The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-01-06

as ii by a mistake of destiny, bOrl
in a family of clerks. She had M
dowry, no expectations, no means o
being known, understood, loved
welded by any rich and distin
guished man; and she let herself b.
married to a little clerk at the Min
istry of Public Instruction.
She was plainly dressed because
she could not dress well, but shs
was as unhappy as though she had
fallen from her proper station; since
with women there is neither caste
o rank; and beauty, grace, and
charm act instead Of family and
birth. Natural fineness, instinct for
what is elegant, s%uppleness of wit
are the sole hierarchy, and make
from women of the people the equals
of the very greatest ladies.
She suffered ceaselessly, feeling
herself born for all the delicacies
and all the Injuries. She suffered
from the poverty of her dwelling.
from the wretched look of the walls.
from the WORKOUT chairs, from the
ugliness of the curtains. All those
things, of which another woman of
her rank would never vel have
been conscious, tortured her and
made her angry. The sight of the
little Breton peasant who did her
humble house-work aroused in her
regrets which were despeairing, and
distracted dreams. She thought of
the silent antechambers hung with
Oriental tapestry, lit by tall bronze
candelabra, and of the two great
footmen in knee-breeches who sleep
in the big arm-chairs, made drowsy
by the heavy warmth of the hot-air
stove. She thought of the long sa-
lons fitted up with ancient silk, of
the delicate furniture carrying
priceless ~curiosities, and of the CO.
quettish perfumed boudoirs made
for talks at five o'clock with init
mate friends, with men famous and
sought after, whom all women envy
and whose attention they all desire.
When she sat down to dinner, be-
fore the round table covered with u
table-cloth three days old, opposite
her husband, who uncovered the
s%oup-tureen and declared with an
enchanted air, "Ah, the good pot-au-
fen. l don't know anything better
than that" she thought of dainty
dinners, of shining silverware, Of
tapestry which peopled the walls
with ancient p~ersonages and WITH
strange birds flying in the fidst Of
a fairy forest; and she thought of J
delicious dishes served on marvel
lous plates, and of the whispered
~gallantries which you listen to with
= ~sphinx-liks smile, while o are G
the pink flesh of a trout or i
kags of a quail.
had no dresses, no jewels, a
g. And she loved nothing but
Fshe felt made for that. She
i'd have liked to please, to be en- 1
led. to be charming, to be sought y
ifter. t
She had a friend, a former school
at the convent. who was rich,
md whom she did lot like to go il
nd see any more, BECAUSE she suf- e
cred so much when she came back.
But, one evening, her husband re-
urned home with a triumphant air, y,
nd holding a large envelope in his h
and. q
There" said he, here is some IL
hing for you"
She tore the paper sharply, and
rev out a printed card which bore
words: Fl
"The Minister of Public Instruc-
and Nine. George Ramponneau re
the honor of NJ. and Nine. la
oisel's company at the palace of the OF
inistry on Monday evening, J%anua-
!, 18th"
Instead of being delighted. as her lie
hoped. she threw the invi- W
on the table with disdain, ST
urmuring: 81
What do you want me to do with tn
ur
But. my dear, thought you gi'