The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-22

loyal person had been permitted to see.
Little Jarvis thought of this, and a
brilliant idea entered his head.
wonder if / could place it where
we hung the portrait of the king2"
thought the boy. l am sure / could
fix it there, if l could but get into the
theater, for it seems to be the same
size as the kings picture"
With Jarvis to think was to act. In
a brief time, therefore, the portrait of
General Washington had been lifted
from its peg on the wall, and Jarvis had
carefully wrapped it in paper for trans
mission to the hall. AS the magician
had given him key to the stage en-
trance, he had no difficulty in getting
into the house, and then with the
greatest care he changed the portraits,
hiding the kings picture in dark, I'M
used room.
" l don't know what the great officers
will say, but am sure the handsome
young major will laugh heartily over
the trick-and if they should attempt
to punish me he will come to the res
cue," thought Jarvis, as he waited for
night in the rooms of the magician.
When they went to the theater to pre-
pare for the evenings entertainment,
however, he could not repress feeling
of anxiety as to the success OF his trick.
Never before had the monsieur been
confronted with such a brilliant COM
pany. All over the house and in the
boxes we're scarlet uniforms, and Jar
Wis, peeping through little rent in the
curtain, singled out the well-kuown
officers he had seen at the head of the
Hinnto "a nd In ha
former occasions.
When the curtain rose Monsieur Par
bleau came forward and made his obei-
sance to the people. The little ma
gician looked his best as he stood be-
fore the footlights bowling with his hand
on his bosom to the assembly. His
moustache had been carefully waxed,
and he was as neat and trim as new
pin. Jarvis went through with the
parts assigned him by Monsieur Par
bleau much to the little mans satisfac-
ton. The boy saw that Major Andre
was in his seat, dressed in the brilliant
regimentals Of his rank, and he noted
how keenly the young officer was en-
joying the juggler's performances.
Half alarmed lest his trick should
be discovered at the last moment, little
Jarvis grew impatient for the closing
scene. More than once, when he was
not noticed by his master, he glanced
up among the rigging overhead and
saw that the picture of the commander
of the American armies was still in
place.
"Now for the last great trickl" whis-
pered Monsieur Parbleau, as he came
to the boy. ave will shoot the por-
trait of King George from the pistol,
and the officers will shake the house
with their cheers"
We shall see," thought the boy, as
he went to his place and laid his hand
on the cord, while Monsieur Parbleau,
with triumph on his face, took up the
trick pistol and walked out upon the
stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he,
with one of his pretty bows, Eve shall
now show you how the portrait Of King
George can be fred from pistol by no
one but your obedient servant, Mon
sieur Parbleau.
I" His majesty's portrait will take the
place of the STAR" continued Monsieur
Parbleau raising the pistol and leveling
it at the target. keep your eyes on
the star, for the pistol will fasten the
kings portrait to the canvas where it
now Shines"
Suddenly the report of the magician's
pistol rang through the house, and the
stage for moment was obscured by
smoke.
The picture was in place, and mon
sieur was DO wing triumphantly to the
people, who packed the house from pit
| to domel
But not cheer came from the seats.
The British officers had changed color
and were looking daggers at both the
Frenchman and the picture, which had
apparently been shot from the trick
weapon into the place of the star.
The magician, unconscious of the
wondering transposition, was still bow
ing to the people with all his native
grace aud enthusiasm.
"D)wn with the rebel jugglerl'' rose
from all sides of the house, as many
officers stood up, wildly gesticulsting.
'Dowa with the French ally in Phila-
delphiar'
A thousand hands seemed to be
pointing toward the center of the back
curtain, and at last the frightened ma
gician turned that way himself.
Aud what did he see?
Where he expected to behold beau
tiful portrait of the British king hung q
handsome print of General Washing
ton.
The little magician changed color
and fell back with cry. 1t was greater
magic than he had ever attempted.
Some of the officers, deeming the
whole thing good joke, were applaud
ing the cleverness of the trick, while
others were indignant. If little Jarvis
had remained long enough on the scene
to have taken good look, he would
have seen among the former the face
Of the dashing young major wreathed
in smiles.
Monsieur Parbleau recovered in q
few moments, but not until several OF
the indignant officers were about to re-
move the portrait by force. He dashed
among them, tore the picture down
and rushed behind the stage with it,
As he did so, he caught sight of boy
. vanishing down the back stairs toward