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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1898)
THE AMERICAN THE WANDERING JEW. 101 Mt tlM Tht, Adnrnn !! 1 iU lt Itft t th fdsj, ttnrlrV Vf it.J will g with you, ) luj we." "Tim, dear mule, tut do u4 .uil lfvt , WH of lhUM Be sure I to I, f.r I m,i curious jou tr to the IcmUt animals, am! the fsmoui Morok, the im-omp ruble lion-Umtr. A few miitulo after, Mdlle. deCardoxille'srsr had left the Chain ps-Hffs, earning with it the little Rirl, and directing He court towards the Hue d'Anjou. A the brilliant rqutpage di. appeared from the scene, the crowd, of which -' Wore had spoken, greatly increased about one of M. ft ft mt large Inn in the Cham ps-KI vices, and e presiionsof pity were heard here and there anion); oi groups, a lounger approached a young mau on the skirts of the crowd, and said to him: "What it the matter, iir?" "I hear it is a pr young girl, n hunchback, that has fallen from exhaustion." "A huncliWk I is that all ? The re will always be enough hunchbacks," said the lounger, brut ally, with a coarre laugh, "Hunchback or not, if she dies of hunger," an isrercd the young man, scarcely able to restrain his indignation, "it will he no less tadand there is really nothing to laugh at, air." "Die of hunger! pooh !" Bald the lounger, ihrugging his shoulders. "It is only lazy aooun drels, that will not work, who die of hungor. And it serves them right." "I wager, sir, there is one death you will never die of," cried the m c " r - w v v m vuv cruel insolence of the lounger. "What do you mean?" answered the other, haughtily. "I mean, sir, that your heart is not likely to kill you." "Sir!" cried tho lounger in an angry tone. "Well ! what sir?" replied the young tnan.look. Ing full in his face. "Nothing," said the lounger, turning abruptly on his heel, and grumbling as ho sauntered toward an orango-colorod cabriolet, on which was emblazoned an enormous coat of arms, sur mounted by a baron's crest. A servant in green limy, ridiculously laced with gold, was standing wwme mo norse, ana did not perceive his mnster. "Are you catching flies, fool ?" said the hater! pusmng mm with his cane. The servant turned round in confusion. "Sir," said he. "Will you never loam to call me Monsieur le Baron, rascal ?" cried his master In a rage. "Open the door directly!" The lounger wai Baron Trlpaud, tho manu facturing baron, the itock-jobber. The poor hunchback was Mother Bunch, who had, Indeed, fallen with hunger and fatigue, whilst on her way to Mdlle. de Oardoville's. The unfortunate oreaturo had found courage to brave the shame of the ridicule she so much feared, by returning to that house from which she was a r luntary ex. He; but this time, it was not for herself, but for her sister Cephyse-the Bacchanal Queen, who u returned to rarla the previous day, and whom Mother Bunch now lought, through the means of Adrienne, to rescue from a most dread, ful fate. Two hours after these different scenes, an en orinous crowd pressed round the doors of the Porte-Saint-Martin, to witness the exercises of Morok, who was about to nerfo rill A In not mtt.itiMt Willi the famous black panther of Java, named Death. Adrienne, accompanied by Lord ami Lady de Morinval, now stopped from a carriage at lhe entrance of the theatre. - They wero to be joined in the course of the evening by M. de Montbron, whom they had dropped, in passing, at his club. p CHAPTEB LXIV. MHtND Til- sns-tin The large theatre of the Tort-Saint-Martin was rf . ', tth ctmVr M ttiil, b kw ftiwjW Jr of rd tlvo.ftl, ftoet t.nth hit hklrs t twt i f jtH ). Hlb iAHtft).V Aht iiibrvi.lrr.) uh .tUt n jnht, lmtid r-nttt l hU mt and Ht 1 y .thir lu ttt KH inUl tl.ii .mbtr twiit, tbWk tM rd hsiil trd M) in Uic i)wii!iti d.n t hi ihit, and Jong pir of white unulirt tMA tmmd his t hwd A dvmt iiiioivary in Cfimany and ait Hot in M.rk lnw it rlt at hii iMi- plri, the Jtuit, how to iTmmrv.Ute himf!f t ritfumitanifs. Hfil in wne rrner of the rim, and ftmtrm. pUtlng with mul of tupid admiration, wan JacnifS Ki-mtf ixmiI. bftlrr kluiwn m "Slepoih. bntT" jfhmi the lili lihid that he would end his days in rng, or his preenl antinnlhy to en t rre in drrns). Since the dsv Hardy's fmtory had I ren destroyed by flre, Janiues had not . . . . . . quitted Morok, panning the nights in excels, which had no baneful r-iVects on the iron coimti. tution of the lion-tamer. On the other's features on the contrary, a great alteration was percept . ble; his hollow cheeks marble Pallor, his even.bv turns dull and heavy, or gloaming with lurid lire, betrayed the ravages of debauchorv. his nnrcln.. lip were almost constantly curled by a bitter am santonin smile, His snirit. once env and ami guine, still struggled against the besotting influ ence of habitual intoxicat ion. Unfitted for labor, no longer able to forego gross pleasures. Jacoues sought to drown in wine the few virtuous im pulses which he still nosxessed. and had sunk ho low as to accent without shame the larire dole o sensual gratification proffered him bv Morok. 1 i who paid all the expenses of their orgies, but never gave turn money, in order that he m!ht be completely dependent on him. After gazing at Morok for some time in amazoment, Jacques saui to mm, in a ramiliar tone: "Well, yours is a famous trade; you may boast that, at this mo. nient, there are not two, men like you in the whole world. Thai's flattering. It's a pity you uoirt slick to this flue trade." "What do ton mean?" "Why, how is the conspiracy eointr on. in whoso honor you make mo keep it up all day and all night ?" "It is wnrkintr, but the time is not yet come; thai is why I wish to have you always at hand, nil me great tnv. do you complain?" "Hung it, no!" said Jaciiues. "What could do? Burnt up with brandy as I am, if I wanted to work, I've no longer the strength to do so. have not, like you, a head of marble, and a bodv of iron; hut as for fuddling myse'f with gun. powder, instead of anything elne, that'll do for me; I'm only fit for that work, now and then, it will drive away thought." "Of what kind ?" "You know that when I do think. I think onlv of one thing," said Jacques, gloomily. "The Bacchanal Queen ? still?" said Morok, in a disdainful tone. "Still I rather: when I shall thi nk of her no longer, I shall be dead or stupefied. Fiend I'' "You were never better or more intelligent. yo't fool I" replied Morok. fastening his turbftn. The conversation was hero interrupted. Morok's aider entered hastily, The gigantic form of this Hercules had in. creased in width. He was habited like Alcldes; his enormous limbs, Airrowed with veins as thick as whipcord, were covered with a close. luting iicsh-colored garment, to which a pair of roil drawers rormed a strong contrast, "Why do you rush in like a storm, Goliath ?" aid Morok. "There's a pretty storm in the house; they are beginning to get impatient, and are calling out like madmen. Hut ir (hat wero all !" "Well, what else ?" "Death will not be nble to play this evening." Morok turned quickly round. He scorned un. easy. "Why so ?" lie exclaimed.' "I have just seen her; she's crouching at the bottom of her cage; her ears lie so close to her head, she looks as if they had been cut off. You know what that means." "Is that all ?" said Morok, turning to the glass to complete his head-nress erowdad h .i imn.. t i.V to complete his head-dress. - aii laris had hurried with eager and burning curiosity to Morok's exhihiHmi Ti i. . 1B liUll0 unnecessary to ay that the liotUamer had completely abandoned his small taste in religious baubles, which he had o successfully carried on at the White Falcon Inn at Leipsic. There wire. mArA ou, tokens by which the surprising effects of w.0 Buuueu conversion had been blazoned in the most extraordinary pictures: the antiquated baubles m which he had formerly dealt would have found no sale in Paris. Morok had nearly finished dressing himself, in one of tho actor's rooms, which had been lent to him. Over a coat fit. Since that nlithi, in Oermanv. when aha ripped up that old hack of a white horse, I've not seen her look so lavage ! her eyes thine like burning candles." "Then she must have her fino collar on," said Morok, quietly. "Her fine collar ?" "Yce; her ipring collar." "And I must bo lady's-maid," said tho giant. "A nice toilet to attend to !" "Hold your tongue !" "That's not all " continued Goliath, hesi. tilting. "Wl oi.rr I tulsbt til U joti tit on U!t jr-u k Wr!l?h ul.rr, ' W1., j .mi t i dbiuh '1b lnbhmn !' 'Mtvi Usttf I, his etms Ml i.,.rlri ,v t,u i",,r- mia with thr lion Ukui'i irnr ,ll, mui,,h fOUIitfliatict. 'Th I'.ntlUhn.au'-.ynU ),vettn lil.tif- nUI Miik,addfiMiititIillth. ,,Youarfjniteiure.M niff, I was lmiMr.it t brooch n. hoe in the mrtaiiw I saw him in one of the Ug lMir he wUhes to things rione; he's ry to recognise, with his pointed forvhend, big none ani goggle rye . ' Morok shuddered agsiu: usuallv fierce and un. moved, he appeared to be more and more agitated ana alarmed that Jacques said to him: "Who is tins hnglmhiiiftii V "He has followed me fr m Strasburg, where he i. ... ...... icu in with me," said Morok, with visible deje uou. "He traveled with his own horses, by short singes, as I did; stopping where I stopped. so as never to miss one of my exhibitions. But two days bere I arrived at Paris, he left mo I thought I was rid of him," said Morok with a sigh. "Hid of him! how you talk I" replied Jacques, surprised; "such a good customer, such an ad nnrer!" "Aye !" said Morok, becoming more and more agitated; "this wretch has wage rod an enormous sum, that 1 will be devoured in his presence, during one of my performances: ho hones to win ins wagor that is why he follows me about." Btlnkrt. t... 11- V . .... i ii . Tl - t a uivi'iniiuuii iouiiu me jonn ou s idea so amusingly exceutrie, that, for the first time since a very long period, he burst into a neal of hcartv laughter. Morok, pale with rage, rushed toward mm with so menacing an air. that Goliath was . obliged to Interpose. "Come, come" said Jacoues. "don't be nnirrv! ir u is serious, l will not laugh any more." Morok was appeased, and said to Sleeninbufi' . . . . in a hoarse voice: "Do you think mo a coward?" "No, y heaven! " "Well! and yet this Englishman, with his ero tcs(iue face, frightens me more than my tiger or my panther I" "You say so, and I believe it," replied Jucnues: ' but I cannot understand whv the presence of this man should alarm you." "But, consider, you dull knave !" criod Morok. "that, oh! i trod to watch inceMfiitiit.lv. tfm Immf movement or the rorocious boast, whom I keep in su joction by my action and mv looks, there " - F is something terrible in knowing that two eyes are there always there fixed waitlnc till the Ieat absence of mind sha1! expose me to bo torn in ploces by tho animals." "Now, I understand," said Jacques, shuddering In his turn. "It is terrible" "Yes; for onco there, though I mav not see this cursed Englishman, I fancy 1 have bis two round eyes, fixed and wide open, always before me. Mv . tiger Cain once nearly mutilated my arm, when my attention was drawn awav bv this Enelish man, whom the devil take!" Blood and thunder!" cried Morok; "this man will be fatal to me." And Morok paced the room in great acitation. "Besides, Death lavs her ears close to her skull." w - . 1 I 1 II II .1 t .a. ... said uoiiath, brutally. "If you persist mind, I ten you the Englishman will win hiswaees this evening." "Uo away, you brute don't vex mv bend with your confounded predictions." cried Morok: go and prepare Death's collar." "Well, every one to his taste: vou wish tho panther to tasto you," said the giant, stalking iit-nvny away, artor this joke. "But if you fool theso fears," said Jacques, "why do you not say that the panther is ill ?" Morok shruggod his shoulders, and replied with a sort of feverish ferocity: "Have vou over . ..... -..-. heard or the fiorce pleasure of the gamester, who slakes his honor, his life, upon a card ? Well I I too in these daily exhibitions where mv life is at stake find a wild, fierce pleasure in braving (loath, before ft crowded assembly, shuddering and terrified at my audacity. Yes, even in the feur witli which this Englishman inspires me, I find, in spite of myself, a terrible excitement, which I abhor, and which yet subjugates me." At this moment, the ulnan I ' r " "whSJV VIHVICU .the room, and interrupted the beast-tamer. "May we givo me signa', M. Morok ?" said the stage, manager. "The overture will not last above ton minutes." "I am ready," said Morok. "Tho police-inspoctor has just now given or. ders, that the doublo chain of tho panther, and the iron ring rivetod to the floor of tho stage, at the end of the cavern in the foreground, shall be ngain examined; and everything has been re ported quite secure." "Yes secure except for me," murmured the beast-tamer. "J1, M. Moi.A, the Mgnsl mm $tn Hh : ty U iirn," ttphrd Monk. And the tnntr rnt out. ntmi:u t.xv, ir wtiii tun ri stM The Iih1 U minded Uh ftolemiiilv I..!. ...I thesHHti; tho ovetturfi tfesn. Shd. Us it,. truth, ttit tilth attention 4s tid t Jj TU inttilor of the Ihi atre off, red tt vi rv aniiii.tnJ tie. With the rucrpth.n of to even with the drr i irr'r, one to the h ft il. other to the right of the au Hem e, evrry seat was owupjed. A great mini tar of i try frthionble ladies, attracted, m is asvs the rate, bv th. Mrange wilduti, oftl, ,HH tac!e, tilled the boxes. The stall were crowded by umt f the v.,un men who, in the morning, had walked their horses on the(?hamps.Klysi.t.s. Thob.rvBii. which pasted f.om one stall to another will give Home idea of their conversation. Oh! gentlemen 1 am not mistaken she!" "Who then!" "M-llle. doCardoville! She is COIulllC illl.l lliA stage-box with Morinval and his wife. It i v complete resuscitation; this morning on the Champs ICIysces; in the evening here." "l aith you are right I It is Mdlle. de Crrl. viilo. "Good heaven! how lovely she is!" "Lend rae your eye-glass." "Well, what do you think of her?" exquisite dazzlinir " "And In addition to her beautv. ble flow of wit, three hundred thousand frnnoi year, high birth, eighteen years of ncc. and free as air." "Do you notice, gentlemen, how all th are eye-glassing Mdlle. de Cardoville !" "She makes a sensation." "She is right to show herself: thev irave her out as mad." "Oh I gentlemen, what a capital phiz " vvnere where? " "There in the omnibus-box benenth MAU ,1 Curdovillo's." "It's a Nuremburg nutcracker " "An ourang-oulaiig !" Did you ovor see such round, starinir eves?" "And the noso 1" "And the forehead I" "It's a caricature." "Order, order ! the curtain rises." And, in tact the curtain roso. Somo exolnnn. lion is necessary for the clear understanding of what follows. In the lower sluee-box. to the ir. of the audience, were soveral persons, who had ueen roitrred to by the young men in the taU Tho omnibus-box wus occupied by the English man, the eccentric and portentous bettor, whose presonco inspired Morok with so much dread. Above the dark box of tho Enirlisliman. ftfrr,1. ing a graceful contrast, were seated the Moriu- vais and Mdlle. de Cardoville. The lniur - nun placed nearest the stage. Her hotd was um. ered, and sho wore a dress of sky-blue China cpe, ornamentod at the bosom with a brooch nt the finest Oriental pearls nothing more; yet Adrienne, thus attired, was charming. She held in her hand an enormous bouquet, composed of me rareswiowers or Jndia; the stophanotis nn,l the gardenia mingled the dead white of their blossoms with the purple hibiscus and Java am. ftryllls. "Madame de Morinval. seated on the onn,,.i side of the box, was dressed with equal tasto and simplicity; Morinval, a fair and very handsome young man, of elegant appearance, was behind the two ladies. M. de Montbron was oxpected to arrive every moment. The reader will please to recollect that the stage-box to the right of the audience, opposite Adrionno's had remained till then qullo empty. Yet somothing calculated to excite curiosity was taking place in tho onnoli stage-box. Tho door of this box opened. Far. inghou entered and placed two chairs at tho front of tho box, then wont out quickly. His nppari tion caused surprise and curiosity in tho theatre, which was still more excited when a youth of rare beauty, also dressed Oriental fashion, in whose Bash was stuck a lonir Anoanr with precious stones, stepped into the box. This young man was Prince Djslma. For an instant he remained standins at tho door. i forward with a majestic and tranquil air, the prince seated himself necliomntlv Ail nna if ik. chairs, and, turning his head in a few moments lowaroB ne enirance, appeared surprised at not seeing some person whom lm lini.iino Avrv..n.i This person appeared at length; tho box-keeper ...... ..vv.i ......7ini,iii ,,W i0 0ji nur clonic, one was a charming, fair haired girl, attired with mora sllOW limn Inula Iml In un.. I. n iiiutwinr n. in. set offtlie prettiest, sprightlioHt, most wilful little face in the world. It was lloso-Poinpon. She curried a largo b iuquct of Rosos. Adricitne nnd not olmerved tho nu'.niiiiiiia - ----- -- - - -. . 1 : t and Djulnia had not recognized Mdlle. do Cardo fine, To be Continued. V ; f 4 i I-1 1 4i