South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-11-10
NINErTE. THE QUEEN OF TIE RING.

NiNETTE. THE QUEEN OF THE RING,
The manager had rendered the services
of the company for benefit to hospita
which needed funds, and there was every
prospect of fashionable, as well as q
crowded house. Ninette, our equestrian
queen, had entered more fully into the
spirit of the scene than any Of us, although
we were all more than anxious to make
the affair great success. :
How I loved Nnettel So oddly, too,
that sometimes my own love almost be-
wildered me; its persistency having no
hope in it, vet its hopelessness having no
despair. 1t was a love that never was
moved by her indifference or scorn, and
never weakened by her contempt. She
was proud of her own beauty and Of her
power over us all, and she never attempted
to hide this-never domineering over the
female performers, who were all older and
palmer than herself, but domineering most
despotically over every male performer in
the circus. But she did it so prettily and
bewitchingly that | was not the only one
who had laid his love at her feet to be
trampled On at her girllsh pleasure. had
but poor health then, and this was one
source of Ninette's merry sarcasm. s
We moved into the dimly-ighted build
ing which surrounded the tent, and looked
in at the performance.
The circus is crowded, Ninette whis-
pered, as she sauntered out with me. "I
hardly ever remember our having such a
crowd, Ricardo" ,-s.,-.. ..,....,.
"And | hope we never shall have 1t
again." painted, unbuttoning my coat
"The place is sitting"
"Oh, I hope we SHALL" she laughed;
merrily; | should like to see hundreds
turned away from the doors, and no room
left inside even for one child more"
| went into the ring amid the deafening
applause of the crowd, and, bowingslightiy,
walked coolly across the ring. thought
nothing of the mass of faces rising in rows,
but l remembered that Ninette could see
me, and that she had said was helping in
good cause. felt that had performed
as had hardly ever performed before, and
the long applause was again and again
renewed as | left the ring. What would
Ninette say ; Would she congratulate
meg Passing through the dimly-igbted
building outside the tent, where the horses
waited, caught sight of two figures stand
ing aside in the shadow-Ninette and
gentleman, an army officer whom had
met that morning-talking low and ear
nestly. / had often noticed him in the
circus, and noticed his evident admiration
of Ninette, still had never seen him out
there among us before, and started as /
came up. to them In the gloom. NInette
carelessly turned her eyes upon me for
moment, then went on talking coquet-
tishly and fiippantly it seemed to me. | !
took her horse from the man who was
bringing it forward, and myself led it |
toward her. 49, .tr-.-. .-.=..ss- ~
Are you ready, Mile Ninette 81 /
asked, my voice trembling against my will,
"Ready2 Why2 2" she inquired, with
slow contempt.
"AlIow me. o, pray allow me, Made
moiselle," exclaimed the stranger, starting
forward And Ninette, smiling, put her
foot into his hand. ---. t,-4 I
Seating herself in the saddle with the |
utmost ease, she carelessly, as it seemed,
backed Black Hawk against me. "SigHor
Ricardo" she said, haughtily, is this the
spot where the gentlemen Of our company
usually rest between their exercises in the
ring % An ironicaI answer rose 10 my
lips, but withheld the words, sslfl
"Stand back, if you please, SigHor.
Must you always follow me ? always haunt
me2 Stand back"
With quick change of voice and bright
shy smile. she bent to take her little
gilded whip as the officer handed it toher.
g Thanks, Monsieur lie Capitaine." And
while she bent gracefully, aud seemed to
be only stroking the neck of the splendid
black horse, shortened him in, skillfully
and imperceptibly, until he touched my
shoulder.
| turned away without answering; and
for the first time Ninette performed with
out my eyes following her graceful motions.
The strange gentleman moved to the open-
ing into the tent, but when she rode back, /,
flushed and triumphant after her success,
he came forward again eagerly. She drew I
up her lissome little figure with dash of
odd pride, and turning Black Hawk rapidly :
aside, sprang to the ground unassisted.
Her part was played for that night, and,
while the loud clapping within was con-
tinued, she walked slowly out into the 5
darkness; her long crimson habit oversher
arm, her little cap pushed from her bright,
excited face, and her eyes raised to the |
young officer who walked beside her,
After that, all is burning confusion in
my brain until one evening when ] awoke i
to consciousness in the hospital for which {
had been performing, and heard the physi- {
clans (who had seen me fall, and had at t
tended pityingiy upon me ever sincel whis- |
per that all would be well in time. !
Ricardo, dear fellow" said the manager,
coming forward softly, and bending 10 i
whisper to me, "Thank God all will be
well. The worst is over" G
hardly know when the knowledge
dawned upon me, or how; but as lay t
there-my old companions clustering round /
me- knew that l had performed among Z
them for the last time. knew that life I 5
had most wonderfully and mercifully been t
spared ne; but that l should never walk v
again. do not remember that the knowl $
edge came with any sharp or bitter pain
| think it was quiet, hopeless conviction e
from the first. They lad given me small 3
room in the hospital to myself; partly to I
spare Others the sight OF my suffering; t
partly, perhaps, because had hurt myself
in their cause. --J.., a
So the days and nights passed on and -
slowly, slowly brought me little ease at
last. &
One morning Monsieur, entering my Il
room with brighter face,than usual, told
NE Ninette had come to see me. | felt b