The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-06-08
EmiIs's Night At The Ball.
Translated from the French for the Dali y
Npws


News.
In 81 chamber quilted with satin,
tefore a blazing fire which flashed
against the tall copper and irons, sat
little Emile one evening i'll February
waiting for his mamma. 1t was eight
o'clock. The maid had tried to put
him to bed, but he had resisted with
all his might, holding fast to the arms
OF the big chair, and resolved not to
60 to sleep until he had kissed his
mother. She told him that she would
be home for dinner, and she had not
come. With a mournful look on his
little face he had sat alone at the
great diniDg-tabIe, 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 % bury himself again in the
easy-chair, his legs curled under
him and his eyes fixed a~nxiously
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 a mag
nihcent 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 1t, but she
would uot tell him anything, so,
struggling hard against s~Ieepiness, 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. 1t
was Hortense 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 a house where there were
kins dressed like ladies, and grand sa-
Ions with mirrors. all over the walls;
and he had had TO wait q long, long
time. He remembered, too, that they
had got home very late. So it was
the same to-day. he decided-hiS 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 stockings-Hortens came back
to the child with the fixed purpose Of
putting him to sleep, Madame had
charged her to do so before she should
return, as size was going to a ball with
her husband, and 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.
mo, 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 fall
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
Enile 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 @as a noise in the
ante-ehamber. She had come. He
recognized the musical and 9caressing,
voice which always made him so hap
py. what he heard her say to
Hortense. mot in bed yeti Oh, the
naughty boy And then he saw her
before him. the bright eyes, brilliant
color, and laughing lips, which he knew
so we'll. She saw hmm look over at the
grand toilet spread before them, SEEM
ing to ask mutely what 1t was all for,
the fine dress and the open corsaee
which he had never seen before. But.
his mother made no reply. only kiss.
ing him kindly. Emiles anxiety grew
the keener and he straightway made
up his mind to follow his mother
secretly and find out all about it for
himself.
sTeli me, mamma he said sIyiy,
II will 90 to bed, butsyou'l come with
me, won't your You will tuck me in
all tight and then / will 60 right to
Sleep
"There. " said the mother deifghted,
III knew my little boy would be
good"
qBut what are you going to 40,
mammal
u, why ! am going to bed after you
just as / always do. What makes you
ask thatY"
And you are not going out AGAIN."
"Why, what an idea. Emiiel Where
would ! be going to ct this time Of
night?'
'aQue tu es GENTLE" said little
Emile, 81 knew you would do what I
wanted. Goodnight, mamma,D but
ne knew in his heart that his mother
was deceivlng him.