The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-12-09
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Z The Lace Of the Empress :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


~ songs, il was about ten years ago
that Marquis de ST. Pol sat by his open
window mending his coat.
Far down below in the street hand
organ WAS grinding out "McGinty,"
which classic was then in its prime.
The sound OF children's voices singing
and husky shutting Of feet indicated
an mpromptu ball on the pavement,
and the marquis leaned out TO look.
''They dance, my angel" he an
nounced as he seated himself again.
at is gay, the youth"
The marquse, who sat propped up
in big chair, smiled family, but did
not open her eyes.
art thou very tired, my dearest?"
asked the old man, anxiously, pulling
The coarse thread with jerk through
the cloth.
''It is the spring air. Anatole."
The marquis looked at her with tear
prismed eyes. 1T is the hunger he
thought
After a pause the marquise asked:
'IIast thou no lessons to-day, Anatole?"
"Only one. This great heat is too
much for rich people, dear" He spoke
with quite unconscious irony. II must
20 now. DO you think you could eat a
nice little ragout when come home"
She hesilated. "If--if / could only
have little sweetbread timbale," she
said. longingly. "But yes, my friend, a
ragout will be charming"
He kissed her good-by with trem-
bling mouth, and. carefully drawing on
his old gloves, went out.
"Une petite timbale de riz-de-veau,"
he muttered, stepping carefully over a
baby who had gone to sleep on the
stairs. Mon dieu, mon dieu!" 1t was
very warm, the bricks steaming in the
sun after a shower.
The organ man had gone on, leaving
an excited little group Of children be-
hind him.
"Helio. Mr. de Pol" cried one Of them,
slittle girl, carrying an extremely fat ba-
by. Mother was took up this morning,
so I've gotter take care OF all OF 'em.
But III 90 In 10 see Mrs. de Poll jes' the
same They took hrr Oft In the Black
M'riar. 1T took tour men to hold her"
finished the child, proudly.
When the marquis reached home that
afternoon strange sight met his eyes.
The marquse sat as usual In her big
chair. but her shabby, dark gown was
almost entirely hidden by n delicate
film OF beautiful old lace. "Sapristi."
calculated the old man.
His wife laughed. III showed il 60 SUI
vette. but she did not even know who
Napoleon was" she said.
a pretty color was in her faded checks
~ she looked up at him.
He sat down heavily. at is very beau
tiful; shall put IL away?"
"Non, cheri. Leave IL n little longer,
and let us forget that we are poor"
The marquis WINGED. How could he
eel her that his last pupil found the hot
spring weather too eneryating for more
lessons?
with n sigh he undid parcel he had
brought with him, and displayed a lit
lie tin In which was the promised
ragout.
But the marquise could not eat IL. II
was greasy, and tasted like cat, she said,
trying to laugh.
"Now. dear, IL you will put the lace
away, / will not put il on again; IL
makes me homesick. Oh, Anatolel
Paris! Tho Bots. today five were in
carriage. driving down the Champs
Elyseesl
"And see the lights budding out in
The sweet-smelling duskl And then,
dear. we'd 20 TO n restaurant and have
timbale dc riz de veau, and n saladc
and % little Chablisl oh. Anatole, IL is
dreadful to be old. mon ami"
She put her head down on his Shout
der aud they both cried.
Presently the marquis rose and put
che lace tenderly away In the little
tru.k. among the old camphor balls
which had almost lost their odor. Even