Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-23
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( The Lace Of the Empress :
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A CCORDING to the calendar of street
"A songs, it 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 impromptu bali on the pavement,
and the marquis leaned out to look.
-'They dance, my angel" he an
nounced as he seated himself again
1T is gay, the youth"
The marquise, who sat propped up
In a 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 a jerk through
the cloth.
ut is the spring air, Anatole>"
The marquis looked at her with tear
prismed eyes 1T is the hunger" he
thought.
After pause the marquise asked:
''Hast thou no leasons to-day, Anatole?"
'Only one. This great heat is too
much for rich people, dear" He spoke
with quite unconscious irony. 'I must
60 now Do you think you could eat a
nice little ragout when come homer"
she hesitated. tiff I could only
h&ve n little sweetbread timbale," she
said, longirgly. "But yes, my friend. q
ragout win be charming"
BE kissed her good-by with a trem-
bling mouth, and, carefully drawing on
his old gloves, went out.
"Une petite timbale de riz-de-veau,"
he muttered, stepping carefully over
baby who had gone to sleep on the
stairs mon dieu, mon dieui" 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 Poll" cried one of them.
alittle girl, carrying an extremely fat ba-
by. Mother was took up this morning,
SO I've gotter take care of all of 'em.
But I'll go in to see Mrs. de Poll jes' the
same. They took her off in the Black
Mriar. 1t took four men to hold her"
finished the child, proudly.
When the marquis reached home that
afternoon a strange sight met his eyes.
The marquise sat as usual in her big
chair, but her shabby, dark gown was
almost entirely hidden by a delicate
film of beautiful old lace. "Sapristi!"
calculated the old man.
His wife laughed. ST showed tito Su-
Eette, but she did not even know who
Napoleon was" she said.
pretty color was in her faded cheeks
"a she looked up at him.
He sat down heavily. ut is very beau
tlful; shall put it away?"
mon, cheri. Leave it q little longer.
and let us forget that we are poor"
The marquis WINGED. How could he
tell her that his last pupil found the hot
spring weather too enervating for more
lessons?
s. With a sigh he undid parcel he had
brought with him, and displayed lit
Tie tin in which was the promised
RagoVt
But the marquise could not eat it.. II
was greasy, and tasted like cat, she said,
trying to laugh.
SHOW. dear, if you win put the lace
aswsy, will not put 1T on againi II
makes me homesick. Oh, Anatolel
Parisl The Bots, to-day If we were in
a carriage, driving down the Champ.
Elyseesl
"And see the lights budding out in
the understanding duski And then
dear, we'd go to restaurant and have
a timbale de riz de veau, and q salade
and a little Chabisl Oh, Anatole, it Il
dreadful to be old, mon ami"
She put her head down on his shocl
der and they both cried.
Some one was playing ''McGinty" OF
a concertina, and the air smelt of cab
bages.
Presently the marquis rose and pu
ne lace tenderly away in the littl
trunk, among the old camphor ball
which had almost lost their odor. Ever
camphor-balls cost money. There wa
q little Madonna on a bracket over tn
bed, and the two poor old exiles knel
before 1T and prayed, as they did ever
nsght. But the old lady only hall
finished her prayer. 81 am so tired, MOI
cher. She viii understand"
Mrs. Morris Devereaux was just rub
bing her beautiful nose with bit o
chamois skin dipped in fuller's eartl
when footman announced that Nj
de ST. Pol wished 10 see her. Tell hin
I'm extremely sorry, James, but / al
just going out to dinner. And tell hi
that we are leaving town Monday
save him from coming again. } SUI
pose he wants to give me some more lie
*