The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-10

hair turned off her forehead In thick roll
Her countenance was OF d.stinctively tragic
cast. The paiid flesh was unlimited eXcep
| for the shadows, which were deep as bruse,
beneath the great dark eyes. The lips were
pale and coorlees: the chin was square; the
eyes wide between.
She stood indifferently, listlessly. as th'
door fell to behind her. Her blackglove(
hands hung Imply at her sides. Her face
with its dropping lips and eyelids, was go de
I void OF Laughter or the knowledge Of happi
ness that It cast an added gloom even across
that gloomy room. Its anguish was settleo
and decided.
You are"
"Georgette, From Serpolette''
| The voice was somber like the eye
Great tragic eyes Of magnificent sapphi
/ blue lifted with a very serious intensity
Brcyal's interes ted voice.
! She told you what role she thought yo'
hlI?"
II have never filled but one. To We,
| Life has taught me nothing but sorrow a.
remuneration from the cradle 70 the present
! The heavy lids fell again hopelessy. list
lessly. Tire classic outline OF the sorrowfu
hgure wes superb.
I And as she stood there before Brevai and
Jancey. as though the fact of her having
given vent In words to her hitherto choked-
up anguish had stirred some unforgotten
spring in her breast, the crystal drops began
20 creep one by one from beneath her long
! thick eyeiashes, and slowly, like loose die-
monds on white velvet. course down the
soft pa(lor OF her white cheeks on 70 the
dull surface OF her poor black gown.
Her beauty was so perfect. SO unusual
the simplicity Of her unhidden, unbidden
sorrow was so Infinitely pathetic in its ma
iesty that she seemed TO those past artists
as to emotions, MN. Breval and Jancey, the
embodiment of sorrow. If she had posed, as
she stood thus. for a statue of Woe, Paris
would have acclaimed her far and wide as
the most perfect monument Of Sorrow Of the
century.
Breva cleared his throat and demanded
huskily. Your price?'
Two hundred francs a solree. have
played for less Dill. this Is Paris desire
tho opportunity to make myself known and
heard"
Jancey brought his hand down on his
knee with g resembling slap. Well have
her and Serpoette together" he shouted
triumphantiy. Joy and Sorrow, Laughter
end Tears, Comedy and Tragedy-'twll
make a living picture all the world will
come to see.'
They handed her the contract to sign,
calling in 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 request reluc-
family. The door closed behind her.
Two minutes afterward Breval and Jancey
heard laugh which was as we'll known to
them as their office walls, as their debts, as
their past failures. A laugh so birdlike, so
Joyous. so frolicsome. so fraught with de-
licious 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 sim
ultaneously for the door, lifting their ears
to the sound for more-the way human
nature always does when out OF lifes trag-
edy or comedy ripples the music OF I'M
adulterated jollity.
This laugh was famous. 1t held an aban-
don so complete, rapture so all-powerful,
its rhythm was so sweet It meant so much
that was good and heartfelt. 1t contained
possibilities Of such absorbing interest. 1t
was chock full and trimming over with such
absolute gush and go. Peal after peal tum-
bled over each other so merriy that Breval
and Jancey both chuckled.
Its Serpolette,' gasped Breva!.
"Serpolette," laughed Serpolette herself,
as she pushed the door open from the out
side 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 variance 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 gleam-
ing with mirth SO intense, with triumph
so hardly and earnestly won. with the
knowledge Of 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, Mademosele," said
Breval, shamefacedly; you have won the
day"
But Jancey stood. soberly regarding her,
with a great awe in his face.
''If woman can play at tears as well a.
laughter like that" he was thinking, what
Is the use Of reality?"
He laid his hand heavily on Serpolette's
shoulder.
You have suffered?" no demanded.
"Qui sait?" retorted Sarpolette, muffin
ously.-Pick- Me-Up.