Morris tribune., 1903-04-11

sunshine kissed. Ii ! put these
robes upon her, she will look like
une grande dame fit for monsieur.
brush. She will be fresh like the
rose and as beautiful. She shall be
monsieur's model, and-will make
his fortune"
That night, then, the sausage
vender took in his stand. Annette
free at last, slipped across the road,
and the old madame robed the girl
in the grand toilet and fastened her
soft, fluffy curls in knot high on
her head with quaint tortoise shell
comb. Wrapped in cloaks, the two
stole down the street and entered
the tall building. They threaded
their way among the dusty bags,
soaring the silvery coated mice, and
climbed the stairs to the artists
studio.
When his eyes fell upon the vision
OF loneliness madame presented to
! him, they shone with new light.
Love? Well, part love and part ar
tistic rapture, but in either case
Annette was the cause. The little
Frenchwoman clapped her hands
and laughed joyfully.
Always during the sittings ma
dame sat decorously by, knitting in
dustriously, but keeping sharp eye
out, as became chaperon. Not the
slightest symptom of lovemaking
escaped her. The portrait grew be-
meath the brush as if the very fairy
of good luck had lent her spell to
the artist. Never had his palette
glowed with such colors, nor had
such hitherto impossible tints bios
somed forth. Every detail of the
fresh young face became familiar to
him until at last from the canvas
looked forth the sausage vender's
daughter in the grande DANES robes
as beautiful as the proudest lady in
the land.
Il can do no more" sighed the
artist. Then madame arose and,
taking the girl by the hand, led her
toward the door. "Monsieur has no
longer need of us" she exclaimed.
"Adieu."
But the artist would not have it
so. He pushed past the old French
woman and stood before the girl.
Il love you, Annette!" he cried.
"Will you not marry me?"
'"Tut, tut" said madame. "You
must first speak to NJ Laubeau. We
will have no bold American man
ners here. If he consents, then An
nette may think of you. Come, An
nette"
1t was indeed true that the little
madame had brought good luck to
the poor artist. The portrait was
sent to a picture dealer. In less
than a week it was sold, and orders
had come through the dealer enough
to set the artist busy. He went to
thank the old Frenchwoman.
"The good people like something
fresh," said the madame. "Mon-
sieur might have sat in his garnet
and pinned and been melancholy till
he died. Good luck would have none
of him. One must be brave and
smile to win fortune"
Il owe everything to you," said
the grateful young man.
"Ah, true" returned madame
nonchalantly, "but, tell me, have
you yet won NJ. Laubeau's consent?'
"Alas, he refuses me Annette's
hand! He will give me no reason"
owe must learn" said the ma
dame, and, leaning far out of the
window of her tiny shop, she beck
oned frantically to the sausage
vender across the road. He came,
followed by Annette.
"Why is it NJ. Laubeau refused
his daughter to the young monsieur
who loves her truly inquired the
Frenchwoman. sfs
Il could not get on without An
nette," grumbled the old man.
'There would be none to cry hot
sausages."
''True, true" said madame, ''but
must the young people be unhappy
for this ?"
81 am DID," continued the sau-
sage vender, "and have but An
nette. If I yield her to the young |
monsieur, who will care for me-"
"Let me think" said the little
Frenchwoman. "Ah, l have it! !
IT'S said only the young should wed,
but | say it's well to be comforta-
Bile in ones old age, and compan-
ion is needful If M. Laubeau wish
es it, ] will reconsider the proposal
he made me years ago. He shall
fetch the sausage stand across the