The National tribune., 1896-05-21

pretty, caressing Arabian word, and all at
once she stnod before Pierre Pomerio. who
had also risen. AS her soft, dark gaze met
his blue eyes, ah how he l0nged to snatch
| her in his arms and tear her from this
| booth. He stared at her tiny ears. pink as
the shells he gathered on the beach at home,
her lovely face, her sweetly- -perfumed hair,
aud stood for a moment speechess tremb-
ling with emotion. This fairy was unlike
those he had heard of, for she was prettier,
thousand times prettier, when seen close by :
She began 10 laugh, and, without sneak
ing, shook her tambourine as though to say :
Very well-bnt what next?"
Ah-true! Everybody had given her
something.
Pierre fumbled in his pockets at hazard,
gathering SONS, silver, all the change he
could find, and let his iistfull fall into her
receptacle. There was q chihking sound as
the copper pieces rolled against the silver
Kadja blusbed q little, smiled, and said
"Oh,"
Then in French, with her fresh, sweet,
infantine voice, she added - Did you mean
to give me the heart, too?"
Heart? What do you mean 2"
Pomerio looked down and saw that with
the money he had brought up, like a big
fish in a netful of shrimps, the heart of Jer-
sey grauite-the heart bought for he didn't
know whom, Marie, Jeanne, Anne, or Liley,
and had let it fall into the tambourine by
ACCIDENT Bah never could the Jersey
heart find sweeter restihg-place than over
the white bosom, now wearing the necklace
of seGuins, hali-revealed between the part
ing of her silken yellow vest.
Yes" stammered Pierre Pomerio. white
fn tho line - 10 hparf nj
Kadia's black eyes flashed bright CO.
quettish look into his own as she said very
sweetly: THANK you, thank you Mon
sieur."
Already she was far from him, holding
out her tambourine to others, but he stood
there still, following her with his eyes He
was bewildered, excited by the pretty
glance and gentle thank you" As he
heard the copper coins falling, he murmured:
Give her what money you please, / have
given her something better. | have given
her the heart 1 bought at the King street
bazaar"
Aud lie did not regret bestowiug this
princely gift on the daughter of an Emr,
who had not always had to support herself
by dancing in public.
Ladies' and gentlemen, 1 have the honor
of thanking you," said the manager. bowling
The audience dispersed. Everybody had
gone, excepting Pierre Pomerio, who still
fingered watching Kadja, who was counting
her money aud seemed to have forgotten
him. Yet she threw him q look out of the
corner of he; eye as he at last withdrew.
He glanced up at the clear sky, admired
the moonlight over the ships in port, and
resumed his aimless walk, his mind solely
occupied By the memory of this lovely dancer.
l. baI haauti f,,l III
winning. What asweet expression she wore
as she said "And the heart also?"
Why! his money, his love, all lie possessed
he would willingly have flung down before
her! He was glad he had not given away his
fine Sheffield knife, but if she had wanted
it, he wOuld have given it to her willingly
as he had given her the heart of Jersey
granite; and her gentle thank youi" rang
in his ears, her wonderful eyes hanted him !
and her lovely neck, white as fairy-spun
linen. She must be q fairy this Kadja, |
fairy or q princess, or perhaps q fairy |
princess, such as Yam had told of, who |
sometmes-like the fairy of Crehen-mar- |
ried a gentleman, or like the fairy of the |
rocks who married soldier. To wed Kadja |
and take her home with him, oh! what |
happiness. Then he scOlded himself for |
his presumption. "What are you thinking |
of? the daughter OF an Emir! Haye you |
left your wits in yonder booth?"
Wits? 1t was not only his head! "and |
the heart also?"
On and on he went and back again and |
as though drawn by fate found himself once |
more before the booth which looked dull |
with all the lights out.
At least not all; there was just one glim- |
mering like spot of oil through the green |
tent back of the theater whence also he |
heard voices Pierre approached softly, for
he had recognized the voice of Kadja.
To think that she was there behind that |
canvas and that he might once more see the |
daughter Of the Emir! He was close enough |
to hear what they were saying; could |
he believe it? They were talking of him.
Then she remembered him as he did her |
She was saying: He was really nice-look-