Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-10-02
WOODBURY., n J. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1890.

ground floor, must formerly have been
magnificent reception Salons Particles
of tarnished gold yet glittered at all
the angles. Neurological paintings
adorned the ceiling, surrounded the mir
rors and foated over the doors in vague
colors, somewhat soiled, like souvenirs
Of departed years. Unfortunately there
were neither curtains nor furniture
Nothing but baskets, great boxes filed
with siphons, with pewter heads, and
the dried branches of an old lilac
bush which still hung in inky black
ness behind the windows. M. Ma
jesty on entering found his ware
rooms full of light and company. He
bowed politely, but nobody paid the
least attention to him. The women, in
their satin cloaks, on the arms Of their
cavaliers, continued their ceremonial
affectations. They promenaded, chatted
and separated Truly, all the old mar
quises seemed to be perfectly at home
A little figure paused, all in q tremble,
in front of a painted wall 'sThat's me
exactlyl Look at my portraitl' and she
gazed smilingly upon a Diana on panel,
slender and pink, with crescent on her
forehead
"Nesmond, do come here and look at
your armsl' And everybody laughed as
they saw the arms of the Nesmonds
stamped upon some bagging with the
name of Majesty underneath.
"Ahl ha! Majesty They still have
majesties then in France?" And there
were endless gayeties, little fife like
bursts of laughter, uplifted fingers and
affected speeches.
Suddenly some one cried out: Here's
champagnel Here's champagne!'
mo, it isn't,n
Eyes, it is-it's champagnel Come,
countess, let's have bumper"
1t was M. Majesty's seltzer water they
had mistaken for champagne. They
found it trife fiat. but they drank it
all the same, and as these poor ghosts
were not strong in the head little by lit
tie the weak seltzer water animated
them, excited them and put them in a
frame of mind for dancing.
Minuets were organized. Four good
violins that Nesmond had brought in
his train began one of Rameau's airs,
simple and melancholy in its vivacity.
1t was a sight to see all these old women
turn and salute their partners graveIy,
keeping time with the music. Their at
tire seemed to grow young again, end so
did the gold embroidered waistcoats,
the brocaded coats and the shoes with
diamond buckles. The panels them
selves appeared to revive on hearing the
ancient melodies. The old mirror, in
closed in the wall for 200 years, recog-
nized them also, and scratched as it was
and blackened at the corners lighted up
softly and sent back to the dancers their
images somewhat dimly, as if melted by
regret by all these elegancies. NJ.
Majesty felt himself out of place. He
got behind box and looked ON.
Little by little, however, the day
broke. Through the glass doors of the
warerooms the good man saw the court
yard grow lighter, then the tops of the
windows, then all one side of the salon.
As the brightness increased the figures
faded and were confounded together.
Soon M. Majesty saw only two violinists
lingering in a corner and evaporating as
the light touched them. In the court
yard he could still see, but very vaguely,
the shape Of sedan chair, powdered
head adorned with emeralds, and the
last sparks of a torch thrown by the
servants upon the fagstones, which min
gled with the light of the wheel lanterns
of truck at that instant coming through
the open gate with tremendous clatter.
-Alphonse Daudet i'll Chicago Mail.