The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-24

III T. LAZARE street was crowd
Io ed by carriages, whose occu-
|ess6s5 pants were impatiently await
~ ing their turn to drive up to
the door. Nearly all the costumes were
rich. Some were original. Among the
latter was clown. His costume was
in perfect, keeping. Indeed, his whole
makeup, his insolent eye, coarse lips,
high cheek bones and beard so red
that 1t seemed to emit flames in the
reflection Of the dazzling lights were
in accord. He carried in his left hand
a canvas banner, upon which. were
painted six or eight pictures, coarsely
designed like those found in strolling
fairs. In his right he waved a little
switch, with which he would every
now and then strike his banner, like
quack retailing his medicines. A crowd
surrounded this clown, hoping to hear
some witty speeches and puns, but he
kept near the door and remained 81
lent. About half past 10 he Quilted his
post. M. and Nine. Fauvel, followed
by their niece Madeleine, had just en-
formed near the door. During the
last ten days the affair of Provence
street had been the universal topic of
conversation, and friends and enemies
were alike glad to seize this opportuni-
ty Of approaching the banker, some to
assure him of their sympathy, and 9TH
ers to offer equivocal coincidence, which
of all things is the most exasperating.
Belonging to the body of elderly men,
M. Fauvel had not assumed a fancy
costume, but merely threw over his
shoulders short silk domino. On his
arm leaned Nine. Fauvel, nee. Valen-
tine de la Verberie, who graciously
greeted her friends. Her beauty had
once been remarkable, and tonight the
effect Of the soft wax lights and her
very becoming dress half restored the
freshness of youth. No one would have
supposed her to be forty-eight years
old.
But Madeleine was the object of uni
Versal admiration, beautiful and queen
~ in her costume of maid of honor,
which seemed to have been especially
invented to set forth her superb figure.
Forgotten by the crowd, the clown
had taken refuge in the embrasure of
window, where he kept his eyes upon
couple not far off. It was Madeleine,
dancing with a splendidly dressed doge
the Marquis de Clameran. He ap-
peared to be radiant, rejuvenated and
to all appearances triumphant. At the
end of a quadrille he leaned over his
partner and whispered compliments
with the most unbounded admiration.
She seemed to listen~if not with pleas
ure, at least without repugnance, now
smiling and now struggling her Shout
ders.
"Evidently." muttered the clown,
this noble scoundrel is paying court to
the bankers niece, So was right yes
terday. But how can Mile. Madeleine
listen so graciously to his flattery?
Fortunately Prosper is not here"
He was interrupted by a distinguish
ed looking elderly man in a Venetian
mantle, who said to him:
"You know. M. Verduret" seri-
ously, half neutrality-suspicious. you
promised me?"
The clown bowed respectfully, but
with not the slightest shade of ,humil-
ity.
Il remember" he replied.
But do not be imprudent, beg of
you"
"Monsieur the count need not be un-
easy; he has my PROMISE
Every good. I know what that
means"
The count walked off, but during his
short colloquy the quadrille had end
ed, and the clown lost sight Of M. de
Clameran and Madeleine.
II shall find them near Nine. Eau
VEL" thought he.
And he at once started to search
among the throng for the bankers
wife,.
1ncommoded by the sitting heat,
Nine. Fauvel had sought little fresh
air in the grand picture gallery, which,
thanks to the talisman called gold, had
been transformed into a fatrylike gar
den, filed with orange trees, japonicas,
laurel and many rare plants. The
clown saw her seated near grove not
far from, the cardroom. Upon her
right was Madeleine. On her left
stood Raoul de Layers, dressed in a
costume Of Henry III.
Il must confess" muttered the clown
from his post of observation, chat the
young scamp is very handsome
Madeleine was very sad. She had
plucked a camellia from a plant near
by and was mechanically pulling it to