Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-07-05
ZETTE.

She was pretty girl, not very large,
with fair complexion and long black
hair that she let float about her during
her consultations, though ordinarily she
wore it in a loose coil upon the nape Of
a neck that was perfect.
Never having done much work, her
hands were delicate and well shaped.
She was enough Of a coquette to wish to
keep them SO. She had finely modelled
form, and to have seen her simply dress
ed in some quiet color, with the gait of
a wise little workwoman, one would
never have suspected her strange calling.
Her mother, Nine. Floury was as lit
tie like others Of her class as her daugh-
ter. About her there was nothing in
common with the shrews who frequent
fairs in red dresses and soiled skirts
She had the air Of little merchant who
was good and proper, with winning,
honest smile, and people stopped before
the carriage and even entered there
without thinking of the charlatanism
on the posters) in order to see the interi-
or of this small dwelling that smelled
SO sweet.
The vehicle was painted brown, with
thread of gold running the lengths Of
the plinths. There was a tiny balcony
i'll front of it, and ON this balcony con-
volvulus and nasturtium vines, planted
in boxes, twined about wires up to the
roof, where they clustered in bright hued
punches.
Along the route persons stared in
amazement at this queer coach all COW
cred with garlands Of flowers.
The two women were always together,
but associated very little with their
neighbors. They were not proud, and
having the best of hearts were the first
to offer to care for a sick child or to
give to others in distress, Indeed the
foreigners who knew them well loved
them sincerely, even though they did
feel somewhat oppressed by what they
termed "their grand manners.
There was, however, some one who
was all devotion to Zette and her mother.
It was young gymnast Of two and
twenty in a.large travelling circus that
had very nearly the same itinerary as
Nine. Floury. His name was Jacques,
but on the playbills they spelled it Jack.
He was exceedingly handsome and of no
common type. There was fire in his eyes
and much intelligence in his smile.
There was, too much tenderness in this
same smile, especially when he spoke to
Zette. His love for this pretty brunette
so unlike any other woman he had
seen about him in his wandering life
was very sincere.
Near her he felt himself quite another
man to what he was in the circus There
was such all atmosphere of honesty sur
rounding Zette that his own manners,
when with her, were altogether different
from what they had been, and he was
astonished at how well they became him.
Then, too, be had dreamed of being
loved by this sweet girl and Of never
being separated from her. Their posi-
lions accorded admirably. His salary
was good, and some day perhaps he
might enter one Of the great circuses of
Lyons OF Paris. 1t would be charming
to find SO sweet little wife awaiting
his coming after his work was done.
He had often spoken to Zetto of these
plans. He loved her so dearly that it
could not be possible she did not love
him at least little.
Zette always listened silently, visibly
touched by what she heard, and he
thought each time she would say "Yes,"
but when he had finished by asking, with
such pleading in his eyes, ''Will you be
my wife, zette?" she replied very grave
", ''No.
Then Jacques would be astonished
Why not? Could it be that she did not
believe him when he said he loved her;
that she had no confidence In him; that
she did not love him?
eyes, I love you," Zette answered
sweetly, "but ] do not wish to marry
you
And she would never say why.
One day, however, Nine. Fioury
blamed her for refusing the hand of this
brave lad.
"Listen, mother" she said. IT adore
Jacques, and I believe shall always re-
main single because I do not wish to
marry him. Do you remember the Gay
when we went together to the circus? /
saw as we entered how all the women
who were there turned their lorgnettes
toward him, and afterward they smiled
and talked about him and tried to at
tract his attention by applauding him.
ought perhaps to have been proud te
think that this man whom they all want
ed loved me, and that [ had only to say
the word to be his wife, All, well, i'll
my heart there was nothing but jealousy.
I wanted to tear the lorgnettes away
from those women. From what ] suffer
ed that evening I understood how much
more I might suffer if we were married.
No, that cannot be. He is too handsome.
See? Suppose some day, when he had
grown tired of me, one of those women
should take him from me. I would die
surely. You know now, mother, why l
cannot say yes. %
But Notwithstanding this obstinate re-
fusal, which he could not explain, jacques
came every day. He no longer mention
ed the subject to Zette, understanding
that he was contending against fixed
resolve, except once when he said to her;
"You will not have me, Aette. aud
do not wish any other woman. Some
day, though, you may change your mind,
and then you need only hold out your
hand and say to me, Let us be married,
and it will make me happy. -
So after thus simply settling the affair
Jacques was like brother i'll the house.
1t was he who in the springtime plant
ed the seeds i'll the boxes upon the little
balcony. 1t was he who twined the ten
drills about the wires, and it was he who
at all seasons furnished the gilded porce-
lain vases that held the flowers.
These flowers were a great luxury to
Zette
This state Of things did not long con
tlnuc, however. The young girl was
now 20 and Jacques 26. One evening he
presented his friends with tickets to the
circus. TWAS the last day of a long con-
t1nued fair, and Zette and her mother