New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-25
ONLY A WALTZ.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF LUDOvIC
HALEY BY EDITH V. MATTHEW'S.


HALEvY BY EDITH V. MATTHEWS.
"Aunt dear aunt, don't believe a word of what
he is going to tell YOU lie is prepared to no, TO
fiji outraecously. If | hadn't interrupted him at
the beginning of his talk, he would have told
you that he hal madc up his mind = marry me
from his and my earliest clildhood.
"Of course exclaimed tontran.
"Of course not" replied Marccline. " He was
going to tell YOU tlIa, he was good little boz
having always loved his little cousin and that
our marriage was delightful romance of tender
ness and sweetness
Why YES of course" repeated Gontran
Nonsense. The truth. Aunt Louise, the real
truth in short is this, n"v"r. never should we nave
been married if on the ;th OF May, 1890, between
50 and IL o'clock, he had not lost $4,000
points at Dcziquc at the club and if all the boxes
had not been sOld that same night, 1T The B2uics-
Parsiens Theatre
And a. Gontran began 10 laugh.
"Oh. you can laugh us much You please.
You know very we'll that but for ths--on what
does fate depend ?-I should now he married ana
- duchess, it is true. but Duchess of Courtalin
ard no. Duchess OF Iannilis We'll, perhaps that
would have been better! NJ any rate | wish TO
give Aunt Louise the Authentic history Ct cur mar
rage
Tell away, if it amuSos you, said Gonian
Yes, sir il amuscS me. You shall know all,
Aunt Louise. all, absolutely all, ard beg you
to h Judge Of our quarrel
This scene taking place eight days after
Marceline de I.orauce. at the church Of the Made
leinc before tho altar hidden under a mountain
Of roses had answered yes with just the right
amount Of nervousness and emotion neithcr too
much nor TOO little, hut exactly right, when
she was asked il she was willing TO take for
husband her cousin Jean Leopold Nathurin ALBERT
Gontran, Duke OF LannlliS
This maniag, had been the great marriage Of the
season. There had been absolute crushing on the
coIonnadc and against the ratings OF III" church
20 see the bride wall; down those fearful stc9s
of the Madeleine What an important feat that
is Merely to be beautiful is not ali that Is need
full it is necessary besides to know how 10 be
beautiful There is an art about being pretty
which requires certain preparations and study.
In society, as in the theatre, rarely comes
at once. Nine De Lannilis had the good fortune
20 make her first appearance with decisive sue
cess; she was at once quite easily and boldly
at home in her beauty She had only T. appear
10 triumph Prince Ncvins had not moments
hesitation concerning IT, and h" il j., a. every
one knows, who, with general consent, has made
himself the distributor Of the patents OF supreme
Partisan elegance: 81. while the now Duchess,
beneath the fire of a thousand eyes aad behind
the ringing stats. was taking her frs steps as
young married woman with calm assurance,
Ncvins, struck with admiration, was giving way
under the coonna!e Of the Madeleine, 4 vcrit-
able transports of enthusiasm: he went from
group 10 group repeating;
"She is aerial There is no other expression
for her-aerial. S'ie does not walk. she c'iIc,.
If she took tie fantasy. with oac little Kick Of
her heel, She could raise herself lightly over the
heads of those two tall fellows with spears.
the Place lie la Corcordc and 90 and place he
self on the pcduicnt Of the Chamber Of Dcpg-
ties. Look AT her wc,l-that is true beauty
radiant beauty, blazing beauty She is eoi-
dcss. a young goddess: she viii reign lOn-, gen
tlcmen. long as possible.
The young goddess. for the present. aid not
20 farther than Lannlis. in Potion. to her hus-
bands hone. Ecr home. IN a mansion that hal
seen many Duchcs>os Of I.annS bar never ono
more charming, and mover. il must DE sai.
more absolutely in love. Tha. little Duclcs'
Of nineteen wild about that little Duke of
twenty-five. who was jealousy carrying her of
for himself alone to quiet and solitary retreat
They had arrived Thursday. the . iii of Jane.
at about = oclock-on al cNquisit" night beneath
q star-spang!e -l;y-and they were suddenly
astounded al receiving Il letter from Their Aunt
Louise dated July |
Eight days stcody .ctr-l-tcte" she wrote, 4" "a
enough: quite enough Trus' 10 the experience of
an old countrywoman, who would BE- delighted
TO kiss her little nephew and niece. DON'T eat
all your love in ;hc bud keep little for the
future
Thursday. the ist Of July. eight days, They
had been eight days at Iannis Il was i'm
possible They tried to put same order IN their
reflections What had they cone Friday. Satur-
day and Sunday But all was vague and became
confused i'm their minds Tho days and the
nights and the nights and days What had they
done? 1t was always the same sane thing. and
the same thing had somehow nclcr been The sane
thing.
They had just loved, loved loved. AMI quite
given up TO this very wise occupation. they had
completely forgotten that near I.anns. in the
old residence OF Chatclcrault, there WIS dear
Old Aunt Louise. who was expecting their iirS'
bridal visit. visit which was due her, for she
had the best claim in the world. account of
her eighty-four Years, her kindness, and also
becalsc OF the gift Of a magnificent pearl neck
lace 10 Marcrlinc.
So il was necessary TO be resigned Il leave OF
dreamira and TO come back 20 reality. ard il
was during this visit thai before the old aunt.
much amused at the quarrel. this great dispute
had abruptly Burs. forth between the young
married couple
Amt Louise had accepted the position OF arbi-
traitor. snd presiding over the discussion, she had
made the two contestants sit down boforn her in
armchai-s. at respectful distance. Mar'elinc,
before being seated had already taken the floor
Every one agreed upon this point lyon know
IL. Aunt Louise. mamma must often have told
you in her letters every was agreed on this
point that there were really only two suitable
matches for me- the Duke of lanDls her, present.
and the Duke of C6urtain. mad the weakness
IN i'm i'm f1.yn ny I
scarcely tell. childish habit, doubtless. We had
played together when were 10 higher than
that at being little husband and wife. | had
remained faithful TO that childhood love. where