The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-09-25

u Wilderness of beautiful
Q . rooms. A thousand cleo
q = trio lights shone upon the
SToR polished floor of the white
and-gold ballroom. The anteroom was
delicately fragrant with the perfume Of
roses; even the great staircase was
banked with flowers. Servants in the
livery of a great house were standing
motionless in a long line; a little sub
dued whispering passed from one to
the other, At the head of the stairs
waited Jean Moussin. prince of major
domos, tonight, unlike himself, white
and anxious.
what does it mean, Monsieur Nous
SIM" black-robcd lady's-maid wills
pered in his ear Ten O'Clock has
struck, We are all prepared, and no one
comes. There is not a carriage in the
courtyard; the silence is as Of the
grave, What does it mean, Monsieur
Moussin?"
Jean Moussin was gray about the
face, and his voice shook. The honor
Of the house was his honor.
Run away, foolish chlldr' he ex-
claimed You will be busy enough
Immediately. The clocks are fast.
Run back, and do not chatter!"
The major-domo walked restlessl7
to and fro The sound OF carriage
wheels in the courtyard would have
seemed the sweetest music to him.
How wide the door would have stood
open, how low his bow! But from
without there came no sound at all. In
the music room behind the ball room
some one was playing the violin.
A. servant touched him on the shout
der.
Madame la Comtesse would speak
with you, Monsieur Moussin"
~ attend, madame" the old man mur-
INJURED 9sstt' --~.a
At once he turned to obey this sum-
mons. He passed with bowed head
through the stately reception room,
around which only a short h2lf-hour
ago he had g2zad With pride ard ple.G.s:
rFe. Tie Perfume Of the flowers. the
soft splendor Of the tapestry "a Kings
legacy, the glittering vista of the ball
room beyond-all these things went for
nothing. There was a ghostliness about
these silent rooms, the great, empty
floor polished so perfectly for the feet
of the dancers. Madame la Comtesse
stood alone.
She herself was the most beautiful
thing there, save that in her face, as
she moved forward to meet Moussin,
was the look Of a frightened child. Size
was radiant in white and pearls; in her
eyes and features the undimmed splen-
dor of youth; il her carriage and swift,
graceful gestures the charm and dig
nifty of the woman Of culture and
fashion Moussin bowed low before
her and stood silent.
"Ioussin," she exclaimed "what is
the meaning of this? l do not under
stand. Are all the clocks wrong? Has
anything happened outside"
Madame" he answered, slowly, "thC
clocks are right. 1t is a quarter past
ten"
She moved impetuously to one of the
six high windows and raised the blind
Beneath was a courtyard-empty. The
gates were thrown wide open, and ser
wants stood on either side-waiting
Outside in the street the stream Of We
hicles flowed steadily on. She dropped
the blind.
'Moussin," she said, you made nt
mistake in the date"
Moussin shook his head sorrowfully
Madame" he said, Il have exam
ined the card. The date is correct
Many of the journals, too, have an
nounced that madame receives tonight
Ahr'
He sprang to the window. The SCUM
of wheels echoed up from the court
yard. Alas, It was but a singl
brougham! No other carriages TO
lowed it. The long line of carriage
which in the old days had blocked til
street was absent Moussin also le
fall the blind and turned detected
around
MADAME" he said, would it not b
well if l announced to this single VII
itor that Madame Ia Comtesse is II
disposed and does not receive Il
nlghtY -. - .--..s;r -...-.