Strange True Stories of Louisiana
Page 15
XI.
ALIX PLAYS FAIRY.--PARTING TEARS.
In about fifteen days the work on the cottage was nearly done and themoving began, Celeste, and even Maggie, offering us their services. Alixseemed enchanted.
"Two things, only, I lack," she said--"a sofa, and something to cover thewalls."
One morning M. Gerbeau sent to Carpentier a horse, two fine cows and theircalves, and a number of sheep and pigs. At the same time two or threenegresses, loaded down with chickens, geese, and ducks, made theirappearance. Also M. Gerbeau.
"What does all this mean?" asked Joseph.
"This is the succession of the dead Swede," replied the generous youngman.
"But I have no right to his succession."
"That's a question," responded M. Gerbeau. "You have inherited the house,you must inherit all. If claimants appear--well, you will be responsibleto them. You will please give me a receipt in due form; that is all."
Tears came into Carpentier's eyes.... As he was signing the receipt M.Gerbeau stopped him. "Wait; I forgot something. At the time of Karl's [theSwede's] death, I took from his crib fifty barrels of corn; add that."
"O sir!" cried Joseph, "that is too much--too much."
"Write!" said M. Gerbeau, laying his hand on Joseph's shoulder, "if youplease. I am giving you nothing; I am relieving myself of a burden."
* * * * *
My dear daughter, if I have talked very much about Alix it is becausetalking about her is such pleasure. She has been so good to my sister andme! The memory of her is one of the brightest of my youth.
The flatboat was to go in three days. One morning, when we had passed thenight with Mme. Gerbeau, Patrick came running to say that "Madame 'Lix"wished to see us at once. We hastened to the cottage. Alix met us on thegallery [veranda].
"Come in, dear girls. I have a surprise for you and a great favor to ask.I heard you say, Suzanne, you had nothing to wear--"
"But our camayeu petticoats!"
"But your camayeu petticoats." She smiled.
"And they, it seems, do not tempt your vanity. You want better?"
"Ah, indeed we do!" replied Suzanne.
"Well, let us play Cinderella. The dresses of velvet, silk, and lace, thejewels, the slippers--all are in yonder chest. Listen, my dear girls. Uponthe first signs of the Revolution my frightened mother left France andcrossed into England. She took with her all her wardrobe, her jewels, thepictures from her bedroom, and part of her plate. She bought, beforegoing, a quantity of silks and ribbons.... When I reached England mymother was dead, and all that she had possessed was restored to me by theauthorities. My poor mother loved dress, and in that chest is all herapparel. Part of it I had altered for my own use; but she was much largerthan I--taller than you. I can neither use them nor consent to sell them.If each of you will accept a ball toilet, you will make me very happy."And she looked at us with her eyes full of supplication, her handsclasped.
We each snatched a hand and kissed it. Then she opened the chest, and forthe first and last time in my life I saw fabrics, ornaments, and coiffuresthat truly seemed to have been made by the fairies. After many trials andmuch debate she laid aside for me a lovely dress of blue brocadeglistening with large silver flowers the reflections of which seemed likerays of light. It was short in front, with a train; was very full on thesides, and was caught up with knots of ribbon. The long pointed waist wascut square and trimmed with magnificent laces that re-appeared on thehalf-long sleeves. The arms, to the elbow, were to be covered with whitefrosted gloves fastened with twelve silver buttons. To complete my toiletshe gave me a blue silk fan beautifully painted, blue satin slippers withhigh heels and silver buckles, white silk stockings with blue clocks, abroidered white cambric handkerchief trimmed with Brussels point lace,and, last, a lovely set of silver filigree that she assured us was ofslight value, comprising the necklace, the comb, the earrings, bracelets,and a belt whose silver tassels of the same design fell down the front ofthe dress.
My sister's toilet was exactly like mine, save that it was rose color.Alix had us try them on. While our eyes were ravished, she, with moreexpert taste, decided to take up a little in one place, lower a ribbon inanother, add something here, take away there, and, above all, to iron thewhole with care. We staid all day helping her; and when, about 3 o'clock,all was finished, our fairy godmother said she would now dress our hair,and that we must observe closely.
"For Suzanne will have to coiffe Francoise and Francoise coiffe Suzanne,"she said. She took from the chest two pasteboard boxes that she saidcontained the headdresses belonging to our costumes, and, making me sitfacing my sister, began to dress her hair. I was all eyes. I did not losea movement of the comb. She lifted Suzanne's hair to the middle of thehead in two rosettes that she called _riquettes_ and fastened them with asilver comb. Next, she made in front, or rather on the forehead, withhairpins, numberless little knots, or whorls, and placed on each side ofthe head a plume of white, rose-tipped feathers, and in front, oppositethe riquettes, placed a rose surrounded with silver leaves. Longrose-colored, silver-frosted ribbons falling far down on the backcompleted the headdress, on which Alix dusted handfuls of silver powder.Can you believe it, my daughter, that was the first time my sister and Ihad ever seen artificial flowers? They made very few of them, even inFrance, in those days.
While Suzanne admired herself in the mirror I took her place. My headdressdiffered from hers in the ends of my feathers being blue, and in the rosebeing white, surrounded by pale blue violets and a few silver leaves. Andnow a temptation came to all of us. Alix spoke first:
"Now put on your ball-dresses and I will send for our friends. What do youthink?"
"Oh, that would be charming!" cried Suzanne. "Let us hurry!" And while wedressed, Pat, always prowling about the cottage, was sent to the flatboatto get his parents and the Carlos, and to M. Gerbeau's to ask my fatherand M. and Mme. Gerbeau to come at once to the cottage.... No, I cannottell the cries of joy that greeted us. The children did not know us, andMaggie had to tell Pat over and over that these were Miss Souzie and MissFrancise. My father's eyes filled with tears as he thanked Alix for hergoodness and generosity to us.
Alas! the happiest days, like the saddest, have an end. On the morrow thepeople in the flatboat came to say good-bye. Mario cried like a child.Celeste carried Alix's hands to her lips and said in the midst of hertears:
"O Madame! I had got so used to you--I hoped never to leave you."
"I will come to see you, Celeste," replied Alix to the young mulattress,"I promise you."
Maggie herself seemed moved, and in taking leave of Alix put two vigorouskisses on her cheeks. As to our father, and us, too, the adieus were notfinal, we having promised Mario and Gordon to stop [on their journey upthe shore of the bayou] as soon as we saw the flatboat.
"And we hope, my dear Carlo, to find you established in yourprincipality."
"Amen!" responded the Italian.
Alix added to her gifts two pairs of chamois-skin gloves and a box oflovely artificial flowers. Two days after the flatboat had gone, we havingspent the night with Alix, came M. Gerbeau's carriage to take us once moreupon our journey. Ah! that was a terrible moment. Even Alix could scarcehold back the tears. We refused to get into the carriage, and walked, allof us together, to M. Gerbeau's, and then parted amid tears, kisses, andpromises.