Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-03-03
CHAPTER TX.
Nj ADEN1OISELLE.

we were engaged about q business
which troubled me no little. Had it
not been for Jerome 1 fear / had never
come through it at all with credit.
First, we repaired TO another house
which jerome possessed in q more
Fashionable quarter, and thither by his
directions came a fawning swarm of
tailors, bootmakers, BARRIERS, wigmak-
ers; vendors of sillsen hose and men
with faces, jaunty caps, perfumes-it
was q huge task, this making a gentle
man of meas jerome phrased 1T.
| worried over it grievously in the
beginning, but at length sullenly de-
livered myself into his hands, murmur-
ing an abject prayer for the salvation
of my soul. That, at least, was not to
be remodeled by all their fashionable
garniture. These heated discussions
concerning what I was to wear We're
not for me to put voice in. Verify,
I knew nothing and cared naught for
the cut of shoe my lord of Orleans
had made the style. nor did 1T matter
whether my coat was slashed With
crimson or braided with golden furbe-
lows Like some wretch a-quivering
of the palsy l heard the learned doc
tors wrangling over my medicine,
which they must needs hold my nose
to make me swallow. For ali their
bases and twistings I knew full well
they could carve no sprig of fashion
from SO rough a block as I. Certes, l
must now have squire to fasten this
new harness we'll upon me, for by my
word, l knew not one garment from the
other by the sight of It, Jerome went
off into fits of laughter seeing me try
ing to struggle into things could not
even guess the use of.
When the worst was over, late in
the afternoon, felt like a play-actor,
dressed for his part, but who, for the
life of him. could not recall one sylla-
BILE of his speech, nor breathe because
of his wig. Jerome surveyed me with
tsa h1a 70 6atRe oh zern MdpS
BY my lady, sir, that dingy old cut
lass will never do for drawing room.
AS we'll a miller's dusty cap to cover
those glorious borrowed curls of thine;
we must get thee one shaped in the
mode" This quip exterminated my
patience.
ITO the foul fiend with all this ever
lasting style of thine. / know this
blade, have tested 1T on many fields,
and by all the gods at once I'll not re-
place 1T with a silly toy
"A most virtuous resolution, a most
godly oath, but my mettlesome friend,
Ill point out thy error"
To his insinuating argument, even
in this matter, at length I yielded: sur
rendered with the better grace perhaps,
that he provided most excellent
piece OF steel, which he said had seen
good service. l tried it's temper, and
the edge being keen. / laid my own
aside with some misdoubtings, casting
off an old friend TO strap on a new.
He now added touch Of rouge here
and there, black line to my brows
and In the corner of my eyes, stepping
back ever and anon to observe the eff
feet. 1t CALLED me raw, yet must per-
force submit. When the whole job was
finished, and l was allowed to sit, /
gained no comfort. My clothes were
too tight in some places, while I'm 9TH
ers | rocked about as loose as wash
erwoman's arm in her scrubbing tub.
Jerome must now give me some les
sons in department, he called 1T. 1t was
but another name for a Sinking and
a-bowing and a-grimacing, what was
denominated the "etiquette of the
court" Jerome sat himself contented
down, and put me through my PAGES
like some farrier showing off a foun-
dered nag. | more than half believed
he was all the while making game of
me, yet l knew no better. AT any rate
it was the veriest nonsense
After series of rehearsals Jerome
Withdrew to make himself ready, leav-
Ing me to practice my new acquire
ments of gait. of gesture, and of
speech. What had taken me the better
part OF a laborious day he accom-
plished in short half hour. Coming
back unannounced he caught me bow
ing and scraping before a mirror, like
a man stricken with idiocy. l felt as
ashamed as though had been detected
hiding in face of the enemy.
Jerome Knocked and tainted me in
to fine rage, which he deftly pacified
in wonderment at himself. should
never have known him for the plain
jerome. Arrayed in much the same
character of tinery which bedeel6ed me,
l could give no accurate description of
his dress, except that with glossy wig
and bit of color in his cheeks he
strutted valiantly as Growing cock
in his own barnyard
Come, Placide we are going to a
ball; we can do nothing in our quest
tonight"
TO what?"
"A ball. I thought it might be we'll
to have you look in upon Madame
Ms and recfte your lessons. 1t is
to be a famous gathering and well
worth your SEEING
l was in a>whirl, a stupor, by this
time. and obeyed implicitly; beside, il
required such an infinite skill to keep
my sword from swinging between my
legs and throwing me down, had no
time to consider of minor matters He
led the way and followed meekly as a |
lap dog.
AT the great entrance gate we bee
came entangled in medley of soldiers
coachmen, torch bearers and servants
coming and going-such babel of |
strange oaths-T wished / were safe
again in the quiet of Biloxi. i pleaded
with Jerome to turn again, but he was |
memorable.
Il expect to find out something
tonight" he explained.
OF this ball l remember nothing but |
that the slippery floor. in which a man |
could see hi3 own face, Kept me in |
deadly fear lest my sword trip me. \
Jerome was gay and laxative, pointing
out many people of whom heard, but |
they did not look so great after all.
For sake of heaven, man, wear not |
so long a face: it IS not the funeral of |
thy mistress l have brought thee to-"
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