Old Creole Days: A Story of Creole Life — John Shaqi
Old Creole Days: A Story of Creole LifeCable, George Washington
General
Old Creole Days: A Story of Creole Life
Cable, George Washington
Creoles -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Louisiana -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; New Orleans (La.) -- Fiction
What tales that would have been tear-compelling, nay, heart-rending, had
they not been palpable inventions, the pretty, womanish Mazaro from time
to time poured forth, in the ever ungratified hope that the goddess
might come down with a draught of nectar for him, it profiteth not to
recount; but I should fail to show a family feature of the Café des
Exilés did I omit to say that these make-believe adventures were heard
with every mark of respect and credence; while, on the other hand, they
were never attempted in the presence of the Irishman. He would have
moved an eyebrow, or made some barely audible sound, or dropped some
seemingly innocent word, and the whole company, spite of themselves,
would have smiled. Wherefore, it may be doubted whether at any time the
curly-haired young Cuban had that playful affection for his Celtic
comrade, which a habit of giving little velvet taps to Galahad's cheek
made a show of.
Such was the Café des Exilés, such its inmates, such its guests, when
certain apparently trivial events began to fall around it as germs of
blight fall upon corn, and to bring about that end which cometh to all
things.
The little seed of jealousy, dropped into the heart of Manuel Mazaro, we
have already taken into account.
Galahad Shaughnessy began to be specially active in organizing a society
of Spanish Americans, the design of which, as set forth in its
manuscript constitution, was to provide proper funeral honors to such of
their membership as might be overtaken by death; and, whenever it was
practicable, to send their ashes to their native land. Next to Galahad
in this movement was an elegant old Mexican physician, Dr.--,--his name
escapes me--whom the Café des Exilés sometimes took upon her lap--that
is to say door-step--but whose favorite resort was the old Café des
Réfugiés in the Rue Royale (Royal Street, as it was beginning to be
called). Manuel Mazaro was made secretary.
It was for some reason thought judicious for the society to hold its
meetings in various places, now here, now there; but the most frequent
rendezvous was the Café des Exilés; it was quiet; those Spanish Creoles,
however they may afterward cackle, like to lay their plans noiselessly,
like a hen in a barn. There was a very general confidence in this old
institution, a kind of inward assurance that "mother wouldn't tell;"
though, after all, what great secrets could there be connected with a
mere burial society?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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