New-York tribune., 1904-10-30

Five long. long hours! They viii never passg
The church clock Vas striking three!
Jean IeaDec out OF the window The snow was
falling fast little while and all Paris would be
under a white mantle.
He turned back into the poor. bare, tiny room
bare yet scrupuIously clean-in which his mother
and sister slept, and which also served as dining
room bou6oir and library for all three, Then ne
entered the cupboard-indeed, II was no more!-in
which he slept. ne and his violin. For Jean loved
his violin next TO his mother and little Madeleine.
ard he liked have it near him day and night
FI.s mother was poor widow, an embroideress oy
trade. She took Madeleine every morning 10 a
c-eche and then walked on 10 the shop where she
spent the day at her work. In the evening she
called for The little one-only three years old-snd
then the small family happy and united
The FIRST break had come when some kind friend
had given Jean lessons on the violin. That took him
out in the evenngs-for the lessons could only be
had between Z and o'clock. They were paid for by
the friend. and given by terrible old man, OF
whom Jean stood in mortal dread. Monsieur Merot
was indeed 10 be feared BY the idIe-but Jean was
not idle.
Some weeks before this December day Jean had
come home. very happy and excited, from his
lesson. n SomneT, the manager OF a theatre.
had called upon n MerOt. and the result OF their
conference had been that the twenty lads who at
tended the evening school had been engaged TO play
IN & ballet 10 be presented for the hrst time on
Christmas Eve
Ard on -naman, we are TO have % francs each
The end Of three weeks. and pages suits
Of crimson velvet and silver lace viii be given US
AND you viii play your violins on the siageE'
rs mother had asked. wondering.
On the stage ma mere! Twenty spirits in silver
gsuze VIII dance before the Lost Princess. ana
twenty of US boys viii play. kneeling on one knee
I do not see what need spirits have OF pages or
why spirits dance his mother had said II
would be likely"
"Ah. but in ballet one does not look for what
would be likely" he had replied very trutntuiiy-
But Oh! We must work hard! II we miss a
single practice, II we are late. II. Merot says
he viii strike of our names I shall never be late
7 know. But Ddouard. fear for him He is SO
careless
Edouard was the grocer's son-and Jeans friend
And now the day had come. Jean took down his
violin knelt on one knee and played for nearly an
hour. till his knees ached. Then again he looked
the falling snow. He thought OF II. MeFot 5
anger al the luckless Edouard. who had once been
zen minutes late. All how reluctantly he had par
doned hirn! How hotly he had declared ne would
make an example OF the next tardy one!
He looked al the clock. Ten minutes TO fouTl
How could he pass the time now? At six they were
al 10 meet al the ''classe'' and put on the pages
suits under the supervision OF one OF the theatre
oressers Two omnbuses would convey them 10
the theatre itself. And rhen-Oh. Joy on. bliss
There was. however in most OF our mixed and
mortal cups drop Of bitterness IN Jean )
Neither his mother nor Baby Madeleine eou!o see
hls triumph. Even the cheapest seats we're far pc
yond purse whose sous had TO be boarded most
carefully.
-Four o'clock struck. A nelghboring church had
lord and musical chimes.
Ah! step the stairs. knock az the oo0TT. eT
Jean sprang 10 open It Yes, THIS was 9AsnS'
EeFe's house. and Ae was her son. hLaat olo ~AN"
eleur be pleased 10 wantg ,..L
Thy mother Is detained 70 Work-an 1!taI Ci.tit
must 90 home tonight. She bids thee 90 10 I"O
creche. and bring IA petite home 80. .na
Jean's heart bounded and sank. II "oulo .1s- 49,
him at least an hour 70 reach the erecne-anp
even more. 10 return. Now The leaden 1ooteo hO@"0
had put wings their heelsi - -
The falling heaVlly-heaRlly- Il 80 1sHs
nearly O'Clock when he reached the Greene .o
god nurses long IN bu1dllng up Alaoslels. -
N her wraps, The walk home was or necessity - -
SLOW that despair seized upon him even from rs
zTst Oh 10 meet some fFiend-soEne nelg moor: -
whom he could intTust MADELEINE while ais %,
winged feet might outstgip the nying moments rs .
But no such good fortune was 70 be MS. ~ .h
church clock struck FIVE Heavily. heavily. zen tt.s
snow ie tried carry Madeleine part OF ~ ~
way but she wae too heavy for his slender stTeIst
s1e began 70 feel wild unEcasonlng anger as,,iS
nef Der eager pratLle iEritated him HOW SeSs ssst
&c can the snow prettythe cruel cruel sno" ,sTe9
lnoeseo their steps-that would make him 100 ASSS
~ se Puee himself together gery snaFPy;d Py;div i1
AgIeed GiuseR speak 20 hes gently ano htts q.
he ee sn1rh cock rang the peal that MEAN 1ielSed
se1 nonr- Jean set his teeth, and again RlSs1- -
-laoeaeine Oh cou6E't his mother - 49,
.S % Work late on tais Gay. Of All otnstss 1s,y
Axe uaHe S6nt him fQT Aaaele-Deg 5-s $50"