Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-03-02

him; she knew his eyes we're upon
her, and her heart beat quickly, but
her long lashes fell beneath his
glances. i
Fortunio, the clown, first detected
the cause Of the Dues presence in
the circus.
"Moranita," said he one evening
as they returned from the circus,
" do you love me? Could you ever
have a secret from me?"
"No, l could never hide anything
from you, you have been to me all
the world. I have no secret.
Fortunio said no more, but he de-
termined to put an end to the in
trigue which he knew must inevita-
bly, lead to the young girls destruc-
ton.
He had never spoken to her either
of principles or purity, but he had
kept her pure from all evil thought,
and from all contamination of her
companions she was spared, For
tunio never left her for an instant,
and the moment her duties were
over he took her back to their home.
He loved Moranita not as a
daughter; he loved her with the
deepest,Imost overwhelming passion.
He knewit He knew that the pas
sion was hopeless. yet he hoped
against hope, and thought if he
could take her from all the world
no, how could that lovely, beautiful
girl think of him? Yet she loved
him, and there had been miracles
of love, gratitude and devotion in
WON ans heart. The poor, deform-
ed clown blushed as he thought he
had even ventured to hope.
Meantime the Due de Croisy was
struggling, like the clown, with a
deep and overwhelming passion
He had conceived for the admirable,
bright, beautiful and modest circus
girl, one of those passions for which
the world, when they produce ca
tastrophies, finds it so difficult tt
account. Magnetism is the ration
al cause that can be assigned fol
the infatuation, for which no com
mon sense can account, for wha
those who are beneath the spell can
not explain.
1t was very easy for him, tn
Due de Croisy, to 60 behind tn
scenes with o diamond in one hand
and an insulting proposition in tn
, other, yet, strange to say, q teelin
Of respect and fear restrained him
He pondered, he thought, b
struggled, and thus he reasoned;
He was rich, he was independent
he was responsible to no one for h
!. conduct the aim OF his life we
4 happiness; that depended on Mor'
a nita, and Moranita he would hav
On that day the clown told Nor
, nita that they would leave Paris
k on that day the Due de Uroisy sougl
Q her behind the scenes, and with Il
o same ceremony and respect !
o would have used toward ducheS
e he made the circus girl an offer
d his hand, laying at her feet his 10
,s tune and his title.
a Fortunio was on the stage, ma
% ing the crowd laugh by antics al
m contortions.
n. When he returned behind t
as scenes he stood transfxed; he knt
IS that his destiny was accompllshe
le They had met it was too late nc
.r to save his happiness.
a. One deep look OF bitter hate
le cast on the Due; one look of inten
le yearning at Moranita; then, wi
calm dignity, he advanced toWar
ID them.
I'd The D2c de Croisy came towal
To him, leading Moranita by the hal
le "Sir," said he, with the utm
oil Difference, "I have just offered
hand to Mile. Moranita, and she
To done me the honor to accept 1
he We ask your consent and y
of blessing
nd Fort1nio stood for an instant,
to could either of the young, hope
,rt being who stood before him h
,th read the desperate rate that ger,
of mated that momentin his heart, Il
ioy would have recoiled from hlm.
er, But though love reveals itself, b
led has the power to hide itself. l
ay, believed in the smile with which
a ioined their hands. When Fortr
and Moranita reached home nett
her spoke of what had Just passed.
lad the first time she felt that there
a barrier between them.
au- The next day came the Duo IL
The carriage. He proposed that
she should go to the Hotel de Pm
the leaving behind their former ass
Iier, tiops. Fortunio did not reply tt
ev- Due, but returned to Moranlta; :
of "What he says is right, but l
unp never leave the station in VIII
e am born, and for which am ttI
his "Then, until I belong to ano
.cus, 7 will remain with you, father.
into Her father Yes, he was h'
ther that was the relation IN '
to q he stood to her. She loved
ught daughter--no more.
read Moranita remained in her hu
bout home; the grand, sumptuOus
lues. sents of the:Duc came to the tV
omte tIe rooms where she had be'
ould happy, where she had manuisc
ircus with SO much delight the shabb
irque snowy tinsel costumes Oh hef +
sion.
some Now, diamonds, laces and
with surrounded hor. AN atmospn
with calmness and serenity came "
per- her. She overwhelmeu 'no
for with gentle and tenoeF ""
ctiaffeon.
the awe shall never be chang
their ward each ether, daring, HL