Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-06-01
THE STORY
OF A CRAVAT.


very poor. a worthy shopkeeper in
the country town from which l came
wrote to me out of the goodness of his
heart and gave me an order to make
copy of a Teniers. At once, full Of ar
dor, FASTENED to the great gallery Of
the Louvre. From the first day did
good work. That l was thus going to
earn some money made me work, but
the pleasure l experienced in copying
favorite picture made me work quick
ly and well.
The third morning after my task had
begun repaired to the Louvre. Just
as I was about to enter the Otiicious
guardian in his green and gold uniform
made me an agitated sign, carrying his
hand to his neck. l remembered hav-
ing seen the same gesture at the the
atcr Don't you remember that when
Don Caesar dc Bazan hears the news
that he is going to be hanged he puts
his hand to his neck and feels of 1t as
IL he already felt the fatal cord? Just
oo lLt SlCNh anu 6lL
guardian.
stared ut him stupidity and then
looked around me. Anybody in sight?
Coming around the corner was a young
woman, but she was invisible to him.
There was nobody else. Evidently to
me this funereal gesture was address
ed. did not understand him and there
fore crossed the threshold. had scarce
assembled three steps of the staircase
when n loud cry resounded behind me:
stop! You have no cravat."
Initiating the gesture of Don Caesar
de Bazan, carried my hand to my
neck. Alas, it was true! had lost my
cravat.
Don't laugh. didn't laugh. 1t was
my only cravat. 1t was one of those
cheap black knots that are fastened
around the collar button with a rub
Der band. Five minutes before enter
ing the courtyard of the Louvre l had
stopped in the Rue de Rivoli, gazed at
myself in a shop window mirror and
had adjusted my cravat. Alas, had
done more than adjust my cravat-I
had lost it.
ITS against the rules" said the
guardian severely. Ito permit any one
to enter the gallery without a cravat."
Well. he was right. There must be
rules in the great galleries, and while
they will admit shabby people they
will not admit people in rags, in their
shirt sleeves or without cravats.
At this moment the lady who had
been rounding the corner passed near
me. l felt myself growing red and
pale at once, and l turned in the di-
rection of my guardian in order to look
away from the pretty visitor. who. as
she passed. brushed me with her silken
gown. She wore the prettiest little
blue cravat around her neck that one
could imagine. Yes, couldn't help
but notice it in looking out of the cor
ner of my eye at her white neck.
! stood there stunned. The guardian
enjoyed my CONSERVATION. He was
happy. In this moment he exercised
the exalted pleasure of authority. A
policeman who orders you to move
on" experiences the same secret joy.
1t is that feeling doubtless which ac-
tuated Caesar and Napoleon.
l remained there for some minutes,
gazing at this little great man. | had
nothing I'm my wardrobe that resent
bled in the slightest degree cravat.
and had not penny about me with
which to buy one. To whom could
address myself? | was from the coun-
try. knew no one in Paris. had no
comrades from whom | could borrow
knot Of ribbon. What a humiliation!
And yet. above In the gallery. the was
sailers were waiting for me, laughing
and drinking under the grape arbor.
left the vestibule l entered the
great square of the Louvre and crossed
it mechanically. Yet as did so felt
instinctively that there was some one
following me. | OWNED that 1t was a
woman and that it was the woman
whom had met in the door and who
had turned and redcScended the stair
case at the moment Of my misadven-
ture. Why had she followed me? Had
| not turned my face in order to avoid
her glance? Heaven preserve us from
inqusitive people.
She overlook me. 1t was in truth the
lady OF the staircase. She stopped in
front Of me. looking at me timidly, with
a charming embarrassment. She SEEM
ed moved and troubled. But, said to
myself. what has become of the pretty
ribbon she just wore around her neck?
Her hands were buried in rich mutf.
AS she stopped and looked at ME she
withdrew one of her hands from the
muff. | saw in her fingers the light
| blue silk Cravat Ornamented at its
ends with white lace. IAN entrance
| ticket" said she 10 me in half whis-
per. and she hurried away.
Here the artist stopped and meditat-
ed long.
"You followed her. suppose" asked
his friend.
81 never dreamed Of it for mo-
Inent. The wassailers of Teniers were
waiting for me-"
"And you entered the Louvre in a
blue cravat with lace endsY
without the least affectation. with
out false shame and perhaps with a
certain pride as | triumphantly passed
the green and gold guardian at the
door,"
I "And You found her some day some
where. this pretty woman. at the sea-
| side, in the mountains, in society," MOI