At parties d?butantes
had always expected Mr. French to say something pleasant to them, and
had rarely been disappointed.
The subject of the party was resumed next day at Mrs. Treadwell's,
where the colonel went in the afternoon to call.
"An old-time party," declared the colonel, "should have old-time
amusements. We must have a fiddler, a black fiddler, to play
quadrilles and the Virginia Reel."
"I don't know where you'll find one," said Miss Laura.
"I'll ask Peter," replied the colonel. "He ought to know."
Peter was in the yard with Phil.
"Lawd, Mars Henry!" said Peter, "fiddlers is mighty sca'ce dese days,
but I reckon ole 'Poleon Campbell kin make you shake yo' feet yit, ef
Ole Man Rheumatiz ain' ketched holt er 'im too tight."
"And I will play a minuet on your new piano," said Miss Laura, "and
teach the girls beforehand how to dance it. There should be cards for
those who do not dance."
So the party was arranged. Miss Laura, Graciella and the colonel made
out the list of guests. The invitations were duly sent out for an
old-time party, with old-time costumes--any period between 1830 and
1860 permissible--and old-time entertainment.
The announcement created some excitement in social circles, and, like
all of Colonel French's enterprises at that happy period of his
home-coming, brought prosperity in its train. Dressmakers were kept
busy making and altering costumes for the ladies. Old Archie
Christmas, the mulatto tailor, sole survivor of a once flourishing
craft--Mr.
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