The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-12-14


20, no, no, no! you must not let her,"
exclaimed in hasty fear. ooh, Mon
sieur it is most rash and dangerous"
Monsieur smiled as he put the handbill
back into his pocket, and Ninette arose
with vexed glance across at him.
"Do forbid her to do this" cried again.
"Mlle. Ninette IS such superb horse
woman" the manager said, that if she
feels she can accomplish it safely and bril-
hantiy, feel it too. And it will make
to-nights performance an unrivaled sue
cess. She has done it before, you know;
and gorgeous and unprecedented triumph
it was"
at is willful riskiDg of life," I falter-
ed, the tears starting in my weakness. "I
shall be miserable" ="
II shall not" laughed Monsieur, rising.
II have too much confidence in Ninette."
Don't think about it at all, Ricardo"
Nlnette said, giving me her hand as she
prepared to leave "I should never have
told you myself, because know how in
Yalids worry themselves about the safest
and most trifing things. l have made up
my mind to do it, and Black Hdagk un
derstands that same entirely"
ooh do not venture it, Ninette," I
whispered, appealing to her in bitter ear
nestness. "Say you will not"
MOTOR / must" she answered, laugh
ing lightly, though she spoke with odd,
steady quietness.
Then 1 covered my eyes with my feeble
hands, and let the tears flow on.
81 shall come in and see you before the
0erhormance," Ninette said, after little
dismal pause
"Wil you, Ninette?' asked eagerly,
as l battled with my cowardlce. "Will
You come IN just as you go?"
81 hardly know about that" she an
swered, with quaint, shy smile.
Monsieur had left the room then, and
Ninette was standing opposite me, about
to follow him.
"Ninette," said, slowly, as feasted
my eyes on her sweet face, when l saw
you first, you wore an old black habit.
quite rusty, remember; and you had a
hat in your hand, with long scarlet
plume almost touching the ground And,
however have seen you since, you have
always been to me as you were that day
and you always will be. dear"
q remember that old velvet habit" she
laughed. at is a superannuated article
now; and--what did you think of me
then, Ricardo?"
NSe ~ RAAssb bA4AAAA LOh-
She laughed again, but her step was soft
and lingering when she left me.
Until evening I lay and thought of her
picturing the beautiful little figure that
would come to me in its gorgeous theatri.
cal dress. The twilight glided slowly in
to my silent room, and then I Law anG
listened breathlessly, for 1 knew she mus
come soon now. Yet so noiselessly she
entered at last that even my waiting ear:
could scarcely catch the light step. With
out word she shut the door behind her
Then she stood looking at me: her red lips
| parted with an irrepressible smile, and hel
eyes brlmning over with fun. But she
was clad IN no gay, unusual dress she
stood there holding up in one hand the ole
black habit from the other dangled tn,
little hat with its scarlet plume; and hel
head was only crowned with its bright
| fair curls.
"Ninette," I said, breaking my wonder
ing silence, seeing you so, feel as if
through all the years that lie helpless,
could dream that you have been to me al
that wildly dreamed You might be wheI
I saw you for the first time. Thank yo1
for coming as you are but you viii hav,
to change your dress again, you ride il
such different costume"
The color rushed to her cheeks, and he
eyes grew hot and dark.
Eyes, very different; out cannot yoI
think of me always as you see me now
Ricardo-as you saw me frst2 The peoplt
are passing the hospital gates in crowds,
she went on turning and looking through
the window; 81 expect fuller house thar
we ever had in England. 1t is for you
sake, Signor."
Il wish I thought So" said very ear
nestly; 81 wish l did not know they o,
to see your wild and daring leap, Ninette
| How terrible 1t will be TO witness--io
those who love your
She laughed low, quick laugh, but di,
not turn to me.
You are thinking of Captain Attendant
dare say, Ricardo But you need not
for have never spoken to him since tn
night you-fell; and never shall agaln
A wild, proud JOY sprang up in m,
heart. "Ninette," cried, my darling
turn your face to me. l am so helples
here, and shall 30 soon lose the face love
Come to me for these few precious mo
ments."
Very gently she came mp to me, and lai,
her cool hand on my forehead.
She bent her head, and as laid m,
weak fingers on the soft curls, one dee
sob shook the little kneeling figure, bu
when she rose her eyes were very brigh
behind their glistening iashes. She di,
not say word of farewell to me. Wit
a strange, brave, struggling smile, whic
would have vanished with q word. sh
hesitated a moment; her cheeks flushing
aud her lips wistfUl Then quite sudden
ly, with Just the slight gesture with whic
she acknowledged the plaudits Of tn
crowd, she left me.
lay and listened as the carriages role
past the Inirmary gates; and presently
across the river, I could hear our owl
band strike up merrily. Icould follow i
fancy the whole performance as lay wit
the programme before me, and the well
known airs to guide me. At last. with
quickened beating of my heart, felt tha
the time WIS come for Ninettes appear
ance knew the very tune with whic
the band woald greet her All there
was; but drowned almost in loud pro
longed applause Then-knowings she wa
performing lay there quIvering in ever
limb.
It was just as one of the hospital ply
sicians and nurse came into my room
that great shout rose on the other sid
of the river, and rolled joyously across t
me- My blood burned IN my veins.
That is to greet her after her leap"
said, speaking aloud and rapidly in m
intense relief. THANK God: it is over.
"I, too, am glad il is over" said th
physician gravely. such a feat shoul
never have been attempted"
"And yet every one has gone to see 1t,
Unanswered passionately, as the nurs
turned my pillow "Why did they en-
courage her?'
} "Such things would be done in an,
case" he answered, "at least we Judge so
though perhaps we do not try it; for cer
tainly every one has gone to see this lea
tonight; all our own household, lik
every one else's. Yet how can we hel
disappearing such dangerous act. pei
: formed too by young and beautiful girl
whose life must be one long temptatio
TO display-if to nothing wcrse2"
"ListenP' I cried, in sudden terror
pushing away the nurse. and starting u
with painting breath. "Did the band sto
then-suddenly? Hark it is all silent
I remember faltering incoherent appeal