Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-19


 It was the tiny kitchen of Philippe. Philippe, himself, in shirt-sleeves, sat In . chair tilted back close to the gas range. the Courier des Htats Unis in his hands and Paul on his lap. Celine ironed the bosom of . gentle mans white shirt on an ironing board supported by the backs of two chairs.
 Hemmed in the corner by this board and by the gas range, seated at . table covered by the oilcloth that simulates the marble of Italy's most famous quarry, sat, undoubtedly, Baron Ronault de Palliac. A steam ing plate of spaghetti a Ia Italien was before him, to his left large bowl Of salad, to his right bottle of red wine.
 For space, of three seconds the entire party behaved as if 1t were being photographed under time-expo- sure. Philippe and the baby stared. motionless. Celine stared, resting DO slight weight on the hot hat-iron. Baron Ronault de Palliac stared, his fork poised in mid-air and festooned with gay little streamers of spa ghetti.
 Then came smoke, the smell of scorching linen, and cry of horror from Celine.
 "Ah, h seule chemise blanche de Monsieur le Baron!"
 The spell was broken. Philippe was on his feet lowing effusively.
 "Ahl 1t is Madame Zines. Je suis tres honore-I am very honored to welcome you, madame. It is madame, ma femme, Celine-and-Monsieur le Baron dc Palliac-"
 Philippe had turned with evident distress toward the latter. But Philippe was only waiter, and had not behind him the centuries of school ing that enable gentleman to remain . gentleman under adverse condi- tions.
 Baron Ronault de Palliac arose with unrufied aplomb and favored the caller with his stateliest bow. He was at the moment graceful and silencing rebuke to those who aver that manner and attire be interde- pendent. The baron's manner was ideal, undiminished in volume, fault less as to decorative qualities. One fitted to savor its exquisite finish would scarce have noted that above his waist the noble gentleman was clad in a single woolen undergarment of revolutionary red.
 Or, if such one had observed this trifing circumstance, he would, assur- edly, have treated 1t as of no value to the moment: something to note, per haps. and then gracefully to forget.
 The baron's own behavior would have served as a model. One swift glance had shown him there was no way of instant retreat. That being impossible. none other was graceful; hence none other was to be consid- cred. He permitted himself not even glance at the shirt upon whose fair, defenseless bosom the iron of the overcome Celine had burned its cruel brown imprimature. Mrs. Zines had greeted him as he would have wished, unconscious. apparently. that there could be cause for embarrassment.
 ."Ah! madame" he said. handsome ly, you see me, I unfast with the fork. Eou'Bee me here, have envy of the simple life. I am content of to do it-comme ca-as that see you" waving in the direction of his unfinished repast. "All that mag nificence of your grand hotel, there is not the why of 1t. the most big of the world, and suchly stupefying. with its internal rackit' as you say. And of more-what droll of idea. enough curious. by example,! to dwell with the good Philippe and his femme amiable. Their hotel is of the most littles. but rest here very volunteer ly since longtime. Is it that one can to comprehend liking tho vast hotel American?"
 Monsieur le Baron lodges with us; we have so much of the chambers" 1" ventured Celine.
 Monsieur le Baron wishes to re- tire to his apartment" said Philippe. raising the ironing-board. "Will madame be so good as to enter our petit salon at the front, n'est-ce-pas!"
 The baron stepped forth from his corner and bowed himself graciously out.
 Madame, my compliments-and to the adorable Mile. Zines! Au revoir, madame-to the soontime-avant peu before littleI"
 On the farther side of his closed door Baron Ronault de Pailiac swore- once. But the oath was one of the most awful that . Frenchman may utter in his native tongue: Sacred Name of . Namei"
 But the baron wasn't done eating. 1" protested Mrs. Zines.
 "Ah, yes, madamel" replied Philippe. Monsieur ls Baron has consumed enough for now. Paul. mon enfant, ne touche pas la robe de madamel He is large. is he not, madame. as I have told you? A monster. yes?"
 Mrs Biues. stoopins. took the limp