Connecticut western news., 1871-11-10

And drink the light the features shed about, And hug the banished pain again to me. slh 1'i .--.. ----... .---. U. . -a"ti5 H.fG
 -fa "a Ta '.'s''ai erz. eiT9il;N 13isfs ,,, NINETTE,' THE QUEEN OF THE RING.
 The manager had rendered the services of the company for benefit to- a hospital which needed funds; and there was every crowded house. .Ninette, our equestrian queen, had entered more fully into the spirit of the scene than any oi us, although the affair great success.5l,Jit snlfvoy a-a
 How loved Nnettel So oddly, too, that sometimes my own love almost be- wildered me; it's persistency having nc hope in it, yet its. hopelessness having nc despair. It was a love that never was moved by her indifference or scorn, and never weakenedi 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 plainer than herself, but domineering most despotically over every male erformer in the circus. But she did it so prettily and bewitchingly. that I was not, the only one who had laid his love at, her feet, to be trampled' on at her girlish pleasure. I had but poor health then, and this was one source of Ninette's merry sarcasm. aiugau
 We moved intothe dimly- ghted build ing which surrounded the, tent, and looked in at the performance. ,,.,. ,,,.,. ,.,,#
 " The circus is crowded" Ninette .whis- pered, as she sauntered cut with me. '" hardly ever remember our having such g crowd, Rieardon niaes ii i iienis7f ,l,f ,,rr
 "And L9hope we never shall have it again." I panted, unbuttoning my coat The place is stifing."rs s. t,.,..' 'a;.-
 "O6, hope we shall,'' she laughed merrily; {" I should like to see hundreds turned away from the doors, and no room left inside even for one child lmore." II 7lf = | went into the ring amid the deafening applause of the crowd, and, lowing slightly, walked eoolly across the ring, I thought nothing of the mass of faces rising in rows, but I remembered that Ninette could see me, and that she had said | was helping in a good cause. felt that had performed as had hardly ever performed; before, and the long applause was again and again renewed as I left the ring. What would Ninette say? Would she congratulate mel Passing through the dimly y-hghted building outside the tent, where the horses waited, Ilcaught sight of two figures stand
 ing aside in. the shadow-Ninette and a gentleman, an army, officer whom had met that morning talking low and ear. nestly. I had often noticed him in the circus, and noticed his evident admiration of Ninette, still I. 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 1: moment, then went on talking; coquet- tishly and fippantly it seemed to me. d took her horse from the man who wa: bringing -it-forWard,- ,-and- mysRf led ii toward beE,aoI YH.7r0.ggr0xS
 Are you ready, ,HMlles .Ninette, ,2ps ] asked, my voice trembling against my will
 Ready? Why 2" she inquired, witt slow contempt q 1TEUgiEJ JpIl
 "Allow me, Q, pray allow me, Made moiselle," exclaimed the stranger, starting forward. And Ninette, smiling, put heI foot into his hand. .-is-,e l%' ..,.,. .. .,.,'
 Seating herself in the saddle with the utmost ease, she carelessly, as it seemed backed Black Hawk against me. i" Signol Ricardo, she said, haughtily, lis this tht spot where the gentlemen of our company usually rest between their exercises in tn, ring p An ironical answer rose to my lips, but withheld the words [r.
 "Stand back, if you please, Signor Must you always follow me? always haun me- Stand back"
 With quick change of voice and brigh shy smile, she bent to take her httlt gilded whip as the officer handed it to her
 Thanks, Monsieur le Capitaine." Ant while she bent gracefully, and seemed tt be only stroking the neck of the splendie black horse, she refined him in, skillfully and imperceptibly, until he touched my shoulder ssfsa- 7 .'rfsi1ss IEss EIfsos f
 turned away without .answefing.;;' anc 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 aud triumphant after her success he came forward again eagerly. She drev up her lissome little figure with dash 0 odd pride, and turning Black Hawk rapidly aside, sprang to the ground nnassisted Her part was played for that night, and while the loud elapping within was con tinued, she walked, slowly out into th darkness; her long crimson. habit'over' he arm, her little cap pushed from her bright excited face, and her eyes raised to tn, young officer who, walked beside her. '''
 After that, all is a burning confusion il my brain until one evening when awokl to consciousness in the hospital for whicl l had been performing, and heard the physi cians (who had seen me fall, and had at tended pityingly upon me ever sincel whis per that all would be well in time. 1T .,.r
 Ricardo, dear fellow, {" said the manager comIng forward softly, and bending tt whisper to me, l" Thank God all will b, well. The worst is over." 'ss,i. / 2. 2
 l hardly know when the .knowledg, dawned upon me, or how; but as Ia, there-my old companions cfust stering rount mel knew that badsperformed anon. them for the last time. I knew that lift had most wonderfully and mercifuIly bee, spared lEe; but that should never wall again. do nat eemerDber that the knowl edge came with any sharp or bitter pain
 think it WAS a qiiet, hopeless conviction from the first. They bad gwen me a smal room in the hospital to myself partly t. spare others the highto af my suffering partly, perhaps, because | had hurt mysel in their cause. a SiE
 So the days and nights passed on; an slowly, slowly brought me little ease a last. -ss ! zsIsH .tsai b5 edI ao raiA3fsl..,.-
 One morning Monsieur, entering m room with brighter face than nSnal foI,