Evening star., 1927-09-24
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
The Shoulders of the Marchioness
BY EMILE ZOIA -c-*
tCopyright. 1927
BY EMILE ZOLA

Emile Zola was born in 1S40 and died in
1a02 he IS popddar ETehieh ~
| times tragic. stories. lie has met the test of
| greatness as 4 teller Of tales by having many
| greatly admired for his courageous stand IN
| defense of Dreyfus, a military officer lnlustly
prosecuted. His death was from accidental
| asphyXiatop.
The narchioness sleeps in her great
bed, beneath ample yellow satin cur
tains. At noon, at the smart stroke
of the clock, she decides to open her
eyes.
The room is warm. The carpets,
the bangings over the doors and win
dows, make it a soft nest, which de-
fies the cold. IT is pervaded by
warmth and perfumery, and is like
everlasting Spring.
And, so soon as the marchionesS is
well awake, she seems a victim to
sudden anxiety. She casts off the
'bedclothes and rings for Julie.
Did madame ring?
Tell me, does it thaw?'
In what a troubled tone did the
good marchioness ask that question.
Her first thought was about the ter
rible weather, the north wind which
she could not feel, bat which blew
so keenly IN the novels of the poor.
And she thus asks if heaven has been
merciful-whether she can permit her
self to be warm without remorse. with
out thinking of all those who shiver.
Does it thaw, Julie?"
Her Iady's maid hands her the morn
ing paper, which she has just been
warming in front of a good fire.
"Oh, no, madame, it does not thaw.
On the contrary. it freezes even hard
er-they just found man frozen to
death on the top of a bus"
The marchioness is as merry as
child. She clasps her hands, exc!aim-
ing:
"Ah, so much the better! III go
skating this afternoon"
Julie softly draws back the cur
tains, so that the sudden daylight may
not hurt the tender sight of the deli
cate marchioneSs.
The room is filled with the blush
reflex of these now, which conveys
quite a gay light to it. The sky is
gray, but it is such pretty gray
that it reminds the marchloness of a
pearl-gray silk gown she wore. on the
previous evening, at the ministerial
ball. This gown was trimmed with
white lace, similar to the streaks of
snow she perceived at the edge Of the
roofs against the pale sky.
The previous evening she had been
charming with her new diamonds.
She had gone 10 bed at 5 o'clock. and
her head was still bit heavy. How
ever. she has seated herself before
glass. and Julie has raised her mass of
fine hair. The wrapper slips down
and the shoulders remain bare TO the
center of her back.
A whole generation has already
grown old gazing on the marchioness'
shoulders. Since ladies of merry
disposition, thanks to a powerful gov
ernment. have been able to wear low
neck gowns and dance at the royal
gardens, she has trotted her Shout
ders through the crowded drawing
rooms of the official world, with an as
siduity that has made her the living
advertisement of the charms of the
second French Empire. She has been
obliged to follow the fashion and cut
down her gowns, now TO the small of
the back, now to below the shoulders,
so that the other woman, dimple by
dimple, has shown all the beauties of
her shoulders. There is hardly bit
of her back that is unknown. The
so-widely displayed shoulders OF the
marchioness are the voluptuous coat
of arms of the present reign.
1t WOuu CSIidllltS bS VI lO NSS ~
describe the marchloneSS' shoulders,
They are as we'll known rs the Pont
Neuf. For Is years they have formed
part of the public shows, SO to speak.
1t suffices to catch sight Of the small
est part oe them III ii drawing room.
at the theater, az elsewhere. to eXN
claim: "Ry iove' The marchi0uess'
| knew her 10y the beauty spot of her
left shoulder"
They are very fine shoulders, for
the matter OF that~-plump and pro
voking, The gaze ot - government
passing over them has increased their
daintineas, somewhat in the way Of
those ttasstoncs which are finally pol
ished smooth by the treading feet of
the passing crowds,
IL | Were the husband of the mar.
chioness. | would sooner go and kiss
the glad door.knob of a minister's pri-
vate room, worn by the hands OF favor