Mademoiselle Olympe Zabriski | Page 6

meditating a few minutes, she
tapped Van Twiller softly on the arm with the tip of her parasol, and
invited him to return with her the next day up the Hudson and make a
brief visit at the home of his ancestors. He accepted the invitation with
outward alacrity and inward disgust.
When this was settled, and the worthy lady had withdrawn, Van
Twiller went directly to the establishment of Messrs Ball, Black, and
Company, and selected, with unerring taste, the finest diamond bracelet
procurable. For his mother? Dear me, no! She had the family jewels.
I would not like to state the enormous sum Van Twiller paid for this
bracelet. It was such a clasp of diamonds as would have hastened the
pulsation of a patrician wrist. It was such a bracelet as Prince
Camaralzaman might have sent to the Princess Badoura, and the
Princess Badoura--might have been very glad to get.

In the fragrant Levant morocco case, where these happy jewels lived
when they were at home, Van Twiller thoughtfully placed his card, on
the back of which he had written a line begging Mademoiselle Olympe
Zabriski to accept the accompanying trifle from one who had witnessed
her graceful performances with interest and pleasure. This was not done
inconsiderately. "Of course I must enclose my card, as I would to any
lady," Van Twiller had said to himself. "A Van Twiller can neither
write an anonymous letter nor make an anonymous present." Blood
entails its duties as well As its privileges.
The casket despatched to its destination, Van Twiller felt easier in his
mind. He was under obligations to the girl for many an agreeable hour
that might otherwise have passed heavily. He had paid the debt, and he
had paid it en prince, as became a Van Twiller. He spent the rest of the
day in looking at some pictures at Goupil's, and at the club, and in
making a few purchases for his trip up the Hudson. A consciousness
that this trip up the Hudson was a disorderly retreat came over him
unpleasantly at intervals.
When he returned to his rooms late at night, he found a note lying on
the writing-table. He started as his eye caught the words "------
Theatre" stamped in carmine letters on one corner of the envelope. Van
Twiller broke the seal with trembling fingers.
Now, this note some time afterwards fell into the hands of Livingstone,
who showed it to Stuyvesant, who showed it to Delaney, who showed it
to me, and I copied it as a literary curiosity. The note ran as follows:--
Mr. Van Twiller,
Dear SiR--i am verry greatfull to you for that Bracelett. it come just in
the nic of time for me. The Mademoiselle Zabriski dodg is about Plaid
out. my beard is getting to much for me. i shall have to grow a mustash
and take to some other line of busyness, I dont no what now, but will
let you no. You wont feel bad if i sell that Bracelett. i have seen
Abrahams Moss and he says he will do the square thing. Pleas accep
my thanks for youre Beautifull and Unexpected present.

Youre respectfull servent,
Charles Montmorenci Walters.
The next day Van Twiller neither expressed nor felt any unwillingness
to spend a few weeks with his mother at the old homestead.
And then he went abroad.

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Zabriski, by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
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