The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-11
A CAB ADVENTURE.

l will wager my chances for the
throne of France against box of cigars
that there never was a marquis SO diff
dent, SO timid so irresponsible, as tho
Marquis Suetone Amentor de Lon
guerne. My hero possesses q heroine
that is to say, legitimate heroine, a
24-year-old heroine, as beautiful MS Won
might wish and as unmusical us you
can Imagine From the rising of the
sun till the last flicker of the night
lamp she was constantly ut the piano.
She strummed with such untiring zeal
that it was impossible to keep servants
in tho house. There were times when
the marquis, surfeitcd with Schumann,
tortured by Mendelssohn and dead
weary of aint-Saens, even envied tho
good fortune of his servants, who could
escape the instrument of torture.
viii the marquis please settle nv
account?'
Are you going to leave us?''
Yes, sir, on account off,
1.-The piano? I know; you have had
enough of it.
IF it were only enough could
stand it, but it's too much. It is driy-
ing me crazy"
II understand -
lyon arc not angry, then?'
"The deuce, mol But how can I re-
place yoa?'
II know man who would suit tho
place. He is quite deaf
LUCKY dogl'
Even the neighbors were driven to re-
bellion. Petitions and threatening let
ters poured in daily, until ut last tho
poor marquis determined to move to
some isolated quarter near the barracks
where the cornetists and drummers
were sent to practice scales.
1t is scarcely to be credited, but the
marquis deeply dcplored the absence of
better rival i'll his wifes affection
than tho piano. He hated it with a
deadly hatred, and it is not surprising
that he seized the opportunity to escape
when the misguided virtuosa said to
him:
Can count upon your escort Mon
day evening, dear? I have promised to
play fantasia from Henry VIII at
Nine Ia Marechale's Arc you fond Of
Henry WHIP"
Yes-since I've learned to feel for
him.
The intended sarcasm passed un-
noticed. as his wife thought he alluded
to tho bold harmonies of the modern
school.
The marchioness, however. was
Obliged to go unattended to Mime. In
Marechales. Monday evening, at 10
O'Clock, she dropped her husband at his
club, and, extending the soft little hand
that was so soon to torture poor Henry
VIII, she said to him:
will you call for me? I play at half
past IL. No applause would give me so
much pleasure as yours.
The marquis bent his head over the
extended hand and disappeared without
word.
He played Mt the club and lost, so
heavily, in fact, that he soon found
himself wishing he had gone to the re-
ceptlon, thinking that even Henry
VIII" would DO preferable to this. From
Henry WIZ to thinking of his wife
was but short step, and he determined
to go after her. For you will remember
that Elizabeth Aida Marcclline dc Lon
guerne, away from piano, was very
charming little woman.
Hardly conscious of what he was do
ing, tho marquis allowed himself to be
driven to the house of Mime. la Mare
chale. Not caring to enter at once, he
remained outside, listening to tho hid
eous fantasia being performed by his
wife. 1t is half past H." he thought
to himself. 1t is she playing-those
discords are unmistakablc. Anne Bo-
leyn and Catherine Howard arc ut last
avenged. Henry VIII, go thou to thine
execution!"
The noise Of passing cab momenta-
rily drowned the sound of the piano,
and the marquis forgot his wife's mu-
steal shortcomings in mental contem-
plation of her shoulders, her arms, her
eyes, her luxuriant hair and her other
projections. This vision appealed to his
aesthetic side. He felt that he had been
too exacting i'll the face of so many al
Turing charms.
by Apollo! If piece of i'll luck