The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-12-21
l shook my head slowly. ''Never again,
Ninette"
"Why?" she asked in feigned astonish-
ment

81 shall never walk again anywhere,
think, Ninette; certainly not on the vi
brating wire I know | must be abe
lame all my lite; and I'm trying, as l lie
here, to get accustomed to the thought,
and to feel PREPARED"
"No nor" she cried quickly. Don't
try to get accustomed to it. Ricardo. Try
to think Of getting well, and that will
help you to do son
"NNill it Then will try,n answered,
struggling with my sadness. ''When do
you leave here p'
Leave here? o, don't know. Not
till you are well, | should think Why
Ricardo she added, as | smiled incredu-
lousy, '''don't you know that tonight we
are all going to perform for your benefit
You've not heard, you say Why, what
has Monsieur found TO talk to you about,
then, for he talks to me Of nothing else?
l wish l have brought you one of the
enormous bills, headed 'Ricardo's Bene-
fit" in letters rs large as myself. You
always were fond Of reading your own
name in the bills, weren't you?"
"Yes-with yours" / answered. intent
| ly Watching the bright face
"Well, you would have seen mine, toe,
to-day, in letters almost larger, for Pm
going to-ride.'
'Of course | answered, with a faint
smlle, while | wondered & little at the
udden change in her voice ''NNhat au-
dience would there he if YOU did not,
Ninette 9''
None" she laughed. You must
wish me success before I 60 away. But
here's Monsieur come to dismiss me. I've
been telling Signor Ricardo" she added,
| as the manager joined us, "varous par
ticulars of MS benefit. How very willing
we all give our services How all the
town is patronizing us"
'And did she tell YOU asked Mon
sieur, with q pleased and excited look,
chow offered to double the price Of adj
mission if any one would promise nov
city? and how she herself Immediately
proposed to perform her Moorish feat :?
| I'll show you one Of the handbills Here
it is; Mile, Ninette, the equestrian
queen, on her magnificent steed Black
Hawk, wills
80, no. no you must not let her,"
exclaimed III hasty fear. ''Oh! Mon
sieur, it is most rash and dangerous"
Monsieur smiled as he put the handbill
| back into his pocket, and Ninette arose
with yeXed glance across at him
''Do forbid her TO do this" I cried
again.
"AIlle. Ninette is such q superb horse
woman" the manager said, ''that if she
feels she can accomplish it safely and
brilliantly, l feel it too. And it will make
to-night's performance an unrivalled sue
cess. She has done it before you know :;
and . gorgeous and unprecedented tri-
umph If was"
at is It willful risk Of life,' faltered
the tears starting in my weakness. II
shall be miserable" "
Il shall not" laughed Monsieur ris-
ing. Il have too much confidence in
! Ninette'
! "Don't think about it at all. Ricardo, :"
Ninette said, giving me her hand as she
prepared to leave. Il should never have
told you myself because | know how in
valids worry themselves about the safest
and most triiiing things | have made
up my mind 10 do it, and Black Hawk un-
| derstands that same entirely
"Oh do not venture it, Ninette,n
whispered. appealing to her in bitter earn
estness. Say you will not
| "No-for | must,n she answered, laugh
ing lightly, though She spoke with odd.
| steady quiotnoa9.
Then / covered my eyes with my feeble
| hands, and let the tears low ON.
Il shall come in and see you before the
performance" Ninette said after little
dismal pause. "Will YOU, Ninette ?"
asked eagerly, As battled with my cow
ardice. '.WilI YOU come III Just us you
/ go?''
Il hardly know about that" she an
swered with a quaint shy smile.
| Monsieur had left the room then, and
Ninette was standing opposite me, about
to follow
"Ninette," said, slowly, rs I toasted
my eyes on her sweet face, "when [ saw
you first you wore an old black habit
quite rusty, | remember; and you had Il
hat in your hand, with long scarlet
plume almost touching the ground. And
| however | have seen you since, you have
always been to me rs you were that day
and you always will be, dear"
81 remember that Old velvet habit" she
laughed. 1T is a superannuated article
now; and-what did you think of me
then, Ricardo? ?'
''Just what | think now
She laughed again, but her step was
soft and lingering when she left me.
Until evening | lay and thought of her I;
picturing the beautiful little figure that
would come to me in its gorgeous theatri-
cal dress. The twilight glded slowly in
to my silent room, and then | lay and list
ened breathlesslv, for [ knew she must
come soon now. Yet so noiselessly she
entered at last my waiting ears could
scarcely catch the light step. Without a
word she shut the door behind her. Then
she stood looking at me her red lips
parted with an irrepressible smile. and
her eyes brimming over with fun. But
she was clad in no gay, unusual dress
she stood there holding up in one hand
the old black habit; from the other dang
led the little hat with its scarlet plume :;
and her head was only crowned with its
| bright, fair curls.
"Ninette.'' I said, breaking my Won
dering silence, "seeing you so, / feel as if,
through all the years that lie helpless, |
could dream that you have been to me all
that l wildly dreamed you might be when
| saw you for the first time. Thank YOU
for coming as you are; but you will have
to change your dress again, you ride in
such different costume"
The color rushed to her cheeks, and her
eyes grew hot and dark
Eyes, very different; but cannot you
think of me always as you see me now,
Ricardo-as you saw me first? The peo-
pie are passing the hospital gates in
crowds she went on turning and looking
through the window; I expect a fuller
house than we ever had in England. tits
for your sake, Signor.n
~ wish | thought So" l said very
earnestly; II wish | did not know they
90 to see your wild and daring leap,
Ninette. How terrible it will be to wit
ness-for those who love you.'
She laughed low, quick laugh, but did
not turn to me.
You are thinking of Captain Attendant,
7 dare say, Ricardo But you need not,
for | have never spoken to him since the
night you-fell and | never shall again. p"
A wild, proud Joy sprang up in my
heart. ''Nmette," cried, "my darling,
turn your face to me. | am SO helpless
here, and shall so soon lose the face I
love. Come to me for these few precious
moments"
Al