, 1859-08-16
MY wife aud /.

Tony wife then spoke " way q joke.
"Ah. 5ea, sela,ion-br HAKz1Ask."
THE QUEEN OF TIE ARENA.
It WIS strange scenc. The wagon was
close to the circus, formed indeed part Of it
the poor woman was lying on the low shell,
called the bed, Of the travelling caravan; two
or three Of the wives Of the men attached to
the exhibition were round her, endeavoring
By their exertions to relieve her momentari1y
increasing pain, and helping her to bear it pa-
tient1y their sympathy.
"He ought to hare been here half an hour
ago." said one Of the women. "Jim started
for him on the piebald over two hours
since"
"Did he take the piebald?" said another.
"Why, I thought he was in the Itaian lop-
crs?"
"No, he wouldn't run with tho spotted
pare, so they've put the blind gray with her,
and took the piebald in the quadril1e for Dick
Gravel to take bottom couple with"
The exclamation seemed satisfactory, for 81
lence ensued
Presently roar Of such laughter as is only
heard ir circus ut o country village-:fresh,-
genuine, hearty-shook the sides Of the fiail
vehicle.
WHATS that?" said tho apparently dying
woman.
"only your Bill's Quaker story said one.
Oh, then he'll soon be here, won't he n
said she.
"Yes, he's only got t1nae more points,
and then he'll come; he don't 60 in the sylph
scene"
Three fainter pea1s Of laughter told that the
three points had III, hut not as well as the
Quaker story; and then he came in.
"Well," said be, chow is she now n in q
voice whose anxiety strangely contrasted with
lis tawdry dress, that Of tumbling clown at a
travelling circus. allow is she nov? ?'
"Tm better, Bill, said the woman. Can you
stop n little?"
"Ies; don't 60 in next, it's Chapman's
turn and 80 Saying seated himself by the
side Of the woman.
She was still young, aud, as far as the dim
Light hung from the roof would enable q judg-
ment to be form'd, good-looking; the cork
gr'med eyebrows, cracked lips and dry cheeks
told tllat she too had appeared before tho pub.
lie for its amusement; indeel tie traces Of
rouge were still On parts Of the face, and told
-
time, on1, since the last evenings perform
auco indeed, when, during one Of her jumps
through the hoop, mans putting On Ills hat
startled the horse, and 80 caused ! false step,
which brought Ier heavily to the ground. Tie
experienced ring-master saw she could scarce
ly stand, and handed her out, kissing her hand
IN the usual style, and few, if any, Of the spec
tators knew that, when rapturous1y applaud
ing the most unparalleled feat, the leap from
the horses back through the hoop to the
ground, their applause was unbeard by their
| intended object. She had tainted Immediately
on reaching the dressing room, and was at once
carried to the moving chamber where she now
lay.
But to return. She took his hand in hers,
saying: "BilI, don't think shall 60 round
any more"
"Don't say so, lass, it'll bo all right when
| the doctor comes"
mo, Bill; I feel better, but something tells
me IRE put on the toys for the last time"
| "Ko, lass, nor was all the utterancc he
could find. "Don't say sol'
After pause, she said: "Dill, you recollec
that London chap, with the French name, tha'
came down to tue Doncaster races I"
20, yes, know" said the man, hnlcangrly
as If wishing to avoid the subject
"Well you know you said that time t1la
yon thought there was something between ms
and him.
swell, know it," said tue man, "but don.
Il ink Of that now; don't trouble about tia
now"
aBns must Bill think am dying, Bill
dear, and should like you to think Of N
when I'm gone rs I am truly, Bill"
The man made no ans yer.
"Bill," ," said the woman, with increasing vc
heuence Of manner, :" do you believe I'd tel
you lie now!"
No answer still.
*Biul Do you think I'd tell you lie noto
said she, as though her Life depended on hi
answer.
aNo, no, lass" said he at last " don
think you'd tell lie any time-but now
and he hcsitated'
"Where's jenny interrupted the VI
man.
"Here, eaid one Of the youngest wome]
standing up 80 that she might be seen. "Wh'
do sou want?'
"Jenny, you'll find the key Of tho gree
trunk in the china mug with Nelly on it.
wish you'd look in the box, and get nc n
old Bible OUT
TIE girl found tho key, and asked where Il
box was.
40 dear, l forgot, its under me-" said Il
woman.
"Therc, never mind" said he, II don't wa
anr ii1ss about itn
20. Bin. dear 1 wish you'd lift me M |
4le and mil il out To;1 can mt the brnk,
chairs under to kcep me IN then,n .~s7- .
Sn never mit'd." said he. uit'1l pa;n &
so,
40. Dal dear f1on't mind, + wish =
would.''
He did # ut 1ast md after sone trnuh1a n
f,us,anraas ~ M 49, - t,roans tha rox 1cos mi Il
y out to III ,n;dd,s ofthe f1oor oncred md tbc
rTarnna m i, nanar ~ and nsa,]yh; was t
p;hla. tIc manor greasv frono cnnfact vi
) d;snsad haa5. .gro.sos os,r1ands hands n
o,hcr small ancessor;es If tho dress Of I
nnaar nf ,ha a~ena Thor aaro !, ~ +ha y
nm vho soon nstcd uWbero,s Marv7a
5 al ebo ;c he,a no1ru ea;d ona of thc =
on and sd. 20 iii I'm ohout % tre ac cama % mining
sha had 1aan T,erfnr,n;ne. Tho noTt nm ;ittje
sa0 - 49, ;,,s+ t tan;shad soa1a. sar ,..ond -
r 1,u ~ - ~ Is. s.nd - and - a,,vo ~ .r;n"s IN
D. sha,Ida-s. sha tool tl,em oef hid down
snvonod st;cI md cane ~ ~ III. 10 ~
1T 49, 80 ~ <a,, ths-e1;,
uyos ,no.1nr ~ inst sionc and tho n
y .,o o,.nas5 sn ..han Jr1,. took mn m i
u rPh.,,,da.m H. rt '-'''' '~ '''0
=. ap,,t her IN the box. aha can't soe 1,f
,,,o.osted M st so,7,o m one. It ms pushed to VII
e ~ es,;,d atood and Than tho mother said: