Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-04
THE EQUESTRIENNE.

your Circus ~ suddenly asked a rather hand
some, beautifully formed girl, of the class 80
Justly designated as unfortunate They were
seated in her own room. handsomely furnished
and this man. proprietor OF a travelling Troupe
was, for the time being, her lover. -IIA
The girl well educated, unc0mmOnly gifted
and very fascinating in manners, had obtained
hold on his affections, which surprised him
self. Though rather course, he was much of a
man, as he did not laugh at her earnest face
and manner, but merely asked if she was dis
satisfied with her present life. Turning her
large eyes full upon him, as she stood in front
of him, she said
You know what am now, but not what I
was six months ago, ere I left my home. Twas
miserably deceived, and at last / came hither
Reflection drives me mad. With q temper
proud as Lucifer, L kept my misery to myself
cannot drink to drown sorrow the rest do,
so must ehsnge or die. In any employment
where they require character or reference Of
course, have no chance ; but with you, / hope
TO ammend my most miserable life. . ...'
" And yet, said he, 4" you are young hand
some, rich, for one like you; adOred by all:
with "a you would have hard work, poor pay
and would be as ill thought of as you afe
now" =,
" Pshaw!" said she, L know all that: -.S-am
asyOu say, saught after for my youth, and my
appearance attracts, while my sprightliness
amuses. can as get, choose my company
Madame does wittily term me, "The Hight Of her
Heaven" and men, sensible men too,) some
times converse with me, as though had a soul.
But do not see the finger Of scOrn pointed at
me wherever L go! do I not hear the whisper
q The Belle Cora,n as pass? Do not modest
women shrink from contact, even with the hem
of my garment! and men who are my servile
creatures, ignore me in the streets? Do not
see the laugh, the wink, the sneer, not concealed
of those who have made and kept US what we
are! No, Germain, no my mind is made up.
l have long kept by me the means of death, and
must make use of it.
. Perhaps you have a wife, or mistress whom
you fear should hear of our connection. though
1 moan TO be honest" (then fancying a flicker
ing smile on his face, she answered with fear
ful earnestnesSD swear mean 10 be honest,
even with you
My cir" said he, kindly and gravely, I. 1
will deal frankly with you, as think you de-
serve; and in the first place, let me assure you,
there is no woman who has any claim on me,
paramount to yours, and I never saw one before
IN any class loved as well, although may be
fool for so doing; nevertheless, so dear to me
have you become in this short acquaintance.
that, If you believe yourself capable of fulfill
ing your new resolution, | will marry you, and
you shall join my Troude as lady Equestrienne
If you choose. know shall have to bear some
laughter on the subject, but am pretty good
bruiser as we'll as rider, and no man will laugh
twice at me, and no human being shall abuse
or insult you. Only be sure of yourself, for
though 1 know what you are now, I look upon it
as misfortune, and henceforth twill be as it
had never happened; but for your future,
shall hold you strictly 70 account"
" the meanest and poorest of your compa-
ny had offered me his hard, honest hand, and
would have lifted me from this mire, would
have worked, tOiled begged for him But that
yOU, 50 handsome, SO brave, 90 manly, should
offer me this grace, never dreamed or hoped
Dut inaSmuch as you have done it, you have
made me your loving slave for life. Your will
shall De my law. Your pleasure, my happiness
and will eleaye to you only, So long as we
both shall live. So bolp me God!''
When We next met the Belle Cora, she had
been for some time Madame Germain and to-
night makes her debut in the ring.
She has been carefully trained by her hus-
Dand; and he has been her constant attendant
at rehearsal, and as they are now very far from
the spot where they were married few know ber
IN any other character than the one she now
sustains. Reports of her beauty and horse
manshlp have got abroad, Tonight every
seat Is filled. Entrees for teats of dexterity or
strength, are rather hurriedly performed to
make way for the single-hOrse act by Madame
He leads her in himself. She is arrayed in a
rich green satin dress, trimmed with silver
very becOmingly made. with lust enough dig
Play OF the shoulder and arms that Sculptor
might copy, and Queen might envy The
purple black hair, in its massive abundance
knOtted classicaly behind and fastened with a
large silver arrow no other ornament. How
gracefully she cOurtesied to the overwhelming
applause that greeted her appearance, and how
beautiful she looked, with one slender hand
laId on her heart, while Germain held the other
AGAIN and again, she was permitted to
mount, was she obliged to answer the tumult by
her graceful motion
At last, with a bound, she is on the horses
oack and IN tulI career, and with as much ap-
parent unconeern as though she had ridden
from childhood So full of conscious power was
every motion, that the spectators felt easy In
her ease. Now she stands erect and firm as a
statue, now kneels, now floats, poised on one
toe, and scarf of gauIe sprinkled with silver
rs handed to her. and, enveloped therein every
attitude is a study and picture.
There are no cOntortions Of the BODY no i'm
modest gestures but her frmness and fearless
ness prove her mistress of her horse and her
self. Never bad an eques trienne so taken the
house by storm She was loaded with bouquets
and Germain led her off in triumph. Night
after night was the Amphitheatre crowded. 10
witness her performance, and so determined
was she TO succeed, that she could not miss ex-
ceilence
Now shs foated as Zephyr now as an ANA
son she poised the spear, and threw tho dart,
anu rode the widest and most unmanageable
horse with ease
Germain Was always in the ring; he assisted
her TO her horse, he attended her to her dress
ing room, and 80 well had she studied his wants
and wishes, that she every day seemed dearer
to him Never had he cause to reprOve a single
action. She never left the hotel, except in his
e0mpany-scarcely knew any of the troupe by
name During very, very severe sickness,
che had been his most devoted nurse-read 10
him, sang to him, amused him by her sprightly
conversation during his cOnvalescence, and, in
fact, he had forgotten what she had been. in
what she was.
But one night after the performance, as they
were ascending the steps Of their hotel, a half
drunken fellow whom he had noticed in the Cir
Gus as very uproarious, met them face TO face
and staring rudely at the lady, said
All my Belle Cora 1 thought twas YOU
when | saw you riding now am sure as / do
live. L should like your company tonight
o1 have not forgotten your first love, Barlow,
have you ,''
lne words were scarcely spoken, when Ger
main, who had been trying to reassure his wife,
sPrahS suddenly on the rutfian and threw him
do"n the whole length OF the marble steps, then