The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-05-17
'Damnation ! why didn't burst
out John Ashc oront aud c,r;o,,s


! AT the end Of two years continued
Mr.. McClosky, still intent on his valise
! allowed I'd get divorce. Et abou
that time, however, Providence sends
circus into tibet town, and teller eli
rode three horses at onct. levin allei
taste for athletic sports, she left town
with this teller, leavin' me and jimmy
behind / sent word to her thct if she
would give jimmy to Inc we'd call il
quits. And she did.
Tell me-, gasped Ashc, did you ask
your daughter to keep this from me, OF
did she do it Of her own accord
She doesn't know it, said Mr.. Nc.
Closky she thinks am her father
and that her mothers dead
Then, sir, is your
Il don't know, said Mr.. McClosky,
slowly, 'cz I've asked any one to marry
my jimmy. | don't know cz I've per.
sood that cz Dizziness, or even taken
IT mp as a hcalthful recreation
John Ashc paced the room furi.
ously. Mr.. McClosky's eyes left the
valisc and followed him curiously.
Where is the woman demanded Ashe,
suddenly. McClosky's eyes sought the
yaise again
She went 10 Kansas; from Kansas
she went into Texas. From Texas she
eyentooally came to California. Being
here, I've peryidcd her with money
when her business was slack-thrOugh
friend.
John Ashe groanod. She's gettin'
rather old aud shaky for horses, aud
now does the tight rope business and
flying trapeze. Never having seen her
perform, continued Mr.. McClosky with
conscientious caution, Il cant say how
she gets on. On the hills she looks
well. Thar is a postcr-said Mr.. Nc.
Closky, glancing at Ashe and opening
his valisc, thar is poster giyin her
performance at Marysville next month.
Mr.. McClosky slowly unfolded large
yellow and blue printed poster, pro-
iusely illustrated. SHE calls herself
Mams'clle j. Miglawski-thc great
Russian Trapeziste.
John Ashe tore it from his hand.
'Oi course, he said, suddenly facing
Mr.. McClosky, you don't expect me
to 90 on with this?
Mr.. McCloskcy picked up the poster,
carefully refolded it and returned it to
his yalise. When you break off with
jimmy, he said quietly, i don't want
anything said bout this. She dosen't
know it. She's a woman and ! reckon
you're a white man
But what am am to say ? How am
| to 90 back Of my word ]?
Write her a note. Say something
he1 come to your knowledge-don't say
what-that makes you break it off
You needn't be aicard Jcnny'll ever
ask you what
John Ashe hcsitated. lie felt he
had been cruelty wronged. No gentle
man-no Ashe-could 20 on further il
in this affair. 1t was preposterou. tc
think Of it. But somehow he fell
at the moment very unlike a gentleman
or an Ashe, aud was quite sure h,
should break down under Jenny
steady eyes. But then-he coulc
write to her.
so ores is about as light here as on
the Ridge. Well, | reckon they'll
come up before it rains. Good night.
Mr.. McClosky took the hand tina
his host mechanically extended, shook
it gravely, and was gone.
When Mr.. McClosky, 4 week later
stepped again upon his own yeranda, nc
saw through the French window til,
figure Of a man in his parlor. Unde
his hospitablc roof the sight was no
unusual, but for an instant subtl
sense Of disappointment thrilled him
When he saw it was not the face q
Ashc turned toward him he was re
lieved, but when he saw the tawn
beard and quick, passionate eyes o
Henry Rance he felt a new sense @
apprehension, so that he fell to rubin
his beard almost upon his very thresh
old.
Jenny ran into the hall, and seize
her father with little cry Of jo,
Father, said Jenny, in hurric
! whisper, don't mind him-'indicatin
Rance with toss of her yellow braid
hes going soon, and | think, fathel
I've done him wrong. But its all owe
between John and me now; read tia
note aud sec how he's insulted me
Her lip quivered, but she went on. 1t
Ridgeway that he meant, father, and
believe it was his hand that struc
Ridgeway down, or that he knows VII
did But hush now, not word
She gave him a ieverish kiss, an
glided back into the parlor, lcavin
Mr.. McClosky perplexcd and irrosolu
with the note in his hand. lie glance
at it hurriedly aud saw that it WI
couched in almost the very words !
had suggested. But sudden appr
hcnsiye recollection came over him; i
listened and with an exclamation
dsmay he seized his hat and ran out
the house, But too late; at the san
: moment quick nervous footstep Wi
heard upon the veranda, the Frenc
window flew open, and with ligl
! laugh Of greeting Ridgeway steppC
) into the room.
Jenny's finer ear first caught Il