Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-20

one evening NJ. Ma9eSte, maHulactur.
err of seltzer water in the Marais, was re-
turning from a little collation. at the
house of some friends in the Place Roy
ale. He was in a merry mood, humming
snatches of gay songs and smiling over
the pleasantiies of the evening. Two
o'clock sounded from the bell of St.
Paul.
How late it isl" said the good man
to himself, hurrying his steps, but the
pavements We're slippery the streets dark
in this devilish old quarter which dates
from a time when carriages We're rare.
there We're a lot of turns and corners,
including spurstones before the doors for
the use of cavaliers. All these retarded
his steps especially as his legs We're a
little heavy and his eyes rather dim from
the many toasts of the little collation..
Finally NJ. Majestic arrived at his house
and paused before the huge doorway or
namented with an escutcheon, newly
gilded, representing the arms of an an
cient family and upon which he had
placed the sign of his factory.
. . $ y = X = = d +
$ HoItElL FORMERLY NESMOND .
* MAJEoI'E, JUNIOR,
s. Manufacturer of Seltzer Water.
= = = = = d u =
on all the siphons of the factory, on
the laoels, memorandum and letter heads
were displayed c~onspicuously the old
arms Of Nesmond. Adjoining the door
was the courtyard, light and airy, which
in the daytime was opened to give llgEt
to all the serest. At the end or the
court there was a large and very ancient
building with black walls, carved ana
ornamented, upon Which We're carved
iron balconies and others of stone upon
pilastres: immense windows surmountsd
the dimen the capitals elevated 10
the upper stories like so many little ROOFS
within a roof and finally on the ridge IN
the middles OF the states the
of the manSard, round coquettlSh, 1ram-
ed with garland-lke mirrors. with al
this, were great steps OF stone, coffod-
ed and green from the ravaSeS or time
and an Old attenuated vine attached to
the walls equally as black and equally as
twisted as the cord Which hung from the
garnet pully-I cannot express the grand
air Of decay and sadness that hung over
tina ancient place, the Hotel de Nes-
mon!.
In a strong light the hotel did not look
the same. The words, cases stores, en-
trance to workshops, blazed everywhere
in letters Of gold, making the old walls
to live once more: the trucks OF the rail-
way Jared the doors, and clerks a
ed to the steps, pen over ear, to rece!sc
the merchandise. The court was filled
with boxes, baskets, straw and packing
or sackcloth. One felt the presence OF
the activity of the factory.
But with the night, the great silence,
the winter moon throwing and inter-
weaving shadows on the CONFUSION OF
complicated roofs, the old house OF Mes
mond took on a different aspect. me
balconies looked like lace. the court OF
honor expanded, and the old stairway
upon which the unequal lights shone, re-
sembled the affairs OF a cathedral.
Upon this particular night, NJ. Majestic
observed a peculiarly fine aspect. On
crossing the deserted court he was inn
pressed with the loud echo of his foot
steps. The stairway appeared immense
and difficult to ascend. 1t was the COLA
ton, without doubl, that was responsible
70" this. Arriving at the first floor he
paused to breathe and approached a win
dow. This is what it is to live in a his
toric house,! NJ. Majestic is not a poet,
O., no; but, however, on looking at the
beautiful, artistic court over which ex-
tended a sheet of blue light and uDon
the old house of the nobility, which had
the air OF being asleep With many roofs
under a hood of snow, there came to him
unusual and peculiar thoughts as if he
were transported into another OF more
spiritual world.
Helm? All the same, if the Mes
mond were to come again
At this moment a great bell ~resounded
through the court. The doorway opened
suddenly, quickly, tbrusquely, as the re-
v%el,brations died away; during these few
minutes the sound of steps was heard in
the shadow of the doorway, a confused
rustling noise, as if whispering, and thu
advent of people. Some We're disputine
n some pressing for entrance. The
Wallets, more Wallets, the glass of thu
coaches mirrored in the light of thu
moon, the chairs of others attended by
chairmen with lighted torches running
eagerly until the courtyard was filled.
sion ceased. The company descended
saluted, entered and conversed as if they
We're quite familiar With it ALL. A sWisf
of silk, a clanking of swords and a super
abundance of powdered hair; nothing
but delicate voices trembling ana uncef'
tain, light laughter without
feeble feet with no buoyancy. All thes'
people had the manner of being old, old
Their eyes were dim, their jewels dull
their brocade silks We're soft n O.
changeable tints. the light of the torche!
made them simmer and shine, but gent
ly-and over all tloated and iutteret
clouds of white powder which surmountet
the huge structures upon the head
where voluminous curls and ringlets fel
as the pretty oDeisance and bow Wer'
exchanged. Not altogether natural no
modern were these nor the great hool
petticoats nor paniers that adorned tn
ladies. Ere long the house had the air o
being inhabited. Torches shOne from
window to window; We're seen mountin,
and descending the staircase even t
the upper windows in the mansard a
80 -, clta ez,>, IL, o~1 q ocIfn~ vyif1