Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-11-17

customers (she told him their names)
and [. am Nine. Derline-''
Mime. Derline, You are Mime. Der
liner'
1t was theatrical. absolutely theatrical
Nine. Derline returned the next day
and the next after that, and every day
until the eve of the famous Thursday.
and every time she went back, while
waiting her turn to try on her gown
she ordered dresses. very plain. but
nevertheless costing 700 to 500 francs.
Nor was that all. The day of the first
visit to NJ. Arthur. when Nine. Derline
walked out of the fine place she was
grieved. absolutely grieved at the sight
of her coupe. 1t had been her mother-ln-
laws coupe and had rolled around the
streets of Paris for fifteen years.
Nine. Derline only entered this shock
ing coupe to be driven to a very illus
trious carriage-maker's
That night. adroitly Selling the psyche
logical moment. she explained to NJ.
Derline that she had been a little black
coupe, lined with deep blue satin. that
would divinely frame her new gowns.
The coupe was bought next day by
NJ Derline. who himself began to real
ize the extent of his new duties. But
next day he saw it was impossible to
harness to that pretty toy of a coupe
the old horse that drew the old car
riage, and equally impossible to put on
the box old coachman who drove the old
horse
That is why on Thursday. April %. at
1920 D. NJ, a very handsome sorrel
mare, driven by a very correct English
coachman, drew NJ. and Nine. Derline to
the Planners house. Nevertheless, yet
one thing was lacking-a little groom
by the English coachman's side. But
one must use a certain discretion. The
most beautiful woman in Paris proposed
to visit for ten days before asking for
the little groom.
While she mounted the staircase at the
Planners she distinctly heard the re-
peated little blows of her heart eats
She entered, and for the first minute
she enjoyed the delicious sensation of
success. Yes, decidedly, all went we'll.
She was in the way of having all Paris
at her feet. And, sure of herself,
more confident, more courageous
more rash, she advanced. leaning on NJ.
Palmer's arm, who introduced to her on
the way counts, marquises and dukes.
Palmer suddenly said to her:
Il am anxious to present to you one of
your greatest admirers who the other
night at the opera could talk of nothing
but your beauty-the prince de NerinS."
Nine. Derline was not to see the
prince de Nerins that night Neverthe
less he had counted surely on going to
Palmr's house and presiding at the apo
theoSis of his notary'S wife But he
dined at his club and permitted himself
to be persuaded to go to a first perfOr-
nance at a small theater. They played
an operetta cast in the classic mold.
The principal character was young
queen, who was always escorted by four
regulation ladies of honor.
Three of these young ladies were well
known to first-nighters as having figured
in good many fnales of OperettaS and
in not a few professions Of fairies. But
the fourth-Oh. the fourth! She was
new, magnificent brunette of the most
surprising beauty. When the audience
was leaving. Prince de NerinS said TO
every one who would listen to him:
THAT brunette! Helm! That brunei
tie! There's nothing like her in any
other theater! She's the most beautiful
woman in Paris! The most beautiful.
The next morning Nine. Derline found
in the fashionable intelligence of her
newspaper ten lines about the Palmers'
ball. The marchiOneSses and the
duchesses who were there named, but
of her, Nine. Derline, not a word-not
one word.
And to make it worse, he WHO wrote
about the theatrical performance lauded
in enthusiastic terms the beauty of the
ideal lady of honor and said: More
over, the prince de Nerins declared that,
incontestably, Mile. Miranda was the
most beautiful woman in Paris
Nine. Derline threw the paper in the
fire. She did not wish her husband TO
know that she was no longer the most
beautiful woman in Paris.
Nevertheless she held on to the great
dressmakei and the English cOachman,
but she has never dared to ask for the
little groom.