Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-02
M. PEYRUSSE'S SoIREE.

Translated from the French. for the SUNDAY
UNION, by Mrs. \. E White.
In spite of his fifty years, Monsieur Cy-
prien Peyrusse, one of the richest mer-
chants of Bordeaux, was handsome man.
Add to this the fact that he was person of
fine sensibilities and great intelligence,
and it will be readily understood why all
esteemed and loved him. He occupied.
on the Quineonces, pretty, comfortable,
and tastefully furnished house, where he
lived all alone, for he had never wished to
marry. Or rather Ito be exact, he had
once been on the point of doing so, but
as he himself relates very facetiously-at
the supreme moment he was seized with
an uncomfortable terror and fed. Many,
however, consider the fear of matrimony
the beginning of wisdom.
The pretty home on the Quinconces was
larger than was necessary for the solitary
household of Monsieur Peyrusse, and Sc
one day the good man determined that
there should be a change. He conceived
the happy idea of receiving company and
giving entertainments. Like all worthy
people, he wished those around him to be
happy. For the purpose of carrying out
| this idea, he concluded to annex to the
main body of his dwelling an immense
room, half hall, half conservatory, where
his guests might assemble, dance and ban
quet at ease. He wanted his receptions
to be talked about, and resolved to spare
no pains to make them magnificent. Their,
would be fine sport-on the faith of Cyp
rlen Peyrusse.
During the following six months The
new hall of Monsieur Peyrusse was The
sole topic of conversation in Bordelais,
society. All the pretty wonderland the
Lord knows they were numerous in Bor
deaux-were already discussing the toilet.
they would don for the occasion. The
famous hall was yet unfinished when PEG
pie already spoke Of it as a marvel. Wher
they met NJ. Peyrusse out walking, the in
variable greeting was:
DWELL, NJ. Peyrusse, when is that soiret
to be ?" and NJ. Peyrusse would smile mos
mysteriously, but encouragingly.
Finally, it was one day learned that The
hall was completed, carpeted and furnished
Surely, the first fete would soon take place
Would it be bal, a concert, or a comedy
There was no end of speculation regard
ing its probable character, but NJ. Peyruss,
remained impenetrable. To all the ques
tions addressed to him, he made the sam,
reply: Every soon-you'l see; you'll
seer
Three months, six months, a year passeC
away-nothing. What did it mean? PEG
pie began to get angry. What could NJ
Peyrusse be thinking of? To promis,
such feast, and when the time came t,
disappoint his friends in that way Why
was he waiting so long?
Why? The truth was that N. Peyrusse
naturally of hesitating disposition, wa
afraid-yes, actually afraid, Just as he haC
been of matrimony. He wanted his soire,
to be original, exquisite, something re
markable in the annals of the Bordelais,
social world. Now, what could be founC
sufficiently new or rare? Was not every
thing known, out Of date and worn out
with repetition? A thousand projects
crossed his mind. He found them ali un
worthy of his consideration. He was very
generous and would have stopped at ne
expense, but he sighed for something new
and unheard of, something spicy, or els,
nothing-a thousand times over, nothins
at all
And, indeed, for two years, there wa.
nothing.
Imagine how great was the general dis
appointment. The good man was to,
greatly beloved to be told of it poin
blank, but it furnished a constant subiec
for ridicule. The ''Soiree de VI. Peyrusse'
became readymade point of comparison
with which to describe something improb
able or uncertain. OF one who had not O
late been seen, it would be said, 81 saw
him at the soiree OF NJ. Peyrusse." /
would be remarked, also, quite as flip
PANTY, of some improbable event, GAS Ger
tain as the soiree of NJ. Peyrusse." AnC
of some particularly stupid entertainment
it would be yawningly observed, "As anus
ing as the soiree of NJ. Peyrusse." How
could it be otherwise? Laughter is catch
ing in Bordeaux, and the bare mention O
that tete, everlastingly postponed, never
failed to upset the gravity of even the mos
dignifed parsonage.
At the beginning of the third winter tn,
people could endure it no longer. Cos
what it might, that soiree must take place
even without the aid of NJ. Peyrusse.
| 1t was about the middle of December
that the opportunity presented itself un
sought "a Christmas-eve surprise party
Just the thing a rerejUion in the famous
hall. Every one danced for iov at the
idea, but how to manage it was the cues
ton.
"That will be easy enough" said pretty
Nine. Capefigue. Every year NJ Pey.
russo goes, on Christmas-eve, to dine will
his old friend, Dubois, and does not return
before midnight. At nine o'clock some O
our party will be at the Quinconces man
sion, provided with all the necessaries-
servants, as well as edibles. They will
have the table laid in the hall for a simple
cold lunch, and at eleven o'clock we shall
arrive there in a body, so that when, al
midnight, NJ. Peyrusse appears"
"Ges, but what are you going to do with
his servants ?" asked some one obviously
Bah we will bride them-or. gae
them !" said the willful little beauty. ave
go, then, do we not? Is it agreed? ?"
Agreed, was the unanimous reply. The
friends swore absolute secrecy, and it was
duly settled that the rendezvous should be
on the oath of December, at the mansion
of the Quinconces.
Everything passed off according to pro.
gramme. At o'clock NJ. Peyrusse went
to dine with his old friend, Dubois: at
half-past 8 three young gentlemen arrived
followed by dozen walters, carrying sew.
eral immense baskets, and long boards for
tables. The proceeding was enveloped in
delicious air of mystery. One of the
jolly trio rang the bell, which was an
swered by no less important a parsonage
than Justine, NJ. Peyrusse's old cook, a
Gordon dieu of justly merited reputation.
Upon perceiving that the visitors were in
| innate friends OF her master, the good
woman was not so much surprised and
said, unsuspiciously: Monsieur has not
yet come in
I