Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-05-20

visit the beasts and the gymnasts of the
forbidden entertainment.
What the minister can see in that girl"
said old Miss Sparks. looking throgh the
window as the wagon whirled by. II can't
see. She's an engaging rogue, that's true,
but shouldn't want to marry her. But
As nobody wanted Miss Sharks to marry
her. 1t didu't so much signify.
Bessie was in great spirits. She was
disobeying: that in itself always kinded
her merriment. Then she felt sure that
Mr. Beckwth would disapprove. and that
was another excitement. She had fore
bodng that the time was coming present.
~ when her free agency would cease; till
it did cease she was defiant. Aud accord
ingly well-pleased with her success thus
far, she and George sung and laughed till
the road rang with their over-flowing cav
ETY. As they drove along and put the iily
through her PAGES.
1t was only a couple of miles before the
road grew dusty and thronged. People
were coming and people were going. All
sorts of vehicles jostled together. Far off
they could hear the strains ofa band rising
and falling on the wind till they were in
ecstasy of expectation, as they grew silent
and listened. Booths began to line the
way, with lemonade and mineral water
and worse; and presently the tents rose
on their sight like white clouds the flag
waving its long folds over them. And
now they they were IN the great space be-
fore the tents, crowded with teams. with
foot passengers, with men leading piebald
horses and Shetland ponies, with BOYS cry
ing their wares, with the voice of the Bo-
anerges who pressed the claims of the fat
woman and the learned pi. TN their atten-
ton; and through 1t all came the noise of
the band again in some tripping dance
music the roaring of the beasts and scream
ing OF monkeys aud parrots; and then the
great canva>es seemed to swell and soar
and girl, all gauZe and flowers was rum
nlng uD the air on Il rope stretched from
pole to pole far overhead, dancing from
sunbeam To sunbeam. a. it seemed to rapt
BESSIE. What transport she thought; and
she sat with her head thrown back regard
less of everything but this flying wonder
In the air, till suddenly 4 shriek rose from
the great tent "a shrek that was repeated
IN the crowded square the shrek of A
thousand yoices-Onc awful cry OF fear
and agony from all the people. echoed a.
gam by a'l the beasts within the lion Lad
broken loose,
hat scene It was, what a dreadful
scene. Men were yelling as they ran. chill
dren were screaming. women were faint
lng, horses were rearing and snoTting, the
crowd was surging and plunging thi, way
and that in Il frantic effort at escape BeS-
Sic, suddenly called from her rapt rcvellinp
with that spirit in the air. gave one look
one look Of horror-tried to pull the rein.
and weak as chid.iel back upon the seat.
The iiIly turned her head. and then, with
starting and fOamiug nostril. stood upright
one moment, and the next botcd away
from the broken traces and left all stand
ing. George Knight, with a screcch Hung
htr>eIi from the wagon. and was swallow
ed III the hyin. multitude: but Bessie sat
stone STILL her heart beating with great
knocks, as unable 10 move as one paralvz-
ed.
What swift thoughts swept through her
mlnd! This was the end Of all her wicked
ness. his was what she deserved for all
the pam she had given her father and
mother->he, their only child. their hope
who should have been their ioy, This was
~hat 7h. deserved. it flashed acoss her
Tor making bleed the heart of the man that
loved her. Deserved: All, no one could
quite deserve to be torn to pieces by the
teeth OF "A wild beast. II she had been
true to herself, To him, liked less To see
her power.fearcd less for her liberty, what
peacs and pleasure might have been hers
TINS instant. And now-Shc remembered
the Christian girls in the Roman amphi.
theatre; she was not even MARTYR She
had wanted to study natural history: She
had 4 fine chance. She could not stir. In an
other moment the brute would be done hi
havoc there, and come leaping through the
canvas. Another shrek a great bursting
wave OF Shrieks. All, yes. there he came
tai IN the air. tawny lni.nc bristling, ewes
blazing-coming in great bounds through
ha al .fa1 81,
straight for her, She covered an instant
and then spranG to her feet, and glared
full at the monster. 1t was too much.
with wild cry herself, she turned-but
only to hide her face in Mr.. Beckwith's
breast. as he climbed into the wagon be-
hind her.
Thought is fleet; instantaneous was the
rapture mingling with the agnoy, instanta-
neous the emotion with which she pushed
HIM from her. Go, 9o.' she cried IL
can't have my folly Kill YOU, too. Oh"
a> he did not move, If you love me. 90 -
1t Is because love you that | Shall
stay. murmured Mr.. Beckwitl, swiftly, in
her Sar; that | shall never 20 until hear
you say as much"
"Oh. you know it" she cried. and faint
ed on his shoulder, just as the keepers
sprang with their ropes upon the poor old
joyed the scare and OF whom Mr.. Beckwith,
"A muscular Christian, with a pistol in his
pocket, having made his harmless acquain-
lance, moreover, inside the tent-had not
1elt II necessary TO be much afraid.
III was Georgie Knights eat that Mr.
Beckwith occupied that evening, as they
drove slowly home, after the capture of the
hlly and the mending of the broken traces,
Mr.. Beckwith having made the most of the
three hours in which he had Mistress Bes-
sic on his hands; and Bessie herself, tired
and weak. lying resttully. if you will be-
lieve it, in the arms that enfolded her.
bessie" he was sayisg, "this is only
the second lion in the way. What was the
hrst one which always drove you from me
SO:'
q" II was afraid" murmured Bessie.
Afraid of me?'
"And then-and then YOU took it SO for
granted"
"Oh, indeed" said the minister. folding
her closer still "and what if took 1t for
granted that you were going to the parson-
age with me next month";
"Oh, I'm not ft." cried Bessie. with q
start.
"If you make one objection,' said her
lover, II shall stop at Justice Pettiorew's
on our way, and take you home with me
tonight! And there, with that tender
arm about her. that face beside her own,
all in that soft September twilight and un-
der the lamp of the evening-star. what
could Bessie do but yield.
Il don't know what father and mother
Will say she whispered, as at last, having
left the wagon, they clung together one
moment In the porch, and saw the father
and mother fastening toward them down
the long entry.
Father Allan" said the minister. walk
Ing boldly in, with his arm round their
naughty darling, ''this is wiIl-o'-the-
that have captured, and that l entrust
for just three weeks longer to your care.
1t has come from the circus. and is bound
for the parsonage; and there" said Mr..
Beckwith. lit is going to turn into the
light of the house,the spirit of the firesde,
and the sunshine OF home"'-[ Harper's
Weekly.
The Golden Age says that Romance
is vastly better than Rum" This state