Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28

As she passed up the staircase, she could
hear her heart beating. This evening would
decide her fate. She knew, that the Palmers
had gone about saying to everyone; "Oome
to us on Thursday, and you will see Mme..
Dagand, the prettiest woman in Paris.
Curiosity would be fully awakened. and
jealousy, too.
From the first moment of entering the
room she felt the delicious certainty Of sue
cess. Their passage through the Palmers'
long gallery was sort of triumphal prog
ress. She walked erect and firm, her head
held high, her hands clasped before her.
She appeared utterly unconscious, but
nothing escaped her. She saw all faces
turned to look at her; she felt all eyes fixed
on her bare shoulders. A buzz OF admira-
tion rose on every side, and no music had
ever sounded sweeter to her ears.
Yes, all was going well. She was about
to take all Paris by storml Sure. of herself,
gaining confidence with every step, grace
ful and unabashed, she advanced slowly on
Palmer's arm, her host pointing out counts,
dukes.and marquises on the way.
Suddenly Palmer remarked:
''I am looking for one of your greatest
admirers, who wishes to be presented to
you-the Prince de Nerins. He would talk
of nothing but your beauty the other night
at the opera"
Nine. Dagand blushed red as a rose.
Palmer looked at her and began to laugh:
"Ah! I see you read the paragraph in
the paper"
"Yes, / saw it, IL
Where can the Prince be? I saw him
to-day and he promised to be here early"
Nine. Dagand was not destined to meet
the Prince. that evening. And yet he had
fully intended to come to the Palmers and
be present at the apotheosis of his latest dis
covery. He had dined at the club, and had
been induced to 60 to first night at one of
the minor theaters, The piece was an
operetta modelled on classics lines. The
principal character was young queen, at
tended by the four regulation maids of
honor.
Three OF these young women were well
known to the frst-night police, having al
ready figured in many an opera finale and
in many fairy procession, but the fourth
-ahl the fourthl She was novelty, a
tall brunette OF the most startling beauty.
Among many attracted like himself, the
Prince was especially conspicuous for the
excitement into which he was thrown by
her appearance. He forgot thai he had to
90 away after the first act. The piece did
not end till very late, but the Prince stayed
to the end, his eyes glued to the superb
brunette, and not word of the "book" nor
a note of the music having penetrated to his
brain, except the one neicoupiet which she had
contrived to massacre in the middle of the
second act. And all through the evening
the Prince called to any who cared to listen:
''That brunette! ehl look at that brunette!
There's nothing like her in any thester!
She's the prettiest woman in Parisl"
1t is now o'clock in the morning. The
Prince is asking himself whether he shall
go on to the PaImers'. Poor little Nine.
Dagand, she is indeed a poor affair beside
this new wonder? The Prince, moreover, is
a methodical creature in his way, and this
is his time for whist, so to his whist he goes.
Next morning Nine. Dagand found ten
lines about the Palmers' ball in the society
column of the newspaper. The Marquises,
the Countesses, the Duchesses who were
there, were duly named, but of herself, of
Nine Dagand, not word. .
On the other hand, the theatrical con-
tributor belauded the beauty of the operetta
in enthusiastic terms: Moreover" he
added, ''the Prince de Nerins declared Mile.
Miranda to be incontestably the prettiest
woman in Paris.
Nine. Dagand threw the paper into the
fire. She did not wish her husband to know
that she was no longer the prettiest woman
in Paris. But she kept the smart eou-
turiere, and she kept the English coachman
although she has never had courage to
ask Tor the little groom.-FigGro Hlustre.