New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03
AN EPISODE IN PARIS.


| Paris with great pleasure Neither John. my
| husband nor l. had ever been In France before.
and had decided long ago that. as soo. as W c
| could afford the expense and spare the .hne, VIC
| would cross the Channel and spend month-a
| whole month-in Paris. Both or us are very
fond OF pictures and I think that wnat we
| visit the galleries at the Louvre and the Luxem-
sburg Could anybody visit foreign cry Win
| a more innocent purpose! And when ! auu , .na
| we are most respectable coupe-my husband
| being a curate In a London parish-may not
| also ask IL ever people set out on summer hoii-
day with less likelihood OF being interIereu WIN
| by the police? When think the matter over
| now feel very indignant. John. kind ola SOUL
only laughs
| We are not rich and so arriving In Paris
we went to a boarding house instead or MOTEL
We had seen Nine Montbarbon's advertisement
| of her pension de famille In London paper anu
| had arranged. by correspondence. to DE taken III
| at an inclusive charge Of eight francs day
| each. Nine Mont barbOns pension was IN size
| street off the Boulevard Haussman. very CEN
trally situated. near the opera and within easy
| walking distance Of the Louvre. 1t was manly
| freuuented by Americans. and this was announcer
| recommendation to us. because neither John nor
myself speak French, and II was much pleas
| anter to be able to join In the conversation at
meals.
Although Nine Montbarbon certainly did not
treat US well when we got into trouble under the
| circumstances which am about to describe
must say had no reason to complain or ner
pension. We had a comfortable room; the food
was excellent and plentiful and for the i,rst day
|
and sociable. Alas! II was only for one or Two
| days.
l noticed that something was wrong the very
moment / entered the room for dinner on the
/ third night. Instead of being pleasantly greeted
by the company, usual. ! was stared at In
very marked manner. At first Thought that
perhaps my hair was untidy, and whispered
question on the subject to my neighbor at table,
Mrs. Martin X. Budd. OF Chicago.
There is nothing wrong with your hair
maam." she answered, laying considerable en-
phasiS the word hair.
was wondering what was the meaning Of her
| tone. when ner husband. who sat opposite to me
at table, looked up and glazing across at John.
say, Mr.. Wilson, Mrs Martin X. Budd and
myself, we have decided not to accompany YOU
| 70 Versailles Tomorrow
| oh. I'm sorry to hear that" said my hus-
band I'VE had been looking forward to maxi
| ing that excursion with YOU"
Mr.. Bu6d made no answer but shook his head
| anil went on with his dinner.
1t was a most uncomfortable meal Nobody
spoke either to John or to me. and II addressed
| any one, was curtly answered that felt
snubbed each time. Genial little Nine Mont
barbon looked at me In a reproachful
way. And the worst Of II was that John seemed
| to notice nothing. The old dear is rather short
sighted. and has theory about its being un-
healthy 10 talk at meals He quite laughed at
me when. after dinner. in the drawing room.
complained of the way had been treated
What a sensitive little woman 1t is" he said.
However. even he saw that something
wrong when not one Of our fellow boarders
the house was for all the pensionnaires to ad-
journ thither directly after dinner and to spend
the evening in conversation. bezlque or lotto.
AS the clock struck $3.50, and we still found our
selves alone, remarked to John. 1T looks very
much as II we had been sent to Coventry"
How you do rush to conclusions. Mary. dear"
answered my husband. who was puzzling his
dear old head over copy Of La Vie Paris
ienne" mo doubt most OF the boarders have
gone out. Was there not some talk Of drive
round Paris-Pars by gaslght. you KNOWN
one OF those char-a bancs? Why should they
send us to Coventry" and he proceeded TO point
out , the disadvantage Of possessing too much
self-consciousness. While he was speaking his
words received apparent confirmation by the fact
that suddenly three Of the ladies' escorted by
Mr.. Budd entered the drawing room. They
were not cordial. to be sure. and refused to play
game OF lotto. which was proposed by my hus-
band. However they were more talkative than
they had been at dinner, and from their ques-
tons seemed to take great interest In all
corning US. Meanwhile Mr.. Budd was behaving
in very curious manner. He had some news
paper in his hand, and he kept looking from the
sheet, first at my husband and then at myself
and back again at his paper. I noticed that as
he did so his face grew more and more gloomy
Indeed. the glances he cast at us we're almost
offensive. / know that ! felt inclined to ask
him what he meant by such conduct but as
John, being short-sghted. had noticed nothing.
thought 1t more prudent to Keep SILENT for IL
there is one thing more than another which my
husband abhors IT is the least unpleasantness.
Surely. was sorey tried. After while Mr.
Budd beckoned to his wife. and when she had
seated herself at his side on the sofa he whis-
pered in her ear and pointed to the paper, which
he was still holding up. Then the lady began TO
look from 1t to and back again. When
she had done this for some time. she leaned
and whispered TO her husband. Presently the
two rose and left the rOOm without wishing
goodnight. There can be no doubt about it,"
heard Mr.. Budd say in the passage. and TO
this his wife answered Not particle"
this. and, with his face beaming with good
nature was describing the treasures of the
Louvre to the two ladies. These, could notice
x-incy I,rrt infif hi
remarks; indeed, from the frequent nervous
glances which they cast in the direction Of the
door. | could see that their main preoccupation
was how to follow the Budds as expeditousy
as possible.
At last rose. and. addressing her COM
paniOn. said:
Don't you find this very chilly, Sophia?
/ declare l shall get cold II stay here any
longer" And with these words she hurried
nervous tremor. Before leaving the ROOM how
ever. they both wished a quavering good
night could not help laughing at their funny
What you laughing at. Nary" asked my
husband.
well. it was funny to talk Of catching cold
In a room as hot as this" said.
opened again. and NJ Montbarbon. the
master Of the house. looked In, and called out:
rs Mr.. Sullivan there?"
turned round. for was sitting with my back
to the door: and saw him glaring at my hus-
band. who however, had not looked up:
NO. said. I'VE are alone here. Mr.. Budd
was In here minute or two ago.
"Oh. pardon" said NJ Montbarbon entering
the room. 1T is Monsieur Wilson. I thought
Mr.. Sullivan was here he added emphasizing
the word Sullivan. and casting another curious
look at my husband. by the way. Monsieur
Wilson. might have a word with your
Certainly. Monsieur" said John pleasantly
looking up from his paper for the first time
You can speak here. There Is nobody present
but my wife"
We'll. Monsieur. 1t is like this" said the
clearinghouse keeper. 1T IL usual In this
house to pay the board In advance. hope 1t
WIFI not offend you. but 1t IL everywhere the
rule"
II never heard Of such a thing" cried.
What do you
John put his hand on my arm. and said
Hush. Mary" Then turning to NJ Montbar-
bon who had produced a bill. drawn out and
receipted. he said Certainly. II it's the rule OF
the house. though 1t is rather unusual. What Is