The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-08-03

serpent, teeth sharp as needles, fexile,
treacherous, smooth, tawny skin,yellow eyes
that ever flashed fercely. Never, even in
her best moods, had she been submissive,
and her mildest play was rough in the ex-
treme.
The Lion tanner turned from his compan-
ion to go and dress for his attractive but
dangerous performance but before doing so
he visited the double cage, and made crit-
cal examination of the beasts, who any in
slant might be to him as fate. There was
nothing to especially awaken fear and, half
vexed with himself for having been needless
ly disturbed, he passed from the great canvas
into smaller compartment, and found his
wife and child waiting for him-the one a
young and beautiful woman, and the other
very fairy of child, whose hair hung
down upon her back, as the finest and bright
es. of spun silk.
81 am sorry, Joe" said the wife and moth
er, as her husband entered, "that you have
consented to so foolish performance as the
one advertised for to-day"
"Why, May ?" and he looked most earn
| estly at her.
Because the ordinary performance is
hazardous enough"
"Then you think this more so?"
81 don't know that it is" she replied,
having the most perfect confidence in her
husbands ability "but somehow don't
altogether fancy having Inez taken into the
| cage"
"You know my reason for consentipg,
| and that it would never have been given
had your assent not first been obtained"
Certainly and it was very good of you,
| joe"
"That it was promised on account of my
salary being raised"
| 'Yes"
| "And that it was to secure the rise of
salary, so as the sooner to accumulate en-
ough to buy little home against the rainy
days that may come"
"Yes, my dear Joe but"-with smile
chad not pride something to do with it
That's the curse of the profession. Each
one is always trying to out.do the other
running risks on that account they would
not otherwise attempt"
"Well, May, only gave my promise to
do the act once, but even now will give il
up if you say the word. l had rather dis.
appoint all the managers and be called cow
ard by all the rabble in the world, thar
cause your heart to beat with fear or to bring
tears into your eyes"
''No, no, Joe. Don't think l have los
confidence and pride in you. No, dom
think of giving it up. I suppose am fool
lishly nervous. But you will be careful, ant
not run any unnecessary risks"
"My own heart would have to be torn ou
before anything should happen to our dar
ling;" and he stopped, raised the child
tossed her up, caught, kissed her, and hugget
her to his bosom.
"But yourself, Joe2"
"Oh I'll look out for number one."
The conversation did not tend to ease hi
mind and before dressing he went out ant
held another conversation with his particular
attendant, and took another look into tn,
performing cage.
The animals were more quiet than wher
he had seen them previously, the liones'
especially appeared in playful msod, ant
with something of the load lifted from hi.
heart he returned, with but little time re
naming before he would be called upon tc
prove his right to the proud title of Lior
Tanner.
And every inch he looked one as he step
ped in view of the densely crowded assem-
bly,. Gorgeous in his new costume, ant
with a look of calmness and determination
upon his face-looked, with his tall and sin
ewy form, fit to grapple with and overcome
the fiercest beasts that ever prowled amit
the jungles of Asia and Africa, and mad'
night terrible with their roaring.
A burst of APPLAUSE perfect tempes
of huzzas and clapping hands-greeted hin
as he swung his little girl dressed in silve
tissue, and with the gossamer wings and Il
ara of sparkling jewels around her COLDER
curls. that represent the traditional fairy ,upor
his shoulder. While looking at his stalwar
proportions, the men thought what dan
gerous antagonist he would be, and ,h'
young mothers shuddered at SO beautiful ,
child being taken into den of savage ami
mails.
With graceful bow and the dignity of 1
Roman conqueror, the Lion Tanner strod,
through the circle, disappeared behind thu
cage, and with such rapidty as to astonisl
the audience, stood within the compartment
where the huge lion was lying and the agil
leopards leaping about, and had placed hi
and she was plsyfully toying with its shag
gy name.
For time he made the leopards leap
about him as kittens, jump from cor
ner to corner, rest upon his broad shoul
ders, bound lightly over his extende'
whip Then he gave his attention to tn
monster lion, opened his immense jaw
placed his arm and thrust his head betwee
them, raised his fairy like child upon il
back and made it march around with hel
Then he prepared to throw the two cages il
to one.
Let lnez come out,now, whispered the a
tendant, uneasily. "You have done enoug
already to keep your promise, and the aud
! ence won't know the difference"
"No, will 60 through. Mind what
told you, and have things ready in ca'
there should be trouble, though l don't fal
cy any" Then he continued aloud, and
as to be plainly heard by every one, "Har
t me the pail of blood"
A cold shiver, supernatural awe a
pesred to pass through the frame of all
the vessel dripping with crimson drops, W
e given to him, and more than one ask,
3 themselves If the man was mad TO thus n
risk his own life, but that of his beautf
child. And when he loosened and thru
Il IL . h.. a. Al. q