Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-14
THE QUEEN OF THE CIRCUS.
BY CHAS. DICKENS.

G1lltu IhC ~ VIZ
or three of the wives Of the men attached to
the exhibition were round her, endeavOring
bv their exertions to relieve the momentarily
Increasing pain, and helping her to bear 1t
patiently by their sympathy.
I ..He ought to have been here half an hour
aco. +" sail one of the women. Jim started
f5r him on the piebald, two hours since"
"Did he take the piebald ?" said another.
Why, | thought he was IN the HaHdH
Lorers?"
No; he wouldn't run with the spotted
mare. 80 THEY'VE put the blind gray with her
and took the pebald in the quadrile for
Dick Gravel to take bottom couple with.
The explanation seemed satisfactory, Tor
silence ensued.
Presently a roar of such laughter as Is only
heard in a circus at a country village-iresh,
genuine, hearty-shook the sides Of the iran
Vehicle.
- What's that ?" said the apparently dy-
ing woman.
d" Oh, then he'll soon be here, wont he
SAID she.
" Ye-, he'sgot only three more points. and
then he'll come he don't g in in the Sylph
scene"
Three fainter peals of laughter told thai
the three points had hit, but not as well as
the Quaker story and then he came in.
.. Well" said he how is she now ? IN
4 voice the anxiety of which cOntrdsted most
strangely with his tawdry dress that OF tum-
bling clown in a travelling circus. " How
is she now?'
I'm better, Bill" said the woman.
Can YOU stop a little?
yes; | don't g in next, it's Chapman S
turn and so saying, the man seated him
self by the side Of the woman
She was still young, and, as far as the Dim
| light hung from the roof would enable a
Judgment to be formed, go~od-lookIng; the
| cork crimed eyebrows, cracked lips. and dry
checks. told that she, too, had appeared be-
fore the public for its amusement; indeed,
the traces Of rouge were still on parts OF the
face. and told too truly that she had lam
there bat 4 short time-Only since the last
evening" performance, indeed, when, during
one Of her Jumps through the hoop, a mar
rg-ting On his hat startled the horse, and SO
caused a false step, which brought her heayI-
Ir +, the ground. The experienced ring
master slw she cJuld scarcely stand, and
landed her out, kissing her hand IN the
usual style; and few, if any, of the spectat-
rs knew that when rapturously a~pPiaudlng
the most unparalleled feat-the leap from
the horses back through the hoop to the
,round-their applause was unheard ny
their intended object. She had tainted
Immediately N reaching the dressing room'
and was ut once carried to the moving
chamber where she now lay.
But to return. She took his hand IN
he's, saying
Bill. | don't think l shall 90 round any
m)re.'
Don't say so, lass; it'll be all right when
tie doctor comes
NO, Bill; l feel better. but som hing
tells me I've put on the toys Tor the Iasl
time
No. lass, no." was all the u%tterance he
could find. Don't say So
After a pause she said
"Bnl. YOU r~ecollect that London chap
with the French name that came down to
the Doncaster races o.
uOb. YES. l know said the man. half
ancriIv rs if wishing to avoid the subject.
8WeI. YOU know You said that time that
Won thought there was something between
me and him.
.Well. know it, sid the man. but
don't think Of that now-don't trouble
about that now.
But l must. Bill. think I'm dying,
Bill. dear. and | should like YOU to think vi
me when I'm gone as [ am truly, Bill
The man did not answer.
BILL said the woman, with increasing
vehemenoe Of manner, ''do you believe I'd
tell YOU a lie now?'
y answer still.
Bill Do you think I'd tell you a lie
uo1r2" said she. as though her life depended
on his answer.
NO, no, lass, said he, at Asr, II d-nt
think you'd tell a lie any time-but n5N
and he hesitated.
where's Jenny?' interrupted the WON
an.
"Here." said one Of the youngest woman.
standing up, so that she might be seen.
What DO you want?'
Jenny. you'll find the key of the green
trunk in the china mug with Nelly on it.
l wish you'd look in the box, and get me my
old Bible OUT
The girl found the key, and asked where
the box was.
"Oh, dear, I forgot; it's under me, - said
the woman.
There. never mind, " said he, Il don't
want any fuss about it."
..Oh, Bill. dear, l wish you'd lift me up
a little. and pull it out. You can put the
broken chair under to keep me up then
No, never mind said he, It'll pain
you So
"Oh, Bill, dear, l don't mind. l wish
you would"
He did it at last; and. after some trouble
and a few suppressed grOans, the box was
pulled out to the middle of the floor, opened,
and there, wrapped up in paper and neatly
hid, was the Bible; the paper greasy, from
contact with disused head dresses. garlands,
bands, and other small accessories of the
dress of the Queen of the Circus.
She gave It'll the woman, who soon asked,
"Where's Mary"
"Oh, she is here now" said one of the
women and a girl five years of age came
running in she had been performing
the part of a fairy in the Just finished scene
her wand was still in her hand, and the
gauze wings on her shoulders; she took them
of, laid down the silver stick, and came to
the bed.
MARY. dear, are you there p
Yes, mother, I'm Just done and the
people clapped so when Julia took me on her
shoulder"
Put her on the box she can't see her., 5"
suggested some one it was pushed to where
the child stood, and then the mother said
Mary, I'm going away"
80, mother, where to-"
" But before | go, | want you to see me
and father friends again" The child stared
with wonder but the woman, not needing
her, continued Bill, dear, have you got
the paper off the Bible? Well, open it at
the New Testament"
HIRE, one of you women, find it Jenny,
will you ?" said the man.
Jenny did, and gave it back.
Nov Bill, raise me up a little"
"Oh, never mind said he, 81 know
you'll get hurt"
She looked only a repetition of her request,
and then taking the open book from his
hands, said
Bill dear, you know you said there was
something wrong between that London chap
and me. | told you at the time there was
not, and you didn't, believe me, though you
didn't say so and you don't believe 1t now :"
she said, with increased energy. Now, Bill,
Ioa, 49, ,-oO a. - ~.