Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13

| Monsieur the count need not be I'M
easy; he has my promise"
VERY good. l know what that
means"
The count walked Off, but during his
short colloquy the quadrile had end.
ed. and the clown lost sight of M. de
Clameran and Madeleine.
81 shall find them near Mime. Fau-
VEL" thought he.
And he at once started to search
among the throng for the bankers
wife.
Incommoded by the sitting heat,
Nine. Fauvel had sought little fresh
air in the grand picture gallery, which,
thanks to the talisman called gold. had
been transformed into fairylke gar
den, filed with orange trees iaponicas,
laurel and many rare plants The
clown saw her seated near grove not
far from the cardroom. Upon her
right was Madeleine. On her left
stood Raoul de Layers. dressed in a
costume Of Henry III.
II must confess" muttered the clown
from his post Of observation, chat the
young scamp Is very handsome"
Madeleine was very sad. She had
plucked camellia from plant near
by and was mechanically pulling It to
pieces as she sat with her eyes down.
cast Raoul and Nine. Fauvel were
sitting together in conversatio Their
faces were composed but the gestures
of one and the trembling of the other
betrayed preoccupation and Il serious
discussion. In the cardroom sat the
dogc NJ de Clameran. so placed as TO
have full view Of Nine. Fauvel and
Madeleine, although himself concealed
at is the continuation of yesterdays
scene" thought the clown. "If could
only get behind those camellias,
might hear what they are saying"
He pushed his way through the
| crowd, but as he reached the desired
spot Madeleine arose and took the arm
of bejeweed Persian. At the same
moment Raoul went into the cardroom
and whispered few words to DE Cla-
meran.
There they are" muttered the
clown. "The two rascals certainly
hold these poor women in their tolls.
What can be the secret Of their pow
err"
His attention was attracted by a
commotion in the picture gallery. There
was to be a wonderful minuet danced
in the ballroom. The Countess de
Commarin and the Princess Korasoff.
with her superb cmeralds, which were
reported to be the finest in the world,
had both arrived. In an instant the
gallery became almost deserted. Only
few forlorn looking people remained.
The clown thought it favorable OPP
portunity fSr carrying out his project.
He abruptly left his position, flourish
ing his switch and beating his banner,
self in a chair between Nine. Fauvel
and the door. AS soon as the people
had collected in circle around him
he struck a comical attitude. standing
up with his body twisted sideways
and his hat on one ear. With much
buffoonery anu volubility he made the
following remarks
Ladies and gentlemen, this very
morning l obtained license from the
authorities Of this town. And what
for? Why, gentlemen. for the purpose
of exhibiting TO you a spectacle which
has already won the admiration of the
four quarters Of the globe. Inside of
this booth. ladies'. is about to com
mence the representation of a most re-
markable drama. acted for the first
time in Picking and translated by our
most celebrated authors. Gentlemen,
you can take your seats. The lamps
are lighted, and the actors are chang
ing their dress"
Here lie stopped speaking and imi-
tated TO perfection the feats which
mountebanks play upon horns and ket-
tlcdrums.
Nov, ladies and gentlemen" he re-
sumed, you wish to know what | am
doing outside if the piece is to be per
formed under the tent, The fact is.
gentlemen that ! wish to give you
foretastc of the entertainment which
you may enjoy by paying the small
sum Of 10 cents. You see this superb
picture? Very well. 1t represents
eight of the most thrilling scenes in
the drama. All, see you begin to
Shudder. And yet this splendid pic
ture gives sou no more idea of the
acting than 4 drop of water gives an
idea of the sea or Il ray of light of the
sun"
do you know this CLOWN" asked an
enormous Turk Of a melancholy Punch.
no, but he can initiate a trumpet
splendidly."
"Oh. very we'll indeed! But what is
he driving ati'
The clown was endeavoring to at
tract the attention OF Nine. Fauvel,
who since Raoul and Madeleine had
left her had abandoned herself to a
mournful reverie. He succeeded. The
showman's shrll voice brought the
bankers wife back to q sense Of real.
ity. She started and looked quickly
about her, as If suddenly awakened
from a troubled dream. Then she no.
tlced the clown.
Now. ladies, we are in China. The
first picture on my canvas. here to the
left'-he pointed to the top daub-"rep-
rcSents the celebrated Mandarin Ii Fo
in the bosom of his family This pref
ty woman leaning over him is his wife.
and these children playing on the car
In f,,,i - bo,