The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05

and Remuneration from the cradle to the
present"
The heavy lids fell again hopelessly.
listlessly. The classic outline OF the sor-
rowful figure was superb.
And as she stood there before Breval
and Jancey, as though the fact of her
having given vent In words TO her
hitherto choked-up anguish had stir I'd
some forgotten spring in her breast, the
crystal drops began TO creep one by one
from beneath her long, thick eyelashes,
and slowly, like loose diamonds on white
velvet, course down the soft paIlor OF
her white cheeks on to the dull surface
Of her poor black gown.
Her beauty was so perfect. so unusual;
the simplicity of her unhidden. unbid-
den sorrow was so infinitely pathetic in
its majesty that she seemed TO those
East artists as to emotions, NM. Breval
and Jancey, the embodiment OF sorrow.
Ii she had posed as she stood thus for
statue OF woe Paris would have ac-
claimed her far and wide as the most
perfect monument Of sorrow OF the GEN.
fury.
Breval cleared his throat and de-
manded huskily, your price,"
Two hundred francs soiree. 1 have
played for less. but this Is Paris. i de-
sire the opportunity to make myself
known and heard
Jancey brought his hand down on his
knee with a resounding slap. Wen
have her and Serpolette together" he
shouted triumphantly. Joy and sor-
row. laughter and tears. comedy and
tragedy-'twill make living picture all
the world will come to see"
They handed her the contract to sign.
calling in a witness for that purpose.
She asked for ten days leeway. with a
request to take the contract with her
and look it over. They granted her re-
quest reluctantly. The door closed be-
hind her.
Two minutes afterward Breval and
Jancey heard a laugh which was as well
known to them as their office walls, as
their debts, as their past failures. A
laugh so birdlike, so joyous, so froiic-
some, so fraught with delicious mirth
and gayety, SO ringing with heartiness
and happiness and fun, and all the good
things of life that they smiled out loud
in sympathy and made rush stimuli
taneously for the door, lifting their ears
to the sound for more-the way human
nature always does when out or LIES
tragedy or comedy ripples the music or
unadulterated jollity.
This laugh was famous. 1t held an
abandon so complete. rapture so all
powerful its rhythm was so sweet, 1t
meant so much that was good and heart
felt, 1t contained possibilities of such alb
sorbing interest. 1t was chock full and
trimming over with such absolute gusn
and go. Peal after peal tumbled over
each other so merrily that Breval and
Jancey both chuckled.
Its Serpolette." gasped Breval.
'Serpolette," laughed Serpolette her
self as she pushed the door open from
the outside and sprang in between them
Over her arm was black dress. In
one hand she held the dark wig, in the
other the contract. The painted shadows
under her eyes were strangely at vari-
ance with her dimples.
The ripping, sunny waves of her hair
curled tighter than ever from the heat
of the wig just removed. Her face was
cleaning with mirth so intense. with
a triumph so hardly and earnestly won.
with the knowledge of a strange new
power felt and practiced for the first
time in public that she was absolutely
dazzling to look upon.
The tears were still wet on her cheeks.
Mes compliments, mademoiselle, said
Breval, shamefacedly; ''you have won
the day."
But Jancey stood, soberly regarding
her, with great awe in his face.
IF women can play at tears as well
as laughter like that" he was thinking,
what is the use of reality?'
He laid his hand heavily on Serpo-
lette's shoulder.
You have suffered" he demanded.
"Qui sait?" retorted SerDolette. mu-
tinously.