rome, hoping that one OF
them would stop at the door, and
that he would at least see hIs mann
ma. Finally out of all patience. Hor-
tense carried away the lamp. leaving
Emile in the dark, and the unsteady
light of the fire threw weird shadows
about the room which frightened him.
Still he did not give up.
Suddenly there was a noise in the
ante.chamber. She had come. He
recognized the musical and caressing
voice which always made him so hap
by. What" he heard her say to
Hortense. mot in bed yet! Oh. the
naughty boy" And then he saw her
before him. the bright eyes, brilliant
color, and laughing lips, which he knew
so well. She saw HIM look over at the
grand toilet spread before them, SEEM
ing to ask mutely what It was all for,
the fine dress and the open corsage
which he had never seen before But
his mother made no reply, only kiss
ing him kindly. EmiIe's anxiety grew
the keener and he straightway made
up his mind to follow his mother
secretly and find out all about 1t for
himself.
"Tell me, mamma" he said slyIy,
81 will 90 to bed, but you'll come with
me, won't your You will tuck me in
all tight and then / will go right to
sleep"
There" said the mother delighted,
81 knew my little boy would be
good"
"But what are you going to do,
mammal"
81. why am going to bed after you
just as ] always do. What makes you
ask that2"
And you are not going out again2"
why, what an idea. Emile Where
would be going to at this time of
night?'
"Qre tn es gentille," said little
Emile, 81 knew you would do what |
wanted. Goodnight. mamma" but
he knew in his heart that his mother
was deceivIng him.
So. deceiving her in his turn. he al
lowed himself to be undressed as she
wished, and, with curtains drawn, he
nestled among the pillows for the
night. But his sleep was only pre-.
tended, aud, with child's cunning,
dissimulated so well that his half open
mouth and even breathing soon con-
WINGED his mother that she could safe
ly begin her toilet.
Quickly calling Hortense she donned
her handsome ball-dress, which, GER
geous with satin ribbons and en-
broideries, rendered her quite daz-
zling. Emile. peering through the cur
tains, thought her so lovely, the
charming and coquettish Lucy Van.
DIAL, that he fain would have sprung
out of bed aad kissed those beautiful
shoulders with their soft tints ofpearl
and rose. Presently the chamber
door was opened, and Emile heard
his father asking il his mother was
ready.
"Yes, in a moment" replied she.
Her toilet being finished, Lucy Van
dial was indeed adorable. Hortence
assured her mistress that no one at
the ball would be more beautiful than
she. Emile lost not word of this,
and great sobs arose IN his throat,
nearly sitting him. At last his mother
went out. He heard her laughing gay.
ly in the hall at her husbands teas
ing compliments. "Veux-tu tie taireo
were the last words he heard uttered
in the laughing, silvery tones OF his
mother, as the door closed alter the
happy couple. Bitterly grieved. jeal'
Gus OF her, as all children are where
mother means the whole family, his
Gears burst forth anew, and to smother
them he buried his face in the bed
clothes. He fancied himself, with the
sudden despair so frequent in sensi-
tive children, entirely abandoned by
his mother, who cared more for her
pleasure than for him. This dreadful
thought aroused him, impelling him