The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-10-19
The Queen Of the Arena.

the exhibition were round her, endeavoring
by their exertions to relieve her momentari-
ly increasing pain, and helping her to bear
it patiently by their sympathy.
"He ought to have been here half an hour
ago." said one of the women. "Jim started
for him on the piebald over two hours ago."
"Did he take the piebald!" said another.
"Wby thought he was in the italian low.
ers.'"
"No, he wouldn't run with the spotted
mare, so they've put the blind gray with
her, and took the piebald in the qusdrille
for Dick Gravel to take bottom couple
with"
The explanation seemed satisfactory, for
silence ensued.
Presently a roar of such laughter as is
only heard in circus at country village
fresh, genuine, hsarty-shook the sides Of
of the !rail vehicle.
"What's that." said the apparently dying
woman.
"Ony your BilI's Quaker story" said
one.
"Oh, then he'll soon be here, won't he!"
said she.
ayes, he's only got three more points,
and then he'll come; he don't 60 in the
Sylph scene"
Three fainter peals o. laughter told that
the three points had hit, but not as we'll as
we'll as the Quaker story; and then he
came in.
"Well," said he. show is she now!' in a
voice whose anxiety strangely conttasted
with his twudry dress, that of a 'umbI'ng
clown at u travelling circus. "How is she
now!"
"Tm better, Bill" said the woman.--
"Can you stop little"
"Yes; don't 60 in next; it's Chapman &
turn;" and so saying he seated himself by
the side of the woman.
She was still young, and, as far as the
dim light hung from the roof would enable
judgment to be formed, good looking; the
cork grimmed eyebrows, cracked lips and
dry cheeks, told that she too had appeared
before the public for its amusement; indeed
the traces OF rouge were still on parts of the
face, and told too truly that she had laiI
there for short time, only since the las
evening" performance indeed, when, during
one of her jumps through the hoop, man''
putting on his hat startled the horsn, and 81
4 caused fal+e step. which brought her heav
| ly to the ground. The experienced rims
master saw that she could hardly stand, ant
4 handed her out, kissing her hand in thu
usu Il style, and few, il any, of the specta
tors knew that, when rapturously applaud
ing the most unparalleled feat, the IeaI
from the horses back through the hoop t'
the ground, their applause was unheard BY
their intended object. She had tainted i'm
mediutely on reaching the dressing-room
and was at once carried to the movln;
chamber where she now lay.
But to return. She took his hand in her:
saying, Bill, don't think shall 60 roun
any more"
Don't say so, lass, it'll be al! right whe
the doctor comes"
"No, Bill; feel better, but something
tells me I've put on the togs for the las
time."
"No, lass, mol" was oil the ut,erance h
could find. "Don't say So"
After pause, she saiG: "Bill, you reco
ect that London chap, with the Frenc
name, that came down to the D,ncaste
rsces!"
'Oh, yes, I know said the man, half an
griy, as it wishing to avoid the subject.
'Wcll, you know you said that time th'
you thought there ~as something betwe ee
me and him.
'Well, | know it, said the man, 'b,
don't thiak that now-dun't trouble abo,
that now
Bat must, Bill. think am dyin
Bill, and | should like you to think Of IT
when ON gone as an truly
The man made no answer.
'Bill,' said the woman with increasing v
hemence Of manner, "do you believe wOu
tell you lie now?
No answer still.
Bill, do you think would tell you ]
nov?' said she, as though her lie depend
,e on his answer.
I'D mo, no, lass,' said he at last, Il do n
er think you would tell lie at any time-b
s- ow-' and he hesitated.
nd where's Jenny interrupted the woma
Here said one Of the youngest wome
q standing up so that she might be seen
he What do you want
ait Jenny, you'll find the key of the gre
Ith trunk in the chinamug with Nelly on
all I wish you would look in the box, and G
ID, me my old Bible out
by The girl found the key and asked whe
ID, the box was.
,c, .Ob, dear, l forgot, it's under me- ST
on the woman.
rs, There, never mind said he, Il do
ch want any fuss about it,
'rk 'Oh, Bill, dear, wish you'd lift me w
len little, and pull 1t out. You can put
40. broken chair under to keep me up then
ith mo, never mind said be, 'it will p
you so.'
led .oh, Bill, dear, l don't mind; I wish y
ust would