THE GRISETTES' BALL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 5

THE GRISETTES' BALL.

FBOM IHF. FRENCH OF PAUL DE KOCH IDLE. Sophie was a young seamstress living in a rented room. She was a very pretty brunette with an expressive countenance, and a somewhat couquettish manner ; tall and slender, well formed and gracsful. r% loot was not the smallest in the world, but it was well shaped. In short. Mile. Sophie possessed many attractions, and «eldom went out without making a conquest; which, however, proves nothing against her, as ugly womtn are sometimes successful in the same way. There are so many people in Paris who do not know what to do with their time »nd themselves ; and who to empluv the one and gratify the other, think it necessary to follow and accost every woman they meet without a« escort. They follow one for her costume, another for her figure : this one for her face, that one for ber foot ; and, as it is rare indeed to see a woman who is entirely destitute of some attraction, these gentlemen can always find something to follow, and must certainly be tired enough at the end of the day.

Mile. Sophie, in short, with her bright black eyes, her retrousse nose aßd roguish glance, was necessarily an object of pursuit; as most meu admire sparkling eyes and coquettish manners. " Why," you ask ? I cannot undertake an explanation just here. You must ask elsewhere, although I have my own opinion in the matter.

Bab all this has nothing to do with my nice little seamstress. I return to the subject. Sophie was reputed to be a coquette Some evil tinjues ev«n went further, and asserted that she had lovers ; since it could not be possible for a young girl with sparkling eyes, a retrousse nose and a graceful carriage to be a pattern of propriety.

This assumption would be an unpleasant one for young ladies bearing any resemblance to the picture 1 have drawn of the youthful Sophie. Let them take courage, however. We all know that appearances are otteu deceiving. A young person may bave bright eyes, acd laugh frequently, and yet be perfectly modest; while others, with a more retiring air, a timid manner and downcast eyes, are sometimes guilty of imprudence.

For some time a young and handsome bachelor, Edward Hubert, by name, had been very devoted in his attentions to Mile. Sophie. As Sophie was fond of lively conversation, it was not a difficult matter to make her acquaintance. And Mr. Edward Auber v being very well bred,fastidious in his dress and distinguished in manner, was a conquest to be proud of. In short the young man succeeded in gaining admission to madamoiselle's modest lodgings. When a grisette gives a young man permisiou to visit her it is quite natural that he should expect that the little love affair would soon be brought to a happy termination. But, to bis great surprise, he found himself quite mistaken in bis conclusions. At first his tender advances were ridiculed, and afterwards more ardent expressions of affection met witb an annoying rebuff, and this positive announcement :

" If you wish n.e to receive your visits henceforward, you must conduct yourself more respectfully." To which little speech Edward replied. " Is it disrespectful to fall in love with you? Why are you so pretty and attractive ? Why do you flirt with me so provokingly F I shall die if you do not return my affection !" Aid these love-like phrases he followed up with many others of the same kind, which, however, had very little effect upon the fair Sophie, who laughed as usual, and replied : "I am not so certain that yon are really iu love with me ; if yon are, there is a better way to prove it. I shall never give myself to anyone but to my husband. Yes, sir, my husband. You are surprised, I see. Because lam gay, and like company, probably ; and thtn I do uot cast my eyes dawn when I happen to he stared at. And as for dying if you do not win me, Mr.Edward, such speeches are not to my taste. They do well enough in stories of murder and suicide, and the like, which never please me. I am only a simple grisette, it is true, but I have very different ideas from those you attribute to me, and all this counts for mere jest, so far as I am concerned." Edward was struck dumb at such a rejoinder. Nevertheless, he promised te act with more discretion in the future. He was not willing to forego the pleasure of Sophie's soc ; ety,»nd, like all men, he was ready to make promi .es forever which he did not crmsider as binding any longer than he chose to keep them. He continued, therefore, to visit the pretty grisette. When she refused to kiss him Le pouted, and when he had pouted to his heart's ontent, Sophie merely laughed. Occasionally it happened that the young man would cease bis visits for several days, hoping that he might succeed in banishing her from his thoughts. But love soon led him again to Sophie's side. She always received him with a smile and a cordial clasp of the hand as a token of her continued friendship. If be ventured to attempt any familiar demonstrations of affection she knew how to check him witb a playful tap. Meanwhile the carnival season was approaching, and amusements, dances, and supper* were the order of the day. In all classes of society tberc was a general preparation for enjoyment. The humble clerk indulged in the pleasure ol entertaining bis friends after a simple fashion, while the wealthy merchant vied with the noblesse in his extravagant displays. People of the middle class gave their tsmbolas, the porters made pancakes iu their little rooms, and nearly til theyrisettes went to the masked balls.

Several times Edward had invited Sophie to accompany him to a masquerade, but she invariably declined his in vita I ion. She did not care to trust hj( iself alone at night with a man who foui.d it so hard to conform to toe rules of discrttlon daring the day.

Edward, piqued at Sophie's refusals, went to the balls without her, and came less frequently to ber room. She suffered in silence from his neglect, dr»ading that she lose his affection : for a turned-up nose dots not prevent one from being sensible, and a lively manner ott' n conceals a loving heart.

One fine afternoon Sophie received a visit from several of her female friends, who worked very little and talked incessantly.

'• Everybody is giving balls," said the tall Adi lc. ' they are all the rage. In my house a dyer has just given a masked hall ; and everyone pronounced it a great success. I heard that it was lovely ! There were Mime dressed as Spaniards and Turks. Shepherds, too. and brigands ! Everything in the latest style." "And I," said a pretty litt'e florist of the company, " was invited the other day to attend a soiree at Mr. Franvilie's, the upholsterer. There was a nice little supper, punch and ices, card tabl«s -ud music. We dauced the galop and ale hot buns. In every house where I go to carry my work I see preparations for some kind of party or reception. Even my next door neighbour, who is a janitress at '.be hotel near ns, gave au evening party, where good beer was as' plentiful as water. :.nd the saasage were of

a superior quality. In short everybody in Paris is giving balls and parties just now. " Well, young ladies," siid Sopbie, " why should not we do as others do, and give a ball ourselves ? "

"Wei We give a ball!" cried all the grisettes with oue accord. " Certainly ;if you really wish to do so " "Of course we we willing enough, but bow could we manage to " "Listen to me. I offer you my own room, in the first place for an apartment ; it is large and handsome, and after all tbe furniture is removed, it will give us additional space. Besides, I have two ante-rooms that can be used for a dressing room and a refreshment room." " Very well,and wheu this point is settled ?" " Afterward, yes ; there will be some expense for lights, refreshments and tbe supper ; for, of course, we must have a supper you know." " Certainly, a supper by all means !" " As for me," said the stout Adele, " I only dsoee to get my supper." "All right, my friends, we will all contribute our share, and if, as I hope, you can trust to my judgment in the matter. I will take entire charge of tbe details." " Agreed ! Let us count up the sum total.'

Kach youug girl emptied her pocket. The result was the sum of twenty-three francs,which they thought would suffice, with the additiso of contributions from other girls of their acquaintance whom they wished to unite ; for the grisettes did not intend to ask the co-opera-of their gentlemen friends. This was to be a pleasant surprise for the latter, a social courtesy earning from themselves. With fifty francs Sophie foresaw that they could not furnish ices, but she promised them a violin, a flute, cider and chestnuts during the evening, with a substantial supper it midnight. After these preliminaries were arranged, the day was appointed, aud the next thing in order was the invitations.

A young frugemaker, who was a skilful band with her pen, took her seat at the table and wrote dowu Sophie's dictation :

You are invited to a dance and supper at

Mile. Sophie's residence on Saturday next. With kind regards. " Now, will this do, youug ladies ?" " Very well, indeed," they all responded. "Ah ! Fedora ! stop one moment ! writo postscript," " What is that ?"

•' Just write below, under the signature, ' No one who does not arrive by aine o'clock sball be allowed to dance the galop.' " "Ah ! that's a capital idea ! You have bit upon the only way of forcing these gentlemen to be here early."

" Now, Fedora, write off the necessary number of invitations, and I shall only have to. sign them. Come, my friends, the names of these persons you wisb to invite." Each girl gave the name of her sweetheart. The invitations being written and signed, there was a lively discussion an to the costumes that they should prepare for the occasion. Nothing else was talked of for the rest of the evening, and the grisettes separated with the hope of a merry reunion on the evening appointed for their soiree.

Sophie bad remembered Mr. Edward Aubert in making out the list of guests. Sbe now devoted all her energies to the task of making her entertainment a brilliant success. Her friends bad given her 30 francs, and afterwards sent »n additional contribution of 25 francs from other sources, making the amount of 53 francs at her disposal: and to this she intended herself adding 15 more, in order that there might be nothing lacking to render the arrangements complete. Sbe made a very careful calculation of the expenses. There must be two lamps for the stairway ; then it would be necessary to rent at least four argand burners for her own room, if it was to be really well lighted ; and a ball without plenty of lights is depressing. Finally Sophie made out her bill of fare for the supper. Of course, there must be several substantial dishes of meat, chicken, and paces fur the men, and a few tempting dainties for her lady friends. After long reflection, the young seamstress estimated the expenses of her ball as follows: Francs. Sous. Two lamps Kent of four burners 7 10 Candles in the ante-rooms Sugar, cider, chestnuts 8 10 Pates, chickeu, sausages 13 10 A violin 6 10 Pastry 9 10 Wine and coffee 15 10 Total 62 10 Thus, with the moderate sum of 62 francs aid 10 sous, Sophie hoped to give a charming entertainment. In the few days intervening before Saturday she busied herself with the preparation of her costume. She intended to ap pear dressed as a Swiss peasant After it was completed and she bad tried it on to see the effect, she whispered softly to herself: " I think I know what Mr. Edward will do when he sees me in my new costume." At last the eventful day arrived. Purchases were to be made, and the lights must be rented, but first she would have to secure a violin player. Sophie repaired to the bouse where sbe was directed to inquire for such a person. It was a very shabby lodging in the Rue des Gravilliers. She passed through the alley to look for the porter, but there was no one to be seen. Then she mounted the first and second flights of stairs, thinking, as she went on, " a violin player must, of course, be on the third floor, especially a poor player who can only earn six francs a night and who furnishes a flute besides."'

Sophie, therefore, decided to knock at the door of the first room on the third floor, from which she heard the sounds of music. A youns man with a lamp in bis haud hastened to open it,but he was evidently a beau, and in the background she observed several young persons, all i|uite elegantly dressed and each one having a musical instrument.

The giil feared that she had mistaken the house, and stammered in an embarrassed way : " I wish to speak to Mr. Dupont." '• Who is Mr. Dupont ? 1 am not acquainted with him, mademoiselle." " Ah, monsieur, he is a musician, a man who plays the violin for evening parties and balls.'' " Yes, mademoiselle, I think I do remember haviujj met such a persou in the house ; a poor musician, 1 believe ; I really know very little about my neighbours, but if you wish to see him, he is uo doubt above.

Sophie courtsied respectfully, and hasteued to mount the next flight of stairs. She reached the sixth floor, listening all the while to hear if she could catch the tones of a violin, but she listened in vain. No music was to be heard. On the contrary, she imagined that she distinguished a soun:l as of someone sighing and sobbing. .She decided nevertheless to knock at the nearest door opposite the landing-place. It was opened at ouce, but what a distressing picture met her eye. In the scantily furnished chamber a sick man lay extruded upon a dilapidated couch, and by bis side knelt a young woman, weeping bitterly. Near her were two children, a little boy of 8 years anUagul hardly 5. Both looked pale and eireworn, anil seemed already to be partakers in their parent's misfortunes.

" (»ood heavens ! " cried Sophie. " I must be mistakeu agaiu ! lam in search of Mr. Dupont, a violin player." ''• lit is here, mademoiselle," murmured a feeble voice fiom the bed. " I am Mr Dupont. Did you desire my services ? '

" Yes, sir, it was for a small party —thi

evening, at my rooms. Mile. Sopbie, seamstress. Rue am Ours. But siuce you are ill. " " Ab, mademoiselle," replied the young woman, " My husband is very ill, and all from overwork, because he would exert himself to support his family. Alas! uiy poor father is now a feeble old man, and my little yirl is ill, too ; in short, we have been in sore trouble for some time, and now my husband, as you see, is unable to help us." "It is anxiety that makes father ill," said the little boy, " because they will sell all the furniture to-morrow if the landlord is not paid."

" Hush hush ! Julius !" exclaimed his mother. " Why do you speak at such things ?'' " Poor people !" said feophie. touched by this melancholy scene. " What! Who would be cruel enough to sell your effects ? But some landlords are bard-hearted, unfeeling men. You must owe a great deal, then ?" " Twenty-four francs," said the poor womau, "and my husband is in despair because he cannot raise the amount now."

" And I," said the litMe boy, "I am lot strong enough to play the flute unless I have papa to accompany me." Sophie reflected for a few minutes. Suddenly she left the room, exclaiming, " I am coming back immediately.'' Theu, returning in haste to her room, she took the sixty-two fraDes and fifty centimes set apart to defray the expenses of her ball, which,with her own slender savings, made the sum of eighty francs. .She hurried back to the Rue des Granvilliers, mounted the six flights of stairs, withsut pausing to ca'cli her breath, entered the poor musician's loom, and laid down her bag of money ou a table which stood near the bed, saying :

" Here, take this, and pay your landlord. Be comforted and try and get well again. As for myself and my friends, we can dauce without a violin, and amuse ourselves without supper." The poor family could not find words in which to express their gratitude. Sophie kissed the two children and ran off with these words : "Adieu! I shall return to see you."

The grisette hastened home with a light heart and an approving conscience. At first she could tbink of nothing but the unhappy people whose wants she had relieved. But after a while her mind reverted to the ball she was to give that evening. However she laughed to herself as she thuught : " Those who go without their dinners to enjoy a fine supper the more will sadly disappointed. Well, uever mind that, my Swiss costume will be none the less becoming and that is certainly paid for."

Sophie dressed herself in due time., arranged her room, and after lighting her single candle placed it upon the chimney-piece. There was a lamentable deficiency as to lights, in truth ; but Sophie had not another sou in the house. This was her last candle, and it was her fixed rule to buy nothing on credit. It was half-past seven o'clock, and the guests began to arrive. She heard th< m calling out in the hall: " Sophie, give us a light : here we are. Why have you neglected to lijjht your lamps. It is very disagreeable when one is in ball costume to grope up stairs in the dark." Sophie appeared on the landing place with her candle. The young girls on entering the room, cried out with one accord ; " Good heavens! how dark it is here. Where are all your argand burners ? What were you thinking of, to bring us all into this abode of gloom P" Sophie answered with a smile that if they would all exercise a little patience the muchneeded lamps would be forthcoming The young men whom these maidens had invited were not long iu making their appearance and were equally surprised to see the sceue of festivity illuminated only by a single candle The grisettes could uot refrain from showing their annoyance. They grew impatient, and continued to ask Sophie if she did not intend to give tbem lights. " And the music ? " they asked, '' where is that ? '' " Oh, it will be here, too, in time," replied Sophie. " Meanwhile, my friends, we can dance the round dances."

'* We are not giving a ball to df nee only round dances," said her friends. " What will all these gentlemen think of us ? " The youug men made no comments, but smiled in a sarcastic way. Edwaid watched Sophie and was silent. The pretty seamstress was beginning to feel the i mbarrassment of her situation. Several young girls asked for refreshments, and she was compelled to answer that the refreshments had not arrived.

At last the grisettes, seeintr neither lights, music, nor refreshments, lost their patience, and the stout Adele said to Sophie : " My dear friend, you were the one who offered to arrange every thing for our ball, and nothing has been done. What is the meaning of all this ? What have you done with our contributions ? " Sophie blushed, hesitated, and replied : " Young ladies, I really could not summon up courage to tell you. Well, in short, I lost my purse, with all my own money and yours in it. This is the reason for my failure to have things ready for our ball."

The girls were struck with consternation, and the gentlemen looked amused. Edward tried to console Sophie, and reproached her for uot having had recourse to him in the dilemma. Finally discontent and malicious sneers were not wanting to complete her discomfiture. A few of her acquaintances did not hesitate to whisper among themselves that the lost purse was only a clever ruse, and Sophie's composure was giving way, when suddenly a knock was he»rd at the door.

Five young men, all of prepossessing appearance, and well dressed, a>ked permission to speak witb Mile. Sophie. Each had his instrument with him ; there were two violins, a bass viol and two flutes. In short, the orchestra was complete.

" Ah, Sophie was only jesting with us !" cried Ihe girls " Here is our music, and lam sure we ought to be satisfied with it." " No," replied Sophie, " 1 told you onlj what was true. No doubt these gentlemen have come to the wrong place"

" No, Mademoiselle," replied a young man »bom Sophie recognised as being the same that appeared at the door when she had gone in search of ber violin player. •■ We are here—my friends, as well as myself tQ orler you our services in the place 11 my poor neighbour, Mr. Dupont, who is ill in bed. and to whom you so generously gave all the money you had expected to use for the expenses of your ball. It was through his sou th»t we heard of your kind actiou, and we wish to be allowed the pleasure of acting as your orchestra for the evening.

This speech made known the truth. Sophie was the recipient of many congratulations and compliments as well as ki-ses and embraces from the female portion of the company. Those who had shown the most, ill-humour asked her pardon with tears in tlnir eyes, and there wis a general teeliug of joy and satisfaction. In a tew moments the gentlemeu went off in search of candles, lamps, and refreshments. Everything was provided in abundance, mid the ballroom was brilliantly illuminated. Finally a sumptuous repast appeared, the coutiibution oi Mr. Edward Aubert, ami when Sophie tenderly reproached him for his extravagance, be replied with a smile. " This is te be our bitrothil supper.'' — ___________