Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-03-04
Mile. ANTONIO,

Upon the posters which hung on the
outside of the carriage she was styled:
Mile. Antonio, SOmnambule EXtralucide.
Her mother called her Zette-her real
name was Susanne.
She was pretty girl, not very large
with fair complexion, and long black hair
that she let float about her during her
consultations, though ordinarily she wore
1t III a loose coil upon the nape of her
neck that was perfect.
Never having done much work, her
hands were delicate and well-shaped-
she was enough of a cOquette to wish to
keep them so. She had a finely modelled
form, and to have seen her simply
dressed IN some quiet color, with the gait
OF a wise little work woman, one would
never have suspected her strange calling.
Her mother, Nine. Eloury, was as lit
tie ike others OF her class as her daugh-
ter. About her there was nothing in
common with the ShreWs who frequent
fairs i'll red dresses and Soiled skirts. She
had the air of a little merchant who was
good and proper, with a winning, honest
| smile, and people stopped before the car
rage, and even entered there without
thinking of the charlatanism on the post
ers) in order to see the interior of this
small dwelling that Smelled so sweet.
The vehicle was painted brown, with a
thread of gold running the length of the
pllnthS. There was tiny balcony III
front of it, and on this balcony convolvu-
lus and nasturtium vines, planted in
boxes, twined about wires up to the roof,
where they clustered in bright-hued
punches.
Along the route persons stared i'll
amaZement at this queer coach all COW
cred with garlands of flowers.
The two women were always together,
but associated very little with their
neighbors. They were not proud, and
having the best of hearts were the first
to offer to care for a sick child, or to
give to others in distress. Indeed, the
foreigners who knew them well loved
them sincerely, even though they did
feel somewhat oppressed by what they
termed their grand manners.
There was, however, someone who was
all devotion to Zette and her mother.
1t was young gymnast of %, in
| large travelling circus, that had very
nearly the same itinerary as Nine.
| Eloury. His name was Jacques, but OH
the playbills they spelled it Jack. He
| was exceedingly handsome, and of no
common type. There was fire IN his
eyes and much intelligence in his Smile.
There was, too, much tenderness IN this
same smile, especially when he spoke 10
Zette. His love for this pretty brunette
so unlike any other woman he had seen
about him in his wandering Hfe-Was
very sincere.
Near her he felt himself quite another
man to what he was in the circus
There was such an atmosphere of hon
esty surrounding Zette that his own
manners, when with her, were alto
gether different from what they had been
and he was astonished at how we'll they
became him.
Then, too, he had dreamed of being
loved by this sweet girl, and of never be-
ing separated from her. Their positions
accorded admirably. His salary was
good, and some day perhaps he might en-
ter one of the great circuses of Lyons or
Paris. 1t would be charming to find so
sweet a little wife awaiting his coming
after his work was done.
he had often spoken to Iette of these
plans. He loved her SO dearly that it
could not be possible she did not love
him at least a little.
Zette always listened silently, visibly
touched by what she heard, and he
but when he had finished by asking, with
such pleading in his eyes: Twill you be
my wife, Zette? she replied very grave
ly, No
Then jacques would be astonshed.
Why not? Could it be that she did not
believe him when he said he loved her
that she had no confidence in him-that
she did not love him?
Yes, love you Zette answered
sweetly, but [ do not wish to marry
you
And she would never say why.
One day, however, Nine Floury
blamed her for refusing the hand of this
brave lad.
'Listen, mother she said Il adore
Jacques, and | believe [ shall always
remain single because l do not wish to
marry him. Do you remember the day
when we went to the circus? | saw, as
we entered, how all the women who
were there turned their lorgnettes to-
ward him. and afterward they smiled
and talked about him, and tried to at
tract his attention by applauding him. l
ought, perhaps, to have been proud to
think that this man whom they all want
ed. loved me, and that / had only to
say the word to be his wife. All, well,
in my heart there was nothing but jeal-
ousy. | wanted to tear the lorgnettes
away from those women. From what
suffered that evening | understood how
much more [ might supffer if we were
married No, that cannot me. He is
too handsome, see? Suppose some day,
when he had grown tired of me, one of
these women should take him from me.
1 would die. surely You know now,
mother why | cannot say yes.
But Notwithstanding this obstinate re
fusal, which he could not explain.
Jacques came every day. He no longer
mentioned the subject to Iette. under
standing that he was contending against
fixed reason, except once when he
said TO her:
You will not have me- Zette, and
do not wish any other woman. Some
day, though, you may change your Inind,
and then you need only hold out your
hand and say to me: Let us be married,
and it will make me happy
So after thus simply settling the affair
Jacques was like a brother in the house.
1t was he who in the springtime planted