Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-03
INFANT PRODIGY.

t9rS
Slaves TO their profession, they had
no time to spare for Lucette, who was
left to the care of her grandmother, a
dear old lady Of co years, who loved
the little "morsel," just opening its
eyes on existence, with the strength and
feryency Of three-father, mother and
self.
All day long she would play with
Lucette, while her son and daughter-in-
law were learning their parts or re-
hearsing their roles at the theater. Poor
little Lucottei From her earliest days
she had been lulled to sleep By long
speeches ard awakened by explosions Of
dramatic wrath. How many times in
the apartment Of tho Vernieres, which
looked upon q gloomy ooprs in the Rue
do Bondy, had sho been startled by the
melodramatic voices and o%xtravagant
gestures Of her parents while repeating
"Robert Macaire," "The Wandering
Jew" ''Thirty Years Of an Actors
Life and other works Of the same
class. When the Vernieres were ION
tour" the grandmother delighted TO
take Lucetto for a days outing in the
suburbs, where tho grass vas green
enough and the trees tall enough to
make one think oneself really in the
country.
"Tho child needs a breath Of fresh
air" she would say, and while she sat
upon a folding stool, reading with pro
found attention tho journal she had
brought with her, Luoette would roll
upon tho grass in happy innocence,
amusing herself with chasing butter-
flies, pulling flowers or listening TO tho
blaokbird whistling in the branches.
On these occasions tho little white
face would glow all over with health
and pleasure, while the good old dame,
made happy t seeing cher child" look
ing so much stronger and better, would
thank God for her and lilo down to rest
with q peaceful emile and quiet con
science.
When she was @ years old, Lucetto wa
lively as a kitten and sang like n lark.
The grandmother took especial pride in
teaching her to ropeaJ passages from
Racine and fables from La Fontaine,
which tho child would recito with O &C.
rious air in a voice both musical and
impressive.
About this period the parents began
to bestow more attention on their charm
ing little daughter.
One evening ct dinner Lucette gave q
recitation, and Verniero, listening with
HIS mouth full, cried: wife, wo must
make an artiGte Of this youngster. What's
bred in the bono comes out in the flesh.
She's in love with the boards already.
She'll do"
"Not quite o bad idea." said the
mother.
"BshT' interposed the grandmother.
"There's plenty of time to talk about
that. There's
"Listen, granny. There'sno time like
the present. Now, in q very short while
they're going TO pct ON The Old Cor
poral' at tho Theatre du Nord. I'm cast
for the principal rsle, that Of Corporal
Simon, IN which l succeed tho great
comedian, Frederick Lemaitre, but the
manager has no one to fill the part Of
Emmeline, the little girl that Corporal
Simon carries perched on his knapsack
at the siege Of Ulm. Well, If / were to
propose Lucetto''-
you're q fool" interrupted the old
lady, with great energy. "a child Of 9
years-delicate, sensitivel You want TO
kill her ~pcrhaps?"
"Get along with you. Don't worry
vourealf xv;tL pooeo,oa - ALok eort
granny. The child will take no harm.
She will DO with me. It's an opportunity
not to be thrown away. She will make
respectable ncquaintances and at tho
sama time learn her profession. Just
leave MS alone, and all will go right.
The old grandmother had to submit.
Fifteen days after LRcetto was letter
perfect in tho short part OK Emmeline,
and Verniere, having Laid his proposal
before the manager, brought his dRugh-
ter down to rehearsal.
"She's a prodigy. She'll cram the
house" was that astuto g~entleman's 70.
faction as he watched the performance.
AT the finish no accepted the offer and
closed the bargain.
The curtain rosa for the first act OF
THE Old Corporal" It was the oamI
before Ulm. General Roquebert, whom
Napoleon had ordered to ''draw the Aus
trians" in order to mask an important
movement Of the main army, was con,
ading to the old veteran, Antoine 81
mon, the care Of his daughter Emme.
line.
The audience, a most sympathetic ant
enthusiasts one, had eyes only for Lu
cette Verniere, the child who imper
sonated Emmeline. As for Simon, b,
ragged aud stormed inwardly at the un
happy fortune which had turned him
into a nursery maid" instead Of por
hitting him to bear a hand in tanning
the hides Of tho "Kaiserliehs."
The corporal and Emmeline had takel
shelter ON the outskirts Of a wood, whel
of a sudden Simon perceived the glitte
Of cannon aud the sheen Of steel among
the trees. Almost at the same momen
the enemy spoke" Yolley after volle,
whistled through the branches, scatter
ing the leaves and tearing OF tho bark
cts nsthing. said he TO the child