The record-union., 1891-01-10

MS lllau course through inc StreetS. \
painful silence then ensued, during which
he mentally berated himself for having
arrived SO early.
Pardon, Monsieur" said Mime, Brou
at length, making visible effort to open
the conversation.
''Madame," and poor Tringle stopped
confusedly, unable to say anything fur
ther. With downcast eyes he sat pain
fully conscious that Nine. Brou was in
specting him from head to foot, from his
claws to his wig, and, uneasy as soldier
before a severe officer, he asked himself
timorously:
Am presentablew
Mime. Brou, having cast another inquir-
ing glance at her daughter, as If to consult
with her before opening fire, once more
began:
sieurD
These words caused Tringle to laugh
immoderately. His disguise was evi-
! IDENTIFY a success.
But the humorous bachelor soon per-
ceived that Nine. Brou did not appreciate
his merriment. The lips of the two ladies
were more compressed than ever; with a
gesture full of offended dignity, Mime.
Brou motioned her daughter TO sit erect
Both ladies had the air Of judges about to
pronounce sentence.
What! Mesdames you do not recog-
y,
penetrable disguise.
| Once more the bachelor was subjected
to a supercilious glance from those pierre
ing eyes. and another awkward pause fol-
lowed this futile attempt to make himself
at home, during which the scissors OF
mother and daughter shipped vigorously
at the dress materials before them.
Are you ladies behind-hand with your
costumes?o he at length yentured to ask.
But as neither deigned to answer, he be-
gan to lose his temper and thought say
agely that, in parties of this kind, the
| hour ought to be mentioned in the invita-
/ ton.
| His sticky moustache began to draw
! the skin on his cheeks and lips, causing q
| furious desire to scratch; at the same
time drops of perspiration, produced by
the thickness Of the wig, commenced to
drip upon the blackened arch OF his eve
| brows, and forming in drops at the ends
of his eye-lashes, fell upon his painted
cheeks, causing him the greatest anxiety
as to the effect, for he did not dare to look
| at himself in the glass, lest he should dis
cover that the harmony of.the visage had
| been marred.
"It is very comfortable here, ladies' %
| he again ventured to remark, secretly
| hoping to be invited to partake Of some
| of the refreshments, for the exercises in
which he had indulged on the way had
!
The ladies appeared not to comprehend
this gentle hint, leaving Tringle aston
| ished at the tranquility of the mistress o1
4 the house, who by this time, he thought
should have been busy preparing the
cakes, the syrups and the punch.
But no appeuzing odor of steaming
punch greeted his nostrils, and it was eyi-
dent the polished kettle was not singing
gayly in the silent pantry.
IF only some other masker would ar
rive!" thought Tringle, despairingly. "a
new costume would divert those terrible
eyes from me-"
| But the guests seemed in no haste.
Slowly and solemnly the pendulum OF
the clock announced The inevitable flight
made another desperate effort to animate
the conversation by remarking:
''It is universally conceded that your
ball will be brilliant in the extreme"
Again the scissors stopped, and Mime.
Brou looked at him from head to foot.
.Surely," thought the unhappy Tringle,
there must be some unbecoming rent in
my costume" And with his claws, fol
the red covering extended beyond the
ends of his fingers, he endcavored to dis
| cover it, and was enraged to find his sense
| of touch SO dull.
| "I suppose you ladies are finishing your
costumes" he remarked uneasily, won
/ uSTluS at NHdI uuNtuCcu uOllT Ol IuG
night the stuff yet uncut would be Sewed
And as he expressed regret thatAthe
ladies could not then and there display
the DISCUSSES in which they intended tc
appear, Mile. Brou replied curtly:
What would be the use Of wearing
them week before the ball?''
"a week before the BALI" exclaimed
1 Tringle in CONSERVATION, "Grdnd Dieun'
I'VE have not been invited to the party
to which you are going, Monsieur" said
! Nine. Brou, lighting candle and rising
! to signify to the ill-bred jester that his
visit had been already unduly prolonged
'Do you really mean to say that youl
ball does not talle: place this evening?"
askedThe bachelor in dismay.
II have the honor Of informing you
7 Monsieur. that our. salon will be opened
the 18th OF this month";
Tringle gave q start Of surprise. "The
18th ?' cried he, why the invitation stated
the Sth OF February. All! poor Trim
glew
"Whatw queried Mime. Brou, "aro you
| Monsieur Tringle?"
1t was now the bachelors turn to make
no reply. With his periwigged head
buried in his hands he was thinking OF
| the ridiculous guise in which he had pre-
sented himself in the very house where
he was most desirous of making favora-
| bic impression.
|
standing, Monsieur Tringle!n continued
Nine. Brou. Il wondered what queer
notion induced stranger to visit us in
| such "a costume.o
Poor Tringle heard no more. How fool
1sh he must appear in the eyes Of Mile.
Brou, whose usually calm features wore
a mocking look, which was exasperatinp
in the extreme. Who had ever heard OF
a person dressing up as devil q week
before the ball? Could such grotesque
costume be worn more than once? And
that tail, upon whose freaks he had
counted for his greatest triumph, he
would now most willingly conceal be-
hind his chairy but, like Banquo's ghost,
IT would not down, SO strong and rebel
lious was the wire spring. Athis slightest
movement the tuft which adorned the
end OF 1t appeared on the arms of his
chair, first on one side and then on the
other, taking, as it We're, q diabolical de-
light In his intense modification.
CHAPTER ".
There is nothing more paralyzing to a
PERSONS faculties than a sense of being
ridiculous; so our unfortunate hero had
| arrived at degree of embarrassment
which caused him to sit on the edge OF
his chair like a solicitor.
The wig-mal1er should at least have
! informed you that there was to be no
party here tonight, and that am not in
the habit of receiving on Friday" said
Nine. Brou, severely.
Mons. Tringle, although his perceptive
faculties were greatly dulled by his dis
comfiture, comprehended that Mime. Brou
was Representing him for his untimely
call; but his chagrin nailed him to the
chair and prevented him from taking his
leave.
in fact" said he, humbly, '.Mons.
Chabre did tell me that no one had hired
any costumes at his store"
Docs anyone rent costumes from that
| pe71'uqaierE asked Mile. Brou, disdain-
fully.