Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-16
NINETTE, THE QUEEN OF THE RING.

NINETTE, THE QUEEN OF THE RING.
The manager had rendered the services
of the company for a benefit to hospital
which needed funds, and there was every
prospect of fashionable, as well as a
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 [ loved Ninette! So oddly, too,
that sometimes my own love almost be-
wildcred me; its perSistency having no
hope in it, yet its hopelessness having no
despair, 1t was 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
bcwitchingly that | was not the only one
who had laid his love at her feet to be
trampled on at her grlsh pleasure. ] had
but poor health then, and this was one
source of Ninette's merry sarcasm.
We moved into the dimly- lighted build
ing which surrounded the tent, and looked
in at the performance.
The circus is crowded." Ninette whis-
pered rs she sauntered out with me. 81
hardly ever remember our having such a
crowd Ricardo"
"And | hope we never shall have it
again." painted, mbuttoning my coat.
"The place is sitting"
"Oh, | hope we SHALL" she laughed,
merrily; 81 should like to see hundreds
turned away from the doors, and no room
left inside even for one child moren
went into the ring amid the deafening
applause of tie crowd, and, bowling slightly,
walked coolly across the ring. | thought
nothing of the mass of faces rising in rows,
but | 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 | left the ring. What would
Ninette say? Would she congratulate
me? Passing through the dimly-lighted
building outside the tent, where the horses
waited, | caught 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
ncstly. | 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 a
moment, then went on talking; coquet-
tishly and fippantly it seemed to me. |
took her horse from the man who was
bringing it forward, and myself led it
toward her.
care you ready, Mile. Ninette 2"
asked, my voice trembling against my will.
"Ready9 Why?" she inquired, with
slow contempt.
"Allow me. 0, pray allow me, Made.
moiselle," exclaimed the stranger, starting
forward. And Nmette, smiling, put her
foot into his hand.
Seating herself in the saddle with the
utmost ease, she carelessly, as it seemed,
backed Black Hawk against me. "Signor
Ricardo" she said, haughtily, "is this the
spot where the gentlemen Of our company
usually rest between their exercises in the
ring ~ An ironical answer rose to my
lips, but | withheld the words.
Stand back, if you please, Signor.
Must you always follow me ? always haunt
me Stand back"
With a quick change of voice and bright
shy smile. she bent to take her little
gildcd whip as the officer handed it to her.
" Thanks, Monsieur lie Capitainc.n And
while she bent gracefully, and seemed to
be only stroking the neck of the splendid
black horse, she reined him in, skillfully
and imperceptibly until he touched my
shoulder.
| turned away without answering; and
for the first time Ninettc 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
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-
tnued, she walked slowly out into the
darkness; her long crimson habit over her
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
to consciousness in the hospital for which
had been performing, and heard the physi-
clans (who had seen me fall, and had at
tended pltyingly upon me ever since) whis-
per that all would be well in time.
Ricardo, fellow" said the manager,
coming forward softly, and bending TO
whisper to me, "Thank God all will be
well. The worst is overs
hardly know when the knowledge
dawned upon me, or how; but as | Law
there-my old companions clustering round
me- knew that | had performed among
them for the last time. | knew that life
had most wonderfully and mercifully been
spared ne; but that | should never walk
again. do not remember th9t the knowl
edge came with any sharp Or bitter pain ;
think it was quiet, hopeless conviction
from the first They had given me a small
room in the hospital 20 myself; partly to
spare Others the sight of my suffering
partly, perhaps, because had hurt myself
in their cause.
So the days and nights passed on and
slowly, slowly brought me little ease at
est.
One morning Monsieur, entering my