Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13
him-the unfortunate woman loved

| nlin-tne unfortunate woman loved
himw
During this TRADE he had turne<,
about till he faced the bankers wife.
whose countenance he closely watched
while he was speaking.
"You are surprised. gentlemen" he
continued. 81 am not The heart new.
err grows old, and the most vigorous
wallflowers flourish on old ruins. This
unhappy woman is nearly fifty years
old-and in love with a youth! Hence
this heartrending scene, which should
serve as warning to us ALL"
"Rcally," grumbled q cook dressed
IN white satin. who had passed the
evening in carrying around menus
which no one read, II thought he was
going to amuse U.s."
But" continued the clown, you
must go inside of the booth to witness
the effects of the mapdarine's folly.
AT times ray of reason penetrates
her diseased brain, and then the sight
of her anguish would soften the most
IMPLYING. Enter and for the small
sum of 10 cents you shall hear sobs
such as the Odeon never echoed in its
halcyon days. The unhappy woman
realizes the absurdity and inanity Of
her blind passion. She confesses to
herself that she is madly pursuing Il
phantom. She knows but too we'll that
he in the vgor and beauty Of youth
cannot love faded old woman like her
self, who vainly makes pitiable efforts
to retain the last remains of her once
enchanting beauty. She feels that the
sweet words he once whispered in her
charmed ear were false She knows
that the day is near when she will be
left alone, with nothing save his man.
tie in her hand"
AS the clown addressed this voluble
description to the crowd before him
he narrowly watched the countenance
of the bankers wife. But nothing he
had said seemed to affect her. She
leaned back in her armchair perfectly
calm and occasionally smiled.
"Can be on the wrong track?' NUT.
tered the clown uneasily.
NJ de Clameran Joined the circle.
The third picture" the clown con-
tinued, depicts the old mandarine a IT.
err she has dismissed that most annoy.
ing of EuestS-remorse-fro her bos-
ON. She promises herself that inter
est shall supply the place of love in
holding the seductive youth. It is
with this object that she invests him
with false honors and dignity and in
PRODUCES him to the chief mandarins
Of the capital Of the Celestial empire.
Then. since so handsome youth must
cut fine figure in society, the lady
must needs to sacrifice all Of her DOS.
sessions for his sake-necklaces, rings.
bracelets. diamonds and pearls-every
Jewel she possesses. The monster car
ries all these to the pawn brokers on
Tientsi street and then has the cruel
ty to refuse her the tickets, so that she
may have chance Of redeeming her
treasures"
The clown thought that at last he
had fulfilled the conditions. Nine.
Fauvel began to betray signs of un.
to rise from the chair, but it seemed az
If her strength failed her, and she
sank back, forced to listen.
FINALLY, ladies and gentlemen" con-
tinued the clown, "the richly stored
jewel cases were emptied The day
came when the mandarine had nothing
more to give. 1t was then that the
young scoundrel conceived the project
Of carrying off the jasper button be-
longing to the Mandarine Ii 70, Il
splendid jewel of incalculable value, a
badge of dignity. 1t was kept in
granite chest and guarded by three
soldiers night and day. All, the man
darine resisted long time. She knew
the innocent soldiers would be accused
and cruciGed, as IS the custom in Pc
king, and this thought restrained her.
But her lover besought her so tenderly
that she finally yielded to his en-
treaties, and the Jasper button was
stolen. The fourth picture represents
the guilty couple steathily creeping
down the private stairway. See their
frightened look-see"-
He abruptly stopped. Three or four
of his auditors rushed to the assistance
Of Nine. Fauvel. who seemed about to
faint. The clown felt his arm roughly
seized by some one behind him. lie
turned and faced De Clameran and
Layers, both of whom were pale with
anger.
what do you want, Gentlemen?" he
asked, with his most gracious air.
"To speak to YOU" they both answer
ed.
II am at your service"
He followed them to the end of the
picture gallery, near Il window open
Ing on balcony. Here they We're un.
observed except by the man in the We
netian cloak, whom the clown had adj
dressed as monsieur the count" The
minuet having ended, the orchestras
were taking brief rest, and. the COM
pany pouring into the gallery, it be-
came very crowded. The sudden faint
ness of Nine. Fauvel had passed off
unnoticed save by a few, who attrib-
uted 1t to the heat OF the room. NJ
Fauyel had been sent for but when he
came hurrying in he found his wife
composedly talking to Madeleine. Not
having as much control over his tenn
per as Raoul, NJ. de Clameran angrily
said:
"ln the first place, monsieur, would
like to know who Won are"