The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-09-06
TIE QUEEN OF THE ARENA.

1t was strange scene. The wagon was
close to the circus. formed indeed part of
1.-THE poor woman was lying on the low
shelf, called the bed, Of the travelling
caravan; two or three of tho wives of the
men attached to the exhibition were round
her, cnleavoring ly their excrtions to re-
licve her momeptarily increasing pain, and
helping her to bear it patiently by their
sympathy.
"lIo ought to have been here half an
hour ago" said one Of the women. "Jim
started for him on tie pieball two hours
since"
Did lie take the piebald y said anoth.
er. "Why, L thought he was in the Ital
ian Lorer, :"
mo. h" wouldn't run with the spotted
marc, So they've pat the blind gray with
her, and rooli the piehald in the quaJrillc
for Dick Gravel to take tott,m couple
with"
The cypunati seemed satisfactory, for
silence en- ucd.
Presently roar of such laughter as is
only heard in . cilcus at country village
fresh, genuine, hearty-shook The sides
of tho iraIl vehicle
Whats ,hat!' said The apparently dy-
ing woman.
Only your BITS Quaker story" said
one.
20, then he'll soon be here, won't he Z"
said she.
Yes, he's only got threo more points,
and Then he'll come; he don't 60 in the
Syiph scenc,'
Three fainter pcaIs of laughter told that
the three points had hH, but not as well
as the Quaker story; and then he came in.
WELL said lie, 'how is she now?" in a
voice whcse anxiety contrasted most strange
ly with lis tawdry dress, that Of tumbling
clown at a travelling circus. How is she
nowY
I'm better, Bill said tho WOMAN
Can you stop littleT
Yes; | don't 90 in next, it's Chapmsu's
turn ana So saying the man seated him
self by tho side OF the woman.
She was still young, and, as far as the
dim light lung from the roof would enable
judgment to be formed, good looking;
the cork-grmed eyebrows, cracked lips and
dry checks, told that she too had appear
cd before the public for its amusement; in.
decd, the traces Of rouge weie still on parts
of tho face, and told too truly that she
had lain there but short time, only since
the last evenings performance indeed,
when, during one Of her jumps through
the hoop, mans putting on his hat star.
tied the horse, and so caused false step,
which brought her heavily TO the ground.
The experienced ring master saw she cod
scarcely stand, and handed her out, kiss
ING her haad in the usual style, and few,
il any, Of the spectators knew that, when
rapturously applauding the most unparal-
leleI feat, the leap from the horses back
through the hoop to the ground, their ap.
plause was unheald by their intended ob.
jcct. 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: Bill, l don't think shall
60 round any more
Don't say so, lass, it'll be all right when
the doctor comes
No, Bill; feel better, but something
tells me I've put on the togs for the last
time
No, lass, nor was all the utterance he
could find. Don't say SOP
After pause, she said: bill, you re-
collect that London chap, with the French
name, that camo down to the Doncaster
raccsp
%, yes I know said tho man, half
angrily, as if ishing to avoid the subject.
We'll, you know you were vcxcd as you
thought he received too much attention
from me.
well, know it, said the man, but
don't think Of that nov; don't trouble a.
bout that now
But must, Bill. think I'm dying,
Bill, dear, and should like you TO think
of me when I'm gone as / am truly, Bill