Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-23

uonst-sted with them. The servants
made DO reply. and continued % talk IL
low totsss s1noas themselves without tie
saast sapor escaping froza their hIs IN
the lev g.ooal II the night. NJ MAJESTY
was 1Easey. tut one thlns treasured
him. and thzt Was that thls great brs
which hsIned 30 high and - steadily
Was most Singular ira flame devoid
Of heat which spaykiei but esa Tot burn
His fears having been trsxaqEilzed. the
good nan deSceadei the STEPS and Ell
tered his waTsroaaas-
These wareroouss, which were on the
ground door. must formerly have teen
magnificent reception salons. Particles
IF furnished gold YET glitteped II al
the angles. Astrological paintings
adorned the ceiling. surrounded the mir
rors aud foated over the doors ia vague
eolofs, somewhat soiiod, like souvenirs
of departed years. Unfortunately there
were neither curtains nor furniture.
Nothing bat baskets, great boxes fllei
with sipkans. with pewter heads, and
tho dried branches Of an old lilac
bush which still hung in iaky black
ness bchiad the windows. n. Nj
jesty On entering found his ware
rooms full 81 light and company. He
bowed politely. but nobody paid tho
least attentitxl TO him. The women. IN
their satin cioahs. OH the arms Of their
cavaliers, continued their ceremonial
Alterations They promenaded. chatted
and separated. Truly. all the old mar
quises seemed 10 be perfectly at home.
A little figure paused, all in treinble,
in front OF painted wall. That's me
exactly. Look at my portrait" and sac
gazed smilingly upon Diana ON panel.
slender and pink, with crescent On her
forehead.
"Nennond, 90 come here and look at
your arms And everybody laughed as
they saw tho arms Of the Eesnonds
stamped upon sosno baggins with the
namc Of Majesty underneath
"Ah. ha! Majesty! They ctill have
majcsties then in France AID there
wero endless gayeties. little nfe like
bursts Of laughter, uplifted fingers and
affected speeches.
Suddenly SOTO one cried out: Heres
champagne! Here's champaSnc!'
mo. il isn't!'
Eyes, it is-it's champagne! Come,
countess, let's have u bumper"
1t was NJ. Maiesty'a aeltzer water they
had mistaken for champagne. They
found i. tribe Tat. bat 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 ard put them in
frame OF mind for dancing.
iinuets were organized. Four good
violins that Nesmond had brought in
his train began ono Of Rar,eau's airs,
simple and melancholy in its yivacity.
1t was a sight to see ell these old women
turn and salute their partners gravely,
keeping time with the music. Their at
tire seemed to grow young again. and So
did the gold embroidered waistcoats,
the brocaded coats and tho shoes with
diamond buckles. The panels them
selves appeared to revive on hearing tho
ancient melodies. The old mirror, in
closed in the wall for goo years, recog-
uized them also, and scratched rs it was
and blackened at the corners lighted up
softly and sent back to the dancers their
images somewha. dimly, as If melted by
regret by all these elegancies. N.
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 tho good man saw the court
yard grow lighter, then the tops Of the
windows, then ali one side of the salon.
As the brightness increased the figures
faded and were COMPOUNDED together.
Soon NJ. Majesty saw only two violinists
lingering in q corner and evaporating rs
the light touched them. In the court
yard he could still see, but very vaguely,
the shape Of q sedan chair. q powdered
head adorned with emcralds, and the
last sparks Of 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 clattas.
---Alphonse Daudet in Chicago Mail.