The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-03-10

i'ODllVy 10 AuTdy anu ITOu IeuIudICu
Point to Plouharnel! Why should the
Breton peasantry not come? Don't
they walk miles to the Pardons?"
A gray pallor settled on Byram's
sunken face; with it came a certain
dignity which sorrow sometimes
brings even to men like him.
Young gentlemen" he said, I'm
obliged to you. These here reverses
come to everybody, guess. The Lord
knows best; but II he'll just lemme
run my show a leetle longer, I'll pay
my debts an say, Thy will be done,
amen!'"
After a painful silence he rose.
steadying himself with his hand on
Eyre's broad shoulder, and shambled
out across the square, muttering
something about his elephant and his
camel.
Speed paid the insignificant bill,
emptied his glass, and nodded at me.
tits all up" he said, soberly.
Lets come back to camp and talk
it over" / said.
Together we traversed the square IN
der the stars, and entered the field of
clover. In the dim, smoky camp all
lights were out except one oil-drenched
torch stuck in the ground between the
two tents.
Speed had some cigarettes, and he
laid the pink package on the table.
lighted one when he did
do you really think there's a
chance?" he asked, presently.
81 don't know" said.
well, we can try"
ooh yes"
"I'n tell you what" Speed said, 'if
we only had that poor little girl, Miss
Claridge, we'd catch these Bretons.
That's what took the coast-folk all
over Europe, SO Grigg says"
Miss Claridge had performed in a
large glass tank as the 'Leaping Mer-
maid" 1t took like wildfire according
never seen her; she was killed by
diving into her tank when the circus
was at Antwerp in April.
Cant we get up something like
that?" l suggested, hopelessly.
who would do it? Miss Claridge's
flashlights are in the prop-box; who's
to wear them?"
He began to say something else, but
stopped suddenly, eyes fixed. Jacque-
line stood behind me in the smoky
light Of the torch-Jacqueline, bare of
arm and knee, with her sea-blue eyes
very wide and the witch-locks cluster
ing around the dim oval of her face.
After a moments absolute silence she
said 81 came from Paradise. Don't
you remember"
"Of course | remember you, Jacque-
line. And l have ali idea you ought to
be in bed"
Wont you sit DOWN." asked Speed
Thank you" said Jacqueline.
She seated herself on a sack Of saw
dust, clasping her slender hands be-
tween her knees, and looked earnestly
at the elephant. Speed asked her, jest
ingly, why she did not join the circus
'It is what 1 wish,' she said, under
her breath.
''And ride white horses?"
w III you TAKE lie she CTl6Q, pas
sionately, springing to her feet
Amazed at her earnestness, l tried
to explain that such an idea was out
of the question. She listened anxious
ly at first, then her eyes fell and she
stood there in the torch-light, head
hanging.
Il should like to see circus" she
said. Then l should know what to do.
That l can swing higher than any girl
in Paradise has been demonstrated
often" she went on, earnestly 81 can
swim farther, l can dive deeper, I can
run faster, with bare feet or with sa-
bots, than anybody, man or woman,
from the Beacon to Our Lady's
chapel"
$50 you can dive and swim?' asked
Speed, with a glance at me.
Like the salmon in the Laita, mon
sieur."
Under water?"
"Parbleu!"
After pause I asked her age.
Fifteen, M'sieu Scarlet. Won't you
take me?" she asked, sweetly.
'Iu tell you what I'll do Jacque-
line, said l. Very early in the morn
ing I'll go down to your house and see
your father. Then, if he makes no OBJ
lection, I'll get you to put on a pretty
swimming suit, all made out of silver
scales, and you can show me, there in
the sea, how you can dive and swim
and play at mermaid. Does that please
your"
She looked earnestly at me, then at
Speed.