Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-01-13


Ply medium was arrived at, and with many
bushes suiiusing her countenauce Susan dis
patched ria the postoffice her first communi-
cation to Herr kiddini. The next thing was
10 obtain the consent Of Mrs. yobhins that
they might spend the evening together, be-
Cause Susan declared she wouldn't 60 with
out cook, and the latter wouldn't accept the
ticket for herself and a friend on any account
whatever. Although it was awkward for both
to be out on the same evening, Mrs. Us con-
sent was won, and in the brightest of bon-
nets and warmest Of cloaks the two girls
went TO see the pantomime in which Herr
Kiddini took such an active part. Prosperity
had not shed its golden rays upon the theater
OF late and there was plenty OF paper" to
be had, so that when Susan and cook took
their seats in the stufy upper boxes and
looked around them they were not so dis
concerted as might have been the ease If
money and not orders" had prevailed. The
pantomime was played first that evening, so
that the girls were not kept long
upon the tenter-books OF expectancy.
The "opening" seemed rather long; but
there is an end To everything. and AT
length the lamps were lowered for the
Carpenters scene,n which was TO usher in
the glories Of the transformation. The usual
bevy Of fairies appeared suspended in the air,
there were the customary banks of impossi-
BILE flowers and the usual combination Of COL
harlequin dress bounded upon the stage. the
very perfection OF grace and agility-at least
so whispered Susan to cook, who nodded
afiirmatively- throughout the rest OF the
performance he was 10 them the only object
ofinterest. The merry sallies OF the clown,
the senile observations OF the rantaloon the
feats OF the apparently homeless spriies, the
red hot poker and the spirited rally were
in their eyes mere adjuncts TO the dancing OF
Kiddini and only gone through in order that
he might have an interval vf rest. Susan en-
Wed the active young person who appeared
as Columbine, and began to think that dane
ing with Herr Kiddini must be the greatest
pleasure life could afford. But just when
the "comic business" seemed at It's height
the green baize dropped upon taoleau OF
which their hero, supporting the columblne
on his knee with one hand, was the princi-
pal figure, and the pantomme was at an end.
Cook had barely time to comment upon the
" loneliness" Of the performance when Susan
felt gentle tap upon her shoulder, and,
looking round, recognized the friend by
whom she had been introduced to Kiddini.
"You amt going for TO stop for the drama,
are YOU! Kiddiai said he'd sent you order,
and he gave me one, too Liza (the speakers
wife) Is outside the boxes, and we're of, be-
cause Kiddini said he'd come round and have
bit Of supper with us. You'd better come,
too
The girls looked at each other, and then be.
gan TO compare opinions. The friends house
was down a news, within a stones throw OF
their masters, and as perhaps las Susan sug-
gested) the drama might turn out 10 be a
stupid thing, they decided to leave the thea
ter with their friend. The chief indueement
with both Susan and cook, however, was
that there was a probability OF hlddinl par
taking Of supper with tkem.
Their hopes In this respect were not disap-
pointed. The great man arrived at their
friends house almost as soon AS they did, and
made a very hearty supper, ana was more
agreeable and talkative than usual. As II by
"A preconcerted movement Susan suddenly
found herself alone with the harlequin, and
ere her friends re-entered the room she had
become engaged" TO him, and had promised
TO become bis bride in the following July,
six months hence.
How long Kiddini took TO declare his passion
is q moot point. Susan declared they were not
alone more than five minutes, and that Otto's
confession burst upon her like bombsheli
but cook averred that the arrangement took
more than half an hour to settle.
That night Kiddini saw the girls home,
and the sharp ears OF the cook detected the
sound Of a kiss while she was descending the
area-steps, leaving Susan to follow.
After this occasion more "orders' came,
and Susan found frequent opportunity OF
meeting her Otto, whom, as she confidently
informed the trusty cook, "she loved more
and more every time she saw him." at which
synpathizing cook would give an approving
smile, and remark: "Yery natural, my dear"
Susan's conscience occasionally smote her
when che recalled her behavior to young
Perks, the grocer, who, cook said, 'felt her
conduct much, and was reduced TO skelin-
TOM for the little quarrel which had sepa'
rated them had really originated with her,
and though all was over between them, and
she was engaged 10 another, che could not
bear to think that she had caused him any
suffering. She often fancied she would have
liked to 90 round to his shop aud confess
herself In the wrong, but after consultation
with cook she came TO the conclusion that
such course OF proceeding might inspire
hopes In the young mans breast which could
never be fulfilled; so she resolved that matters
should remain as they were. Susan was Of
sensitive nature, and when the remark that
had been made by cook relative TO the man
ner I'm which Young Perks was "falling
away required TO her memory, 1t was with
difficulty she could restrain the tears that
dimmed the luster Of her black eyes. She
tried 10 think that professional OF the
rank Of q harlequin was much better match
than a small grocer, who had To stand behind
his counter from eight In the morning until
ten or eleven o'clock at night, with scarcely
opportunity to have comfortable meal dur
ing any portion of the day. Besides, as cook
said, Kiddini was a gentleman, as anyone
could see. and with his aristocratic bearing
and white hands, on one OF which massive
ring shone conspicuousIy, was NJ match
even for one OF their young ladies--aliuding
10 the Misses Jobbins, who, perhaps, would
not have felt fattered by the allusion; still,
on the other hand mot the harlequin's other
hand). there 10 time In the life VI spinister
when Il seems as though she would be will
ing TO marry anyone, and 1t must be con-
fessed this critical period was nigh at hand
with the Alderman's daughters.
During the early days OF their eourtship
kiddini was not the most attentive Of lovers,
and when tainted therewith replied that his
arduous exertiops at night rendered him al
most unit for society. However, when he
heard from their mutual friends wife In the
news that he really must paw more attention
to the vretty honsemaid or she would rebel,
and when his betrothed In cont ding mo-
ment showed him her sayingsbank book in
which she was credited with the possession
of 240 Herr Klddiui's affection received an
impetus, and he became AS ardent as could be
wished After the run of the pantomlme his
time was more his own, aud, as he informed
Susan, excepting the instruction OF few
daily pupils, he had really nothing 70 do
The stunted heritage OF the square was be-
ginning to give signs Of vitality, the trees had
already put forth their foliage, and troops OF
giggling nurse-gIls with their infantine
charges were 10 be seen perambulating the
praveled walks, when kiddini one evening,
sittinO alone with Susan in the little house