San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-10
OMPHALE

My uncle, the Chevalier de Rioux, resided
In q small mansion which looked out upon
the dismal Rue de Tournelles on one side and
the equally dismal Boulevard St Antoine
upon the other Between the boulevard and
the house itself a few ancient elm trees, eaten
alive by moses and insects, piteously ex-
tended their skeleton arms from the depth of
species of sink, surrounded by high black
walls Some emaciated flowers hung their
heads languidly, like young girls in consump-
ton, waiting for ray Of sunshine to dry
their half rotten leaves Weeds had invaded
the walks, which were almost indistinguisha-
BILE, owing to the length Of time that had
elapsed since they were last raked One or
two gold fish Hoated, rather than swan, in a
basin covered with duckweed and half
choked by water plants.
My uncle called that his garden
Beside all the fine things above described
in my uncles garden there was also a rather
unpleasant pavilion, which he had entitled
the "Dehces," doubtless by antiphrasis. 1t
was in state of extreme dilapidation. The
walls were bullying outwardly; great masses
of detached plaster still lay among the net
ties and wild oats where they had fallen; the
lower portions of the wall surfaces were
green Will puIll Tile "OOu "OIh VI
the window shutters and doors had been
badly sprung, and they closed only partially,
or not at all A species of decoration,
strongly suggestive of an immense kitchen
pot, with various effluvia radating from it,
ornamented the main entrance, for, in the
time of Louis XIV, when it was the custom
to build "Delices," there were always two
entrances to such pleasure houses for pre-
IL
with ovules, foliated arabesques and volutes,
had been badly ,iismantled by the infiltration
Of rain water. In short, the "Delices" of my
uncle, the Chevalier de Rioux, presented a
rather lamentable aspect.
1t was in this pavilion that my uncle had
lodged me.
The interior was less rocco than the ex-
terror. although remaining in a somewhat
better state Of preservation. The bed was
hung with yellow lampas, spotted over with
large white flowers. An ornamental shell
work clock licked away upon pedestal, in
laid with ivory and mother of pearl. A
wreath of ornamental roses coquettishly
twined around Venetian glass; above the
door, the four seasons were painted in cameo.
A fair lady, with thickly powdered hair,
sky blue corset, and an array Of ribbons of
GQ6 same uue, WHO udu No" III neT TlSQC
hand, partridge in her left, a crescent upon
her forehead, and leveret at her feet, strut
ted and smiled with ineffable graciousness
from within large oval frame. This was
one Of my uncle's loves of old, whom he
had painted as Diana IL will scarcely be
necessary to observe that the furniture itself
was not Of the most modern style; there was,
in fact, nothing to prevent one from fancying
l.. IL. L. - - D.
and the NEUROLOGICAL tapestry with which
the walls were hung rendered the illusion
complete
The tapestry represented Hercules spinning
at the feet Of Omphale The design was tor
msnted after the fashion of Vanloo, and in
the most Pompadour style possible to i'm
agine Hercules had spindle, decorated
with rose colored favors; he elevated his
little finger with peculiar and special grace,
like marquis in the act of taking pinch of
snuff. while turning white flake Of fax be-
tween his thumb and index finger; his mus
cular neck was burdened with bows Of rib
ions, rosettes, strings Of pearls and a thou
sand other feminine gewgaws, and large
gorge de pigeon colored pesticoat, with two
very large pauniers, lont quite gallant air
70 the monster conquering hero.
"nILe NcTe DdA COV-
cred by the skin Of che Nemsan lion; her
slender hand leaned upon her lovers knotty
club; her lovely blonde hair, powdered TO ash
ooIor, fell koosely over her Dock-a neck as
supple and uudulating in its outlines as the
neck OF a dove. her little fees-true reali
.ation OF tho typical Andalusian or Chinese
toos, and which would have been lost in Gin
dsrelns glass slippers-were sbod with half
antique buskins OF tender lilac color.
sprinkked with pearls In truth, shs was a
charming creature Her bead was thrown
back with an adorable little mock swagger:
her dimpled mouth wore a delicious little
pout; her nostrils were slightly expanded:
her cheeks had a delicate glove patch cum
aingly placed there relieved their beauty in a
wonderful way-she only needed little
mustache to make her a first class mousque
taire
There were many other personages also
represented in the tapestry-tbe kindly fe-
male attendant the indispensable little
Cupid-but they did not leave a sufficiently
distinct outline In my memory to enable me
TO describe them.
In those days | was quite young-not that
| wish to be understood as saying that am
now very old; but was fresh from college,
and was to remain In my uncle's care until
I could choose a profession II the good
man had been able to foresee that should
embrace that OF a fantastic story writer, be
would certainly have turned me out of doors
forthwith and irrevocably disinherited mo;
for he always entertained the most aristo-
cratic contempt for literature in general and
authors In particular. Like the fine gentle
man that he was, it would have pleased him
Il Al n L -