Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-05

cold, but we always preferred to suffe
for my grandmother sake. Nov
listen, monsieur. Little Annette acros.
the street, you love her. l have seer
so. She has heart as sweet as a MI
and as bonny face as ever the sun
shine kissed. If put these robes upo1
ner she will look like a grand dame
fit for monsieur's brush. She will be
fresh like the rose and as beautiful
She shall be monsieur's model and
will make his fortune"
That night when the sausage yendel
took in his stand, Annette, free as last
slipped across the road, and the ole
madam robed the girl in the ball gown
and tasted the soft, fluffy curls in a
knot high on her head with a quaint
tortoise shell comb. Wrapped in cloaks
the two stole down the street and en-
! tered the tall building. They threaded
their way among the dusty bags, scar
/ ing the silver-coated mice, and climbed
| the stairs to the artists studio.
When his eyes fell upon the vision OF
| loneliness madame presented to him
! they shOne with a new light. Love?
Well, part love and part artistic rap
| ture; but in either case Annette was
! the cause. The little French woman
clapped her hands and laughed joyfulIy.
did l not tell monsieur he should
see? Have [ not fetched him a worthy
modeI?"
Always during the sittings madame
sat decorously by knitting Industrious
ly, but keeping a sharp eye out, as be-
came chaperOn. Not the slightest
symptom of love-making escaped her.
The portrait grew beneath the brush
as if the very fairy of good luck had
| lent her very spell to the artist. Never
had his palette glowed with such colors
nor had such hitherto impossible tints
blossomed forth. Every detail of the
fresh young face became familiar to
him till at last from the canvas looked
forth the sausage vendors daughter in
the grand DANES robes, as beautiful as
the proudest lady in the land.
L can do no more sighed the artist
Then madame arose, and taking the
girl by the hand led her towards the
door.
Monsieur has no longer need OF u.s. -
she said. "Adieu."
But the artist would not have it so.
He pushed past the old Frenchwoman
and stood before the girl.
81 love you, Annette" he cried will
you not marry me?"
Tut, tut, said madame You must
/ 10 M 4
have no bold American manners here.
If he consents then Annette may think
of you. Come, Annette"
I 1t was indeed true; the madame had
/ brought good luck to the poor artist.
The portrait was sent to a picture
dealer. In less than week it was sold,
and orders had come through the
dealer enough to see the artist busy.
He went to thank the old French
woman.
''The good people like something
fresh" said madame. Monsieur might
Rave sat in his garnet and pinned and
been melancholy till he died. Good
luck would have none of him. One
must be brave and smile to win for
tune"
81 owe everything to you," said the
! grateful young man.
"Ah, true" returned madame, non
chalantly, but tell me, have you yet
won M. Laube2u's consent?"
Alas! He refuses me Annette's
hand. He will give no reason
1--WE must learn" said madame"
Leaning far out the window of her
tiny shop she beckoned frantically to
the sausage vender across the road. He
came, followed by Annette.
''Why is it M. Laubeau refuses his
daughter to the young monsieur who
loves her truly?" asked the French
woman.
Il could not get on without Annette, .
grumbled the old man; there would be
none to cry hot sausages."
True, true" said madame; "but
must the young people be unhappy for
this?"
q am DID," continued the sausage
vender, "and 1 have but Annette. If
I yield her to the young monsieur who
will care for me?"
Let me think" said madame. "Ah,
| have it! 1t is said only the young
should wed; but l say it is we'll to be
comfortable in ones old days, and a
companion is needful. If Mr.. Laubeau
wishes it, l will reconsider the proposal
he made to me years ago; he shall
fetch the sausage stand across the road
and set it herein front of my shop.
The priest shall make us one, and |
myself will cry hot sausa ges.''