The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-27
The Apollo Of the Arena.

| uUu uc OulJ a l. olh doudllCu
of you, Garnet Randolph"
| "Perhaps," and the beautiful girl lifted
her eyes dreamily at her almost equally
fair cousin as she replied: "Perhaps l
see deeper into his character and right
position in life than you do, Isabelle"
Charles Mauvers-"Claude st. Leon,
the Apollo of the Arena" as named in
the brilliantly illustrated posters--passed
down the street utterly unconscious of
being the cause OF discussion in the rival
beauties. And it is doubtful if the mat
ter would have provoked even as much
as smile had he known it.
He was singularly graceful and
handsome man-one would have said q
close student, rather than one living by
deeds of muscular and reckless daring.
His figure was tall and 1.-the, his eyes
and hair OF extreme blackness; the tor
mer most expressive, and the latter
piled in clustering curls around a shape
iy head. His hands and feet were small,
marking, according to the prevailing
opinion, aristocratic birth and "blue
blood" His skin WAS singularly fair,
his manners trife naughty, and the ex-
preston of his face always sad.
or his history nothing was known. A
veil carefully concealed it from the
world. He had never known any other
life, and yet kept himself aloof from
coarse observation-disclosures left as soon
as his part in the performance was
ended.
AS this mystery made him the topic Of
conversation among the easily daZzled
girls tar more than would otherwise have
been the case, and had he been SO dis
posed he could have persuaded many
| foolish heiresss into match that would
little pleased her parents. The world
| has vet to learn that q manly and true
heart beats beneath the tinseled gar
ments of those who waste life and
strength for their amusement-that they
have equal loves and sorrows-more of
| physical sutferings and few joys.
1t was growing late in the afternoon,
and the hero of the arena pressed for
ward to a distant part of the city, ell
tered a modest looking house, passed TO
the upper story into q neatly furnished
apartment; that of his mother and him.
self and a single aged servant.
"What makes you SO late" asked his
aren't, in the querulous tone of one who
has long been an invalid.
81 was detained unexpectedly. l hope
Won are feeling BETTER" he replied.
"You always are. pa you bring the
money? No, am no better"
| He handed her roll of bills, and turn
| ing to the waiting table he ate hurried
meal before going to the amphitheatre.
At the first glance one would have
said there could have been no relation
ship between the mother and son. She
was an old, hag-like woman-never could
have possessed much Of beauty, and he
must have inherited it from his father, Of
whom he had no recollection--must have
gotten from him, also, the taste for study
In which he secretly INDUCED at every
available moment--the high ambition.
the fond desire TO become famous in the
world through some other medium than
the one he was following.
His mother, sick for years, and not
long to remain in this world, had limited
at a arrange union, and that was all he
could learn. Would the icy finger of
death give to her lips free utterance?
He had hoped, longed and prayed that
such might be the case. But till that
hour came he would have to bear pa
| tiently with her ill temper and grasping
ayarice, even though like prisoned
eagle beating against the bars for free
dom.
parent in her condition. He started up,
and in moment was at her side, chatng
her hands and supporting her head.
| And he who was most Interested OF all
of the earth, listened as we'll. Then both
started, and in moment were by the
bedside-the bed over which the shadows
i of the dark-winged angel were fast low
ering.
1t was too late! Respiration had al
most ceased, the tongue was para!yzed; (;
the ashy lips moved but gave forth no
sound. The eyes looked Wistfully, and
the efforts TO speak were painful to look
upon, Her thin and bony hands still
ciutched the money that had been given
to her, but great change had come over
the face. The stern and cold lines had
softened, and both the watchers saw
that she would have given all her hope
for this world-almost ifnot quite all for
the next, for even brief interval ol
1t was too late. Like many" who die
thus suddenly, she had put off until the
hour OF revelation was beyond her power,
and the secret died with her.
No, not so. AS the nurse composed the
: chilling form, scrap ofpaper was found
: beneath the pillow upon which was
scrawled few lines. She handed 1t tt
her companion. He read it and sank into
a seat with as fervent "Thank God
: as ever was breathed by mortal lips.
, For time he sat as overcome by gooc
fortune. Then the striking of the clock
rOuSeQ Ill., anu dIIcl q low huA Aou -
7 structions, he rushed forth to play hi
/ part, muttenng as he went:
Il "For the last time-the very last
Heaven be praised, am free."
The amphitheatre was crowded. L
+ was a gala night and the assembly fal
+ more brilliant than usual. Every sea
was occupied, every eye turned upoi
him as he entered, dressed with unusua
beauty, and with his handsome fact
lighted as no one had ever seen it be
fore.
This was remarked by his associates
! upon his first appearance among them
though none questioned, it became th
; subject of comment. But the man VIII
cared for his horses yentured the remarl
that he would need to be on his guard.
"Why?" was curtly asked.
81 have never seen the mare SO wilt
; and ugly as she is tonight"
"Pshawl Some one has been teasing
and you are afraid of her."
.1hat may be, sir (under his breath
she is wild anyhow, and 1 don't thin
YOU are much BETTER"
OF the truth of his words "Apollo Q
4 the Arena" became satisfied as b
i looked upon his tavorlte steeds. The
: were two beauties, one as white as milh
and the. other OF raven blackness, wit