The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-09-04

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you have consented to 90 foolish per.
Torrance as the one advertised for to.
day"
"Why.May ?" and he looked most earn.
estly at her.
because the ordinary performances i.
hazardous enough"
"Then you think this more SO ?"
II don't know that il is," she replied
having the utmost confidence in her hus.
bands ability; "but somehow | don'l
altogether fancy having lnez taken into
the cage !"
"You know my reason for consenting
and that it would never have been given
had your assent not been first obtained
t"Cer.ainly, and II was very good Of
you. Joe" ai'' ase
"That it was promised on account o
my salary being raised"
Yes"
"And that it was to secure the rise oil
salary, SO - the sooner to accumulate
enough to buy little home against the
rainy days that may come"
Eyes, my dear Joe, but" with q
smile-"had not pride something to dc
with it2 That's the curse Of the profes
sion Each one is always trying to out.
no the Understanding risks ON that
account they would not otherwise at
tempt"
"Well, May. ! only gave my promise
to do the act snce, but even now will
give it up il you say the word. had
rather disappoint all the managers and
be called coward by all the rabble 10
the world, than cause your heart to beat
with fear. or to bring tears into your
eyes" mo, no. Joe. Don't think
have lost confidence and pride 10 you
No. don't think Of giving it up. sup
pose am foolishly nervous. But you
will be careful, and not run any unneces-
sarv risk 7"
my own heart would have to be torn
out before anything should happen to
our darling;' and be stopped. raised the
child, tossed her up. caught, kissed her,
and Rugged her TO his bosom.
"But yourself, Joc7"
"Oh, I'll look out for number one"
The conversation did not tend to ease
his mind, and before dressing. he wen,
out and held another conversation with
bis particular attendant, and took anoth.
er look into the performing cage.
The animals were more quiet than we
had seen them previously: the lioncss
especially appeared in a playful mood,
and with something Of the load lifted
from his heart he returned, with but lit.
tic time remaining before he would be
called upon 10 prove his right to the
proud title Of Lion Tanner.
And every inch he looked one as he
stepped in view Of the denscly crowded
sisii wisa ivok Or raimncss aud deter.
mination upon his face--looked, with
his tall and sinewy form, fit to grapple
with and overcome the tiercest beasts
that ever prowled amid the jungles OF
Asia or Africa, and made night terrible
with their roaring. -
A burst Of applausc--a perfect tempest
tempest of huzzas and clapping Of hands
greeted him as he swung his little girl,
gossamer wings and tiara of sparkling
jewels around her golden curls, that rep.
resent the traditional fairy, upon his
shoulders. While looking at his stall
wart proportions, the men thought what
n dangerous antagonist he would be, and
the young mothers shudderedat so beau
tiful child being taken into den Of
animals.
With graceful bow and the dignity
Of a Roman conqueror, the lion tanner
strobe through the circle. disappeared
behind the cage, Ind with such rapidity
az to astonsh the audience, stood within
the compartment where the huge lion
was lying and the eagle leopards leaping
about, and had placed his child between
the claws of the greaterer brute, and she
was playfully toying with its shaggy
name.
For time he made the leopards leap
about him as kittens, jumping from cor.
ncr to corner, resting upon his broad
shoulders, bounding lightly over the
extended whip. Then he gave bis atteu-
ton to the mother lion, opened her i'm.
mense jaws, placed his arm and thrust
his head between them, raised his fairy
child upon it's back, and made it march
vround with her. Then he prepared to
throw the two cages into one.
Let Inez come out" whispered the
attendant, uneasily. "You have enough
already to keep your promise. and the
audience won't know the difference
mo. will 60 through. Mind what
told you, and have thugs ready in case
there should be trouble, though l don't
fancy any" Then he continued aloud,
and so as to be plainly heard by every
one: "Hand me the pail of blood!'
A cold shiver, supernatural awe
appeared to pass through the frame oil
all as the vessel. dripping with crimson
drops, was given to him. and more than
one asked themselves il the man was mad
to thus not only risk his own life, bu'
that Of his beautiful child. And when
he loosened and thrust aside the parti
ton, and the fierce lioness and sleek tigel
came bounding in, their breath was abso
lu,ely susp ended, and their hearts mo
mentarily ceased to beat.
"Downr
The tiger obeyed, and the foot Of the
lion tanner was upon his neck.
"Up"
And the leopards were purring lik.
great cats upon his shoulders, while th.
lioness lay crouched with her tawny
pave thrust through the bars and growl
ing severely. us.
l. IA