The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-18
AND JEAN
TOOK HIS VIOLETS BACK
TO THE COUNTRY

Jean Feret's face shone with pleasure as
he took his place in third class carriage
of the Paris train. He was in his Sunday
best; his blue blouse was stiff and clean;
his leather belt was brightly polished4 he
wore shoes. The occasion was too great
for sabots. He was going to Paris.
He waved CHEEKY 'goodby" to the bent
old peasant his father, who stood on the
platform.
God keep you, my SON" murmured the
old man as tho train moved oil.
Jean sighed happily, for in three short
hours he would be at Paris. And Paris
to Jean meant seeing his beloved Suzette,
who had gone there two years before to be
milliners apprentice.
Suzette and Jean were betrothed. She
had gone to Paris to earn some money OF
her own to go toward the home which was
to be theirs as soon as Jean made money
enough to build a cottage on his little plot
of ground. He had worked hard and been
very saving, Now the house was In readi-
ness. He was going to fetch Suzette.
How delighted she would be with the pref
ty matched cottage that was to be all their
own thought Jean, and how glad she
would be to leave the bustling, crowded
city for the pure, clean air of the country!
He had written her frequently while the
little house was being built, telling of all
it's PROJECTIONS, hut there was so much
more than he could we'll describe on paperl
How happy she would be to see it all for
herself, and how her big black eyes would
snap with joy
Jean smiled dreamily as he thought how
she looked two years ago when they had
said 'goodby"
1T will not be for long, you know"
she had whispered, seeing his eyes fill
with tears.
Jean raised the paper from pot Of field
violets he held carefully on his knee Su-
zette loved the violet above all flowers, and
no wanted these to be fresh for her as a
present.
At Rouen he got off to sprinkle them
with cool water.
Just before the train rolled into the
Care st. Lazare Jean opened his wallet
and took from it map Of Paris; then,
with straw, he carefully traced over it
the way to Suzette's house.
The noise and confusion of the great
streets wero SO bewilderng to Jean, in
Paris for the first time, that he was forced
to consult his map several times before he
reached the Rue Bleue
Suzette was not in, and he was told she
would not be at home until 6.
Jean stood staring stupidity at the con-
cierge who gave him this information.
Surely there was some mistake. He had
written he would come.
"Mademoiselle will not be home till g.
repeated the woman.
Jean turned away. His heart was
heavy. Such disappointment! Suzette
had not received his letter, else she GER
tanly would have been there to receive
him. And now he must wait so long, for
it was barely II o'clock
He wandered aimlessly about. The gay
streets and the shops did not attract him.
| At ! o'clock he sat down on a bench in
the Champs Elysees and ate roll he had
bought at one of the booths. He was very
tired The gendarmes had pushed hin
roughly across the streets Doubtless hi
had been awkward to get in tho way o
! the carriages, but everything was SO con
fusing.
He thought once more Of the peaceful
little home shaded by the poplar trees
How nice it would be to go back to it
And with Suzette!
A man on the next seat went away ant
left his newspaper. Jean picked it up. Il
was open at the amusement column
thought Jean as he read over the long list
Finally he read something which inter
ested him--the announcement of the Sa
lon. The Salon, he knew about that TO-
an artist had come to ST. Valery ono
when Jean was little boy and had paint
ed his picture and told him 1t would be pu
in the Salon. Jean had always been sorr.
he had been barefoot that morning, TO-
the painter wouldn't give him time to rul
home for his shoes.
He took out his map and studied tn
way to the Salon, which he found to b
unaccountably short. If he went to Sc
the pictures, the time of waiting would
not seem so long. That was comfort.
The beautiful rooms, lined with pic
lures, took his breath away. He had neve
seen anything so wonderful. He forgo
Suzette-he forgot everything. He me
many old friends. Here was the old Cha
teau Silleron, with the gardens, to tn
life. There was the beach at St. A ubin
and when he came upon the church a
Sotteville it looked SO natural Jean bowe
his head and made the sign of the cross.
Then there were some horrid pictures G
surgical operations, tho details rendere
with an exactitude that made Jean shud
der.
He went into one room where a grou
of men were excitedly discussing one {
the pictures. He caught scraps of thei
conversation.
1T is she in the flesh!"
"Ah, you know her that way, old MANI
Marvellous! Look at those eyes, tina
arm, that coloring! Superb Marcelin
fortune is made!'
Jean pushed nearer. He wanted to sc
this wonderful picture Suddenly he stoI
ped, his face coloress, his eyes riveted o
the canvas from which Suzette looked GU
Her golden hair was piled on top of hi
head and caught by diamond arrow; hi
black eyes were half closed; her red lily
were parted. She leaned against an azul
velvet curtain-an excellent setting Il
the slender form and wonderful white ski
In her hand was violet satin mask. A
her feet lay fading bouquet Of Russia
violets Such was the picture which mac
Maroelin famous throughout Europe.
Jean stood like a statue, his eyes ia
tened on her who had been his SuZett
Two smartly dressed men who saw hi
pudged each other and grinned.
AT last Jean turned away. He went o,
Into the noisy, glitterng streets.
That evening, when the St. Valery tral
left the Care, ST. Lazare, Jean sat in OF
of the third class carriages. His head W,
} bent forward on his breast. On his KIN
he still held the pot of violets. They we
faded, but what did it matter now?-Fro
the French For Aroonaut