Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-12-20
NJ. MAJESTE'S VISION
OF CHRISTMAS PAST

NJ Majeste, a manufacturer of settler
water in the Mara1s, was returning from
Christmas eve celebration with some
friends and he whistled softly as he
made his way down the deserted streets.
Gracious! 2 o'clock" he murmured
as he paused before a large doorway
where the ancient cscutcheOn, regllded,
shone brightly in the moonlight.
1t was NJ. Majeste's trademark, the es-
cutcheon of the once powerful Nesmonds
and the coat of arms shone brightly on
bottle and siphon. The old NesmOnd
hotel, now NJ. Majeste's home and place
of business, was built round a large
we'll lighted courtyard, with stairways
of ancient sDlendor.
AS NJ. Majestic crossed the deserted
court it struck him that his home looked
singularly imposing, as if a touch of its
former glory had returned, and queer
smile crossed his lips as he thought to
himself: What if the Nesmonds
should come back!'
At that moment a bell rang out long
and clearly. The wide doorway was
| thrown open quickly and a confused
sound of WhiSperings and the rumble
of carriages sounded in the courtyard.
| Wallets and attendants flew hastily about
and the way was blocked with the arriv-
ing guests.
There was dainty swish of silk and
! the clatter of swords and medley of
| thin, high voices as the people alighting
| from their coaches made their way
smiling up the broad staircase All
these people seemed old, very old. There
were eyes that had lost their fire and
brocades that shimmered witha subdued
| iridescence in the light of the torches.
Above all a thin mist of powder rose at
| every courtesy from the white puffed
| Scaffolding of these stately heads
| In q mOmpOt the n1acQ seemed ta no
haunted. Torches glittered from window
| to window and up and down the curvin Z
| stairWays. The whole mansion was
ablaZe with light.
''Merciful saints! they will set the
house on fire. thought poor NJ. Majestic,
and recovering from his stupor he made
an effort to shake the heaviness from his
| legs and ran down into the courtyard,
| where the fOotmen had just lighted q
| great bonfire.
NJ. Majestic went up and spoke to
them, but the men did not answer. They
stood chatting among themselves, but
not the faintest breath issued from their
lips into the freezing shadows of the
night.
NJ Majestic was somewhat put out.
He was treasured, however, when he
realized that this great fire with it's long,
which emitted no heat. 1t simply
glowed, it did not burn. With his mind
at rest the honest man mounted the
stairs again and entered the store.
In the old days the store rooms must
have been grand reception halls. There
was q CLINT of furnished gold still cling
ing TO the cornices, NEUROLOGICAL fres-
Goes circled about the ceilings, wound
about the mirrors and lowered above the
doorways, vague and dust hidden like
| bygOne memories.
The silken curtains and graceful furni-
| I<, f,,1 Il L,
rooms, had gone. Nothing but baskets
were in the salon now, great cases filled
with leaden headed Siphons, and outside
the long window glOomed the black out
line of withered lilac bush.
NJ Majestic entered. To his astonish-
ment his quiet warehouse was crowded
and brilliantly illuminated. He bowed
politely; but his appearance was appar-
emily unnoticed The ladies in their
! beautiful, quaint dresses leaned gently on
| the arms of their cavaliers, flirting with
stately, ceremOniOuS grace. They prone
naded, chatted and separated into little
| groups.
These dainty olden marquises seemed
very much at home in the ancient salons.
| One little lady paused smiling before a
painted pier glass, nodding in a friendly
way at a Diana that rose, 1.-the and
roseate, from the woodwork, a crescent
on her brow.
'sThink of it. think Of it, she said
Here | am, laughed the Diana.
| "NesmOnd, come and see your cresti'
and the stately company laughed at the
| sight of the NesmOnd coat of arms dis
| played on the siphons and letter paper
above the name of Majestic.
''Ha, ha, Majestic! Then the majesties
are not all dead in France after aIl!''
There was no end to the merriment.
| the old time coquetries. Suddenly one
| cried:
''Champagner'
| "NOnsense!'
Eyes, indeed! Champagne. Come,
| Countess. will you join us in a little
! Christmas celebration?"
They had mistaken M. Majeste's soda
| water for champagne. Naturally the
! poor little ghosts were somewhat light