The record-union., 1891-01-10
MONSIEUR TRINGLES MASQUE.
lAdapted from the French of Jules Fleury, fol-
the RscoRD-UNIoS, by Mrs. n. Z. Whitel

-
the RscoRD-UNIoS, by Mrs. n. Z. White.l
CHAPTER I.
Never was there happier man than
Mons. Tringle the day he received an in
vitation to the fancy ball to be given by
his friends, the Brous.
The very moment he read the pleasing
request he resolved to dress himself as
the Devil, which was singular notion
for bachelor whose usual appearance
bore strong resemblance to sheathed
umbrella.
True, a month before the announce
ment of the ball, Mons. Tringle had OBJ
served hanging outside the window of
Chabre, the hair-dresser, a strange-look-
ing figure, representing the Devil, dressed
entirely in red, with a bushy wig and
long tail. 1t occurred to our hero that
this costume would be just the thing to
produce n sensation in quadrille.
Not that Mons. Tringle was fine
dancer. In fact, at evening gatherings he
was usually assigned a place at one OF the
tables where the principal functionaries
of the town of nettes played loo, but on
this occasion he determined to take a
more conspicuous part in the festivities,
and persuaded himself that this costume
would not only excuse him from the
usual game of cards, but would also en-
able him to outshine the most accom-
plished dancers in the room.
A whole future of happiness was stored
! up in that costume de didbte, for Mons.
, Tringle had been secretly signing for some
/! time past over his lonely bachelorhood,
and sought only to share his income of
5000 francs year with some young lady
who would bring him at least twice that
sum. And as Mile. Brou seemed to possess
! all the qualities that he desired in a life
companion-namely, 5000 francs year in
( her own right-more than once when
passing the hair-dresser's shop had ne adj
mired, as it duttered in the breeze, the
satanic costume which he fondly hoped
! would settle him in life.
elbow light and free person ought to
feel in that costumev' thought he with a
sigh of regret that he had not, in his
| youth, given his legs an opportunity of
becoming more nimble. Still, he hoped,
under cover of the bewitching costume,
to soften the heart of Mile. Brou and win
her admiration by feats of grace and agility
that would be so much the more remark
able from the fact that people were not ac-
customed to such novel exhibitions.
As q usual thing, he had no chance TO
{, pay his court to the young lady, for the
moment he entered the Brou parlor he
was taken possession Of by the card
players.
I'VE are going to make up game of
loo-come, Monsieur Tringle," the mis-
tress of the house would exclaiIn. At the
same time he would hear the shrill voice
of certain old dowager, an inveterate
gamester, bidding him make haste. And
no sooner had he removed his hat than
Mons. Paff, a Captain in the National
Guard (who was invariably already in
stalled in his place at the gaming table,,
would vociferate his name as if calling the
roll of his company.
MY dear Monsieur Tringle, you are in
demand" Madame Brou would say,
pushing him fnmiliarly toward the ever
lasting green-covered table.
These reasons and many others served
to influence him strongly in favor of
dressing in costume; however, Mons.
Tringle did not dare to confide his project
to the old servant, Therese, who had
managed his household for over eighteen
years. What would she think of her
master burlesquing in such fashion
Certainly she would raise thousand OBJ
jectlons; perhaps she might even have a
presentiment that, under that particular
costume, he concealed the bold purpose
of drawing near to Mile. Brou. declaring
his love, and afterward bringing her to
Tirelire street as mistress of the house.
Would not Therese, therefore, who ruled
the old bachelor as she pleased, use every
possible means of preventing such cat
aStrophe?
There are very few mon who, In order
TO escape the chains of matrimony, do not
Z contract ties thousand times Iflore irk-
some. Even quarter of an hours tarli-
ness on the part of Mons. Tringle drew
forth from the SfrewiSh maiden innumer-
able comments upon the extraordinary
event which had obliged the pot-au.feu to
remain fifteen minutes too long on the
fire. What fancies would trouble the old
housekeeper's mind, therefore, at the an
nouncement OF this masquerade ball /!
So, contrary to his custom, he had re-
trained from speaking to his faithful
Therese either of the invitation he had
received or the character he intended TO
personate; but the ball was none the less
ever present in his mind, and at night, as
he sat watching the prophetic little
tongues of fame darting and leaping in
his fireplace, he saw cleaning brightly in
the matrimonial horizon that dowry, the
prize for which he intended to strive on
the Sth of February, the date set for Nine.
Brou's famous party.
CHAPTER II.
The Sth of February having arrived,
Mons. Trtngle, smiling to himself at the
good joke he was going to perpetrate, en-
tered the rear room of the wig-inak kers
shop. The Brou ladies had asked him
the preceding week whether or not he
would dress in costume, and with disre-
gard for truth quite in consonance with
the Father of Lies, he had replied:
"Ah, ladies, you know the state of my
health will not permit me to do SOD
As he opened the door Chabre, who was
expecting him, was vigorously comb
ing something which looked like dilap-
idated muff when he went in.
What do you say to that, Monsieur
Tringle,'' said he triumphantly, holding