Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-16
THE BELLE ROULETTE.
by JULES VERNE.

of years. The lapse of time had sufficed
| to turn the hotel into another as to name.
to change it's street number. But the
hotel itself remained, and in the damp old
house where others would have found
colds and rheumatism, he began to find
again the sunshine of youth. Feeling 30
much younger. he started out for walk
| along the streets. Firmly clutching his
pocketbook, he made his way through the
thronging people, pushed, jostled and
crowded as he tried to linger in order to
gaze Mt the unwonted sights. At last
WEAKNESS overcame him, and he return
ed to his hotel and a heavy, dreamless
sleep.
The next morning was Sunday. He felt
| strong desire to seek out his prodigal
son, and deliver to him the sermon sketch
ed out during his journey: Unhappy
boy, have you considered the depths" etc,
etc. He had the discourse upon his lips,
| and he wished to get it over. But no; he
must first see the adversary against whom
his paternal authority was to contend; he
must see Mile. Napoleona Cascabel. This
was the day after the one in which we
found the Cascnbel Circus in a suburb of
the city, with Ned telling Leona of the
letter he had written to his father. That
| same evening Jonathan Harley wendell
his way to the place where the Belle Rou-
lette stood. He got there late, but in time
to see the conclusion of the performance,
which consisted of Leona's feats on the
tight rope. She was so pretty and grace
full that he felt inclined to pardon his son
any weakness which he might have for
this creature--that is anything short of
marriage. He began to understand the
case. He even applauded wildly, violent
ly. furiously. His excitement grew SO
great that ut last his neighbors began to
object, and q disturbance ensued, in the
course of which he was notified that his
continued presence in the crowd could be
purchased only Mt the price of tranquility.
When the show came to an end he was
very loath to 60. and instead of departing
with the last of the spectators, he loitered
in the vacant plot of ground. He was
meditating. Having seen the siren who
threatened his sons happiness, would it
not be better also to speak to her, to ex-
postulate, implore, in behalf of the mis-
guided boy. who certainly could not be
aware of the depths of the abyss into
which he was plunging. "Who could be
aware of it," thought the lenient parent,
when the girl is SO pretty?''
Harley had gone thus far in his reason
ing when figure in gauze skirts emerged
from the van to the canvas-sided stage.
The lights were out, but he at once recog-
nized LeOna-Or thought he did, but he
was mistaken, for it really was Pierre in
his costume as one of ''the Cascabel Sis
ters," whom Harley had not seen to-
gether. The path now seemed clear for
his expOstulation and exhortations, and
he braced himself for the ordeal
II have come to Frisco expressly to
speak to you about Ned" he began blunt
". II should like to converse with you
for few minutes. 1t is exceedingly i'm
portant."
The supposed young lady began to grin,
and falsetto voice said: ITO converse
with me? You must be joking. Are you
in earnest?"
"Most earnest, indeed"-and in fact
Jonathan Harley's face and voice absolv-
ed him from any attempted Righteousness.
Pierre understood at last that he had
been mistaken for Leona and he burst out
into ringing laugh. "Oh, well, what's
the odds? Come along. If you want to
take me out to get a supper, you may: for
I'm just starved. Then we can talk"
Harley did not finch. 1t was a rapid
friendship, but it surely behooved him to
get acquainted with prospective daugh-
ter-in-law. "All right" he said, I'm fetch
a carriage while you are changing your
Dress
Pierre laid a finger warningly on his
lips, and by a gesture indicated that the
escapade must not be known to the in
~ h. ss,k~ L. -
peared. A quarter of an hour later they
were seated in cab and rolling toward
the central part of San Francisco. They
alighted at the entrance to the Aurifera
restaurant.
Pierre exclaimed: "Ah! here we are
could eat an elephant, I'm SO hungry"
This circus girls manners were certain
ly somewhat eccentric, but at least she
was frank. When she was hungry she
said so. and the Mormon could not re-
strain his pity for the young lady who
was SO reduced by starvation that she
could dine off an elephant. He did not
excuse Ned; no, certainly not: but he could
understand the situation.
As Jonathan Harley entered the bril-
liantly lighted restaurant he could not
help feeling little abashed> at his own
reflection in the shining mirrors. Sup
pose his Salt Lake friends were to see
him walking along after the young person
who had just been dancing on tight
rope in an outdoor show? Bah! they
would want to be in his place. Besides,
he was doing it solely for Ned's sake At
all events. his friends were safe in their
beds at home. The menu puzzled him.
but his companion was evidently at home
in culinary language, for he ordered the
repast with great ease. He really enjoy
ed sitting there and watching her eating;
yes, devouring everything that came in
her way. She had made no mistake about
her appetite. She was certainly hungry,
for she ate with knife, fork, spoon and
fingers. Now that he saw her close by,
and under strong light, she seemed less
delicately pretty than the rope dancer
who had looked SO ethereal in the show.
Besides, her voice lapsed into tones that
were hardly girlish. However. Pierre
had learned to fairly initiate his sisters
poses and gestures, and, helped by the
fact that the women of Salt Lake do not
abound in gentle graces, his imposture
was safe one. Harley was charmed.
His heart ached for Ned, as he thought
Of the part which he must play. But
there was no immediate hurry; let the
vsr1 hou hos To-,