The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-12-22
JEANNE'S SMILE.

were sitting in the Park Monceau talk
ing in the shade.
"You say you have found me very nice
well that is all right, but afterward" -
well, afterward, my dear Jeanne,
what else could | think except that l
love you and you will return my
Lowell
THAT Is all very we'll" she inter
rupted; "but 50 far have lived an honest
girl and intend to continue so. "
All this was said with the utmost good
humor and good faith, without the least
prudery or affectation and with a smile
that disclosed the most adorable teeth.
Antoine-I have not yet told you ms
name-was the neighbor OF Jeanne. lie
was very much in love with her, winch
was not astonishing, rs she was very al
tractive, with the most irresistible smile
and teeth 50 beautiful, indeed, that An
tome had never forgotten them since the
first frugal breakfast when he had seen
the young girl biting peach. At the
same time | am obliged to say that he
had ever thought of marrying her, for he
was somewhat ambitious, young, indie
pendent aud counted upon marriage In
the future accompanied by good round
dot, which Jeanne could not bring him.
She was a fine workwoman, earning good
wages in fashionable store, but nothing
more.
After the interview which | have re-
lated Antoine, although always obliging
and amiable, became more reserved i'll his
intercourse with the young girl. Both OF
them, in fact, held themselves on the de-
fensive she did not appear to wish to
marry any more than he, so they remained
simply good friends.
One day however, she announced to him
that she was going to leave Paris she
had brother who had long been estab-
lished in America and he wished her to
come out and join him. Antoine was
somewhat annoyed at this intelligence,
as he had become so accustomed to their
Sunday talks.
When the day Of departure came he ac-
companied her to the railroad station and
then returned, not without a feeling OF
regret, though at the same time he TOOK
her departure very coolly, saying to him
self: "Perhaps it is all for the BEST" that
little romance begun like this rarely
had serious denouement.
But one never knows when he is really
involved, and he consoled himself for the
past by dreaming of the future Never
lItltSS, uc COultl llob SO Cdoiy AOASSu hN'
first fancy.
More than year had passed since the
departure of Jeanne, and her old neigh
Dor thought he was on the point of sue
cess, for he had been introduced into an
honorable family, authorized to pay his
court to the daughter of the house. She
was dark and did not resemble Jeanne in
the least. However, as to that, he had
Of tbot,rht ~ n ar drpu pd nf maxi inc
the comparison, the past seemed so far
away.
This was the way matters stood when
one fine morning he stopped astounded
before Il wall on which was stuck great
beautiful bill, upon which good
draughtsman had drawn the charming
head of young girl with an enchanting
smile and exquisite pearly teeth. 1t was
the head of Jeanne-there could be no
doubt of it--and above 1t in great red
letters one could read:
.................. ...... ...........
THE BEST DENTRIFICE IN THE WORLD.
TIE TOOTH POWDER OF
ROBINSON, JR.
Antoine went nearer-the bill bore the
name of New York printing house.
Then it was over there in America that
they had taken Jeanne's portrait, and
this portrait was used to advertise the pro-
ducts of an industrial exotic.
at is very stupid" said Antoine to
himself; but he could not keep from gaz-
ing at the portrait and saying she was
very pretty.
AS the new bill attracted a great deal
OF attention, Antoine was compelled to
listen to the comments upon her beauty,
as il the opinion of such boobies amounted
to anything.
This day his fiancee did not appear 80
attractive, and he discovered that she had
two crooked teeth, which he had not
noticed before; however he would give II
no attention, as incisors did not constitute
happiness. He even reproached himself
for the impression Jeanne's portrait had
made upon him, saying at would pass
off next day" But the next lay and
many days following it it was the same
thing.
The firm of Ro' inson, Jr., advertised
reaine'-incessant, persistent
advertising, taking all shapes and cover.
ing all places. The most careless eye
coulthnot avoid seeing them.
At the door of the Tobacco shops, in all
the omnibus bureaus and wine shops was
the same smiling head and the same bill
stretched out. Then it was the turn OF
the papers; on all the fourth pages plate
appeared, an imperfect reproduction, il
was true, of the colored bill, still suffi
GENTLY strong to more than recall the
memory of Jeanne. 1t became q perfect
craze-an aggravation-and ut last an in
cident occurred which heaped to the full
Antoine's measure of irritation.
One evening at the house of his f1ancee
q little nephew, the spoiled darling of the
house, amused himself playing with some
empty boxes covered with the brilliant
pictures, and these boxes had contained
1.-THE best Dentifrice in the World-thG
Dentifrice Of Robinson, Jr.," the portrait
of Jeanne with that eternal smile always
the beautiful ornament on the top. An
tome could control himself no longer
with movement of impotence he sent the
boxes here and there. The child began
to cry; the young girl took the part of the
child; the father took the part of the
young girl and as Antoine, his nerves
I'LL on edge, promptly replied to this
weeping family. the discussion grew no.
and ended in n grand quarrel.
There was no marriage, and, thinking
It over, Antoine, though little vexed
could not prevent himself from saying
"These people were bad tempered, and
doubtless he had made happy escape
Under the influence Of all these Incl
dents he finally determined to leave Paris
He would go and rent little hut In the
oltskirts Of the city; there he would re
gain his tranquility and at least avoit
seeing the papers. He would walk in the
fields or the woods and for intellectual
amusement play "Gpp and ball"
just in front Of the house which hi
rented there was great white wal
whose reflections had frequently annoyed
him. One day he saw some workmen
suspend from it n scaffold and begin to
cover the wall with coat of blue. This
did not distress Antoine in the least-it
would be softer for the eyes. Then after
they had worked some time, ascending
and descending the movable bridges OF
the scaffolding, they outlined with chalk
something very difficult to distinguish at
such distance.
At last, however, q painter came with
his pots Of colors, and Antoine, interested
and curious, saw him little by little de-
sign gighntic head; this head became
blonde, with smiling mouth and pearly
teeth, and above it in golden letters the
name of Robinson, Jr., shone forth to all
observers. 1t was Jeanne again-always