Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-10-01
ROMANCE IN A CIRCUS.

A HayPOie Dancer Acts che PART O1
a Devoted Nnrse-The RusuAt.
| tfbrom the St. Louis Timesl K
The marriage of W. s. Eldridge,
one of the famous two horse rider, oi
Barnum's Hippodrome, to Miss Lulu
Lewis, in this city Monday night, was
| very romantic in all its details.
! l While the show wns in st. Louis the
first time, Miss Lewis was engaged to
| perform prominent part in the "May-
pole dance She accepted q perma-
neDt engagement and accompanied
| the Hippodrome when it left st. Louis
She was modest'and retiring in her
conduct, and consequently slow in
forming acquaintances. at: Rockford.
H., while Mr. Ell. fridge was riding at
full speed around the track in the
Hippodrome, one of the horses fell.
The rider was thrown and crushed be-
meath the falling horse. He was lifted
from the ground in apparently life
less condition and conveyed to hotel
where surgical aid was summoned.
The surgeon, after a careful exalnina-
ton, pronounced Mr.. Eldridge's COLI
dition very critical, and said that care
fui nur sing, in connection with good
Iue heal treatm ent, would be necessary
to save him.. The accident and Ell.
bridges condition were generally DIS
cussrd among the a;tacI,ees OF the
ii'ppodrUme, and in this manuer Miss
L"wis learned that the services Of Ii
gentle and faithful nurse wore re-
qu.", i. .s.-..s r.,ti -s -.e...:.s
Without consulting any one, or even
!ufOrming The lnanagcmsnt OF her in
teutlnn, she repaired to ti,, hdtef aud
took up IA station by the bedside of
tue wounded man. Sno found him en-
tirely helpless. and with the spirit Of Il
nue aud brave woman, she perform, d
every t:uty required ofa faithful nurse
The second day she rejoined the Hip
podrOme, but not to rela 4iu. She
sought the manager, Mr.. Comp. and
explained to him the cause of her alb
sence, and asked permission to return
to Rockford and nnrse Eldridge. she
described his critical condition, and
said she was willing to nurse him with
out reward. Mr.. Coup. who never
considers expense in providing for the
sick and wounded under his care, COM
mended the course pursued by the
young lady aud gave her permission to
remain with E bridge until he recover
ed, adding that her salsry should not
only be allowed, but increased. She
returned aud watched EIdridge night
and day until he was pronounced by
the attending surg con out Of the dan
ger and on the road to recovery. She
then departed as q lietiy as she had
made her appearance. and reioined the
Hippodrome. ......r.......f..l III. -.v.
In few days Elbridge also rejoined
the show and reported for duty. Miss
Lewis seemed TO avoid him. apparently
desiring to make him fesl that she had
only performed her duty and wished
neither thanks nor reward. In this
dilemma Eldridge sought Captain
Frank Whitaker, one of the Oldest
Snowman in the business. who has i'm.
mediate control of all the performers.
Eldridge explained to Capt, Whitaker
the great service that Miss Lewis had
rendered him, acknowledged that to
her care he owed his life, and asked
advice Ia regard to properly rewardlng
her.
The old Captain told him that to Of
fer money to d woman who had dis
played such kindness and charity
would only offend her, aud. advised
her against taking any such step. ..-
Eldridgo then owned, that the lady
had, while healing numerous wounds.
unconsciously inflicted very serious
one that her. unremitting care. aud
modest dem eanor had won his heart,
and in return for her kindness he
would be happy to provide for her for
life The Captain gave himfatherly ad-
vice. telling him that If he teally loved
the lady. and was able to provide for
her he should seek her and declare
himself. .ass "1s tt5 '+..'-. -s5-. .s-..4
Eldridge followed this advice with
out delay, and the lady confessed that
the sympathy first aroused by his
helpless condition had ripened into
love, and that she would cheeruflly
commit herself to his care and assume
the duty of henceforth nursing him
through all illness. The result was a
wedding in st Louis, which has already
been chronicled. e." = 'f