Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-02-03


! They bought fruit and violets and
a white and yellow puppy, which q
man on the curbstone happened 50 Of
fer to the prima donna at ridiculous
ly low price. She cuddled it in her
arms and talked foolishly to it all the
way to the station.
The train rumbled along slowly,
making frequent stops. The prima
donna sat on a distressing plush seat
beside corpulent woman with mar
ket basket, and gazed out at dreary
suburbs. The doctor sat in the bag
gage car and held the white and vel
low pup
At, last they were abandoned at a
forlorn little station beside the track.
The road ran south from the plat
form, skirting the edge Of a mysteri-
Gus brown wood, and losing itself over
the top Of a hill. The prima donna
led the way with the air Of an in
trepid explorer. Her fine eyes bright
ened, an unwonted color flushed her
cheek, and she made naive remarks
about the scenery. They passed
through a field where the whitening
stalks foated pennons and the ground
was silvery with stubble, and reached
the farmhouse, where a childs pale
little triangle Of a face peered eagerly
from the window.
"She will surely come" Fleluette
had said. "She will come. You do
not know my ma m'selle. She never
forgets. She will Gomez
"Fleurette! Fleurette, It Is I, your
own ma'm'selle. And here is gen
tleman who Is dying to make your
acquaintance, and beautiful puppy,
so new he Is not even namedv'
II knew you'd comer' said Fleur-
ette
The prima donna and the doctor sat
by her sofa, and she looked from one
I to the other wisely.
/ "Do you miss me, ma'am selle?
How do you get along without me at
the performance
Eyes, yes; I miss you, Fleurette;
and we get along very indifferently
indeed without you"
Listen. They are kind to me here
kind. But cannot love them as l
love you and Chum and Nine Bar
toll. 1 miss you SO that I lie awake
in the night to cry. Do you think l
shall get well soonP And have no
more painT'
II am sure Of It," said the prima
donna smlngly.
"And may return and not be lone
ly any more, but very happyY
mot be lonely any more, but very
happy" repeated the prima donna,
still smiling, but biting her lip.
Later they were in the kitchen. The
prima donna was making cruel. and
the doctor was making love. She had
a brown gingham apron about her
waist, and also the doctors arm. She
gazed into the saucepan, sighed deep
ly,> and stirred the meal and water.
"Can nothing be done?" she asked.
Perhaps. I will consult with
specialist, butt have never seen you
like this before, dearestv
This IL not my real self. am
masquerading in a new role, that is
ALL"
"Why would you appear to be Gym
icalT
Conscious that she was not pretty
when she really cried the prima don
ma tried to wink back her tears, but
unsuccessfully, and was reduced to
wiping her eyes with the apron.
"I love YOU" said the doctor. He
was 80 strong she felt like child in
his hands.
How sad life isv' she murmured,
her head against his breast, and she
wept-a little at the sorry pageant
Of humanity, and a good deal for her
own Joy.
They then went back and gave
Fleurette the Cruel, which as mere
Cruel wills not success. Not that
Tleurette cared She was engrossed
with the puppy. who, irresistibly II
unhygientcally, licked her cheek and
then the porridge bowl. By and by
she was humming and beating time
with her thin little hand.
ITO see you 90 Marguerite
Cera un re G Thule
To hear you sing 1t once again,
ma m'sslle, what happiness"
Smiling at her, the diva began to
sing, at drst very softly. The notes Of
Margusrite's plaintive ballad fell clear
and sweet upon the twilight. The
round red eye Of the stove glowed
upon the little group about the child's
sofa, and the shadowy, motionless
forms that had gathered In the door
way to listen.
/
The girl at home repleuished the