[49] By permission of the author, and publishers, the Town Topics Publishing Co., N. Y.
GRACE KING.
Grace King was born in New Orleans, the daughter of William W. King, and has made a reputation as a writer of short stories depicting Creole life. Her “Balcony Stories” are like pictures in their vivid intensity.
WORKS.
Monsieur Motte.
Earthlings.
Balcony Stories.
Bonne Maman.
Bayou L’Ombre.
History of Louisiana.
LA GRANDE DEMOISELLE.
A BALCONY STORY.
(From the Century Magazine,[50] Jan., 1893.)
That was what she was called by everybody as soon as she was seen or described. Her name, besides baptismal titles, was Idalie Sainte Foy Mortemart des Islets. When she came into society, in the brilliant little world of New Orleans, it was the event of the season, and after she came in, whatever she did became also events. Whether she went, or did not go; what she said, or did not say; what she wore, and did not wear—all these became important matters of discussion, quoted as much or more than what the President said, or the governor thought. And in those days, the days of ’59, New Orleans was not, as it is now, a one-heiress place, but it may be said that one could find heiresses then as one finds type-writing girls now.