Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-11
GAM | | f

I upon her husband. She had passed sleep
less night in devising Camille's toilet, ant
| she cherished the sweetest hopes. SIT mus
be-" she told herself, 'that he will be
| proud, and the rest jealous of the pool
little onei She will say nothing, but sh,
will be the most beautiful P'
The Cheyalier welcomed his wife gracious
| ly-quite in the manner of Versailles
| Their conversation commenced with the
exchange of few Insignificant sentences a!
they walked side by side. Then silence
| fell between them, while Madame des Arcis
sought fitting words in which to approach
her husband on the subject of Camille, anG
induce him to break his resolution that the
child should never see the world. Mean
while, the Cheyalier was also in cogitation
He was the first to speak. He informed his
wife that urgent family affairs called him to
Holland, and that he ought to start not latel
than the following morning.
Madame understood his true motive only
too easily. The Chevalier was far from con-
templating the desertion of his wife, yet
felt an irresistible desire, a compelling
need of temporary isolation. In almost all
true sorrow, man has his craving for soli-
tude-suffering animals have it also.
His wife raised no objection to his pro-
ject, but fresh grief wrung her heart. Com
planning of WEAKNESS, she sank upon seat.
There she remained for a long time, lost in
arm into. that of her husband, and they re-
turned togsther to the house.
The poor lady spent the afternoon quietly
and praterfully in her own room. In the
evening, toward o'clock, she rang the bell,
and ordered the horse to be put into the car
riage. At the same time she sent word to
the Chevalier that she intended going to
the bali, and hoped that he would accom-
pany her.
An embroidered robe of white muslin,
small shoes of white satin, necklace of
American beads, coronet of violets-such
was the simple costume of Camille, who,
when her mother had dressed her, jumped
for JOY. As Madame was embracing her
child with the words, 'You are beautiful
you are beautiful" the Chevalier Joined
them. He gave his hand to his wife and the
three went to the ball
As il was Camille's first appearance in
public she naturally excited great deal of
curiosity. The Chevalier suffered visibly
When his friends praised to him the beauty
of his daughter, he felt that they intended
to console him, and such consolation was
not to his taste. Yet he could not wholly
suppress some emotion of pride and Joy.
His feelings were strangely mixed. After
having saluted by gestures almost every
body in the room, Camille was now resting
by her mothers side. The general admira-
tion grew more enthusiastic. Nothing,
in fact, could have been more lovely
than the envelope which held this
poor dumb soul. Her figure, her face, her
long, curling hair, above all, her eyes of
Incompatible luster, surprised everyone.
Her wistful looks and graceful gestures, too,
were so pathetic. People crowded around
Madame des Arcis, asking thousand ques-
tions about Camille; to surprise and slight
coldness succeeded sincere kindliness and
sympathy. They had never seen such a
charming child; nothing resembled her, for
there existed nothing else SO charming as
she! Camille was q complete success.
Always outwardly calm, Madame des
Arcis tasted tonight the most pure and in
tense pleasure of her life. A smile that was
exchanged between her and her husband
was well worth many tears.
Presently, as the Chevalier was still
gazing at his daughter, a country dance
began, which Camille watched with an
earnest attention that had in it something
sad. A boy invited her to join. For an
swer, she shook her head, causing some of
the violets to tall out of her coronet. Her
mother picked them up, and soon put. to
rights the coifure, which was her own
handiwork. Then she looked round for her
husband, but he was no longer in the
room. She inquired if he had left, an,
whether he had taken the carriage. Sk,
was told that he had gone home on foot.