Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-06
THE ACEOBAT's REVENGE.

Nhoiuou, oHe june evening IN the year
1915, when an acrobat. with his wife,
were seen Flooding along the road to-
ward the next market town.
They were weary and sad. The acrobat
himself was a man about thirty, of dark
complexion, with rayen-black hair curl
ing over his forehead. His eyes were
black and piercing, and there was some
thing in his look v nich bespoke nature
above that of mountebank.
His wife was some years Younger, and
carried an infant child on her breast.
She too had the appearance of person
superior to her lot, and her face was
comely to look upon.
Their life was hard one, but they bore
il well. Nor, as yet, had all the harl
ships which poverty had brought into
their door sent love, as the proverb has it,
flying out of the window.
They were now journeying to the mar
ket town of Maldon, and as tomorrow
would be market day, Duval thought he
might come in for portion of the mouey
that would be changing hands. But as
it was very desirable that he and his wife
should have supper after a long DAYS
journey, and place to sleep in, he was
anxious to earn few pence in the town
Or before reaching it, and presently an
opportunity arose by which,as he thought
he might 90 so.
Almost opposite to him, at two or three
hundred yards distance, was the lodge
and noble gateway of a gentlemen's park.
AS DIVA. approaced it he heard voices
sounding high and mirthful in the air
the voices of children makidg merry, with
their light, young hearts, and their clear,
ringing laughter.
AS he came nearer and looked through
the gate, he saw between twenty and
thirty children, in holiday attire, playing
Upon the lawn before an old and spacious
mansion, which had belonged to the Win.
dus family for many generations, and
was now in the possession of Sir Windus,
the tenth baronet and it was the birth
day of his little daughter which the chill
dren were celebrating
The acrobat's eyes kindled as he looked
in at the bevy of holiday-makers. Here
was grand chance for him. Surely it
would delight the children to see him
flesh his golden balls in the air, whirling
them up and down, like the ever-spring
ing stream of fountain. Surely all the
other wonderful things he could do
would be the very thing for them. Surely
the great and wealthy parents would pay
handsomely for the amusement of the lit
tie ladies and gentlemen. He paused for
moment, then slowly pushed open the
gate, and walked in toward the lawn, fol-
lowed by his wife.
Had there been any one there whose
permission he could have asked. he
would no doubt have done so. But there
was no one but the children themselves
and, therefore, addressing one of the old
est, he asked her if they would like to
see some of his feats. The girl smillngly
replied that they would; and all the little
faces, with their great eyes, were turned
upon the acrobat and the wonderful box
which he took from his shoulders and
laid upon the ground.
And now the eyes of wonder opened as
far as they could go. And so intent was
bis little audience in watching the aero
bat, and so intent was Duval in catching
his brass balls, that none of them per-
ceived that Sir William Windus was APP
preaching with his gamekeeper. lie
came forward with rapid strides, and
when within few PAGES of Duval, he
called out to him, in voice OF thunder:
''Vagabond! how dare you enter here?"
For moment Duval stood astounded
and dumb at this sudden interruption.
He saw before him gentleman much
taller than himself, in shooting coat and
boots, with a felt hat, morrow shouldered,
fair, with shaver lip and chin, but bushy
Whlskers OF deep tawny hue; his eyes, of
blush gray, large and bright, and his
bearing that Of an aristocrat, with strong
dash of the BULLY.
"Come, pack up your trumpery and be
gone?' said the baronet, seeing that Duval
stood looking at him.
But the acrobat had recovered his self
possession, and now said, with firm
voice:
II meant no ofense, your honor, nor
to harm any one or anything belonging
to you. / saw the children, and made
bold to enter, thinking it would please
them to see my
'Oh, that's very old story" said tie
bsronet. "When thieves and gypsies
prowl about gentlemen's parks we all
know that their intentions are perfectly
innocent"
"Do you call me theft, sir?" said
Duval, his dark cheek coloring aud his
eyes flashing fire
sScoundrel!" exclaimed Sir William.
his blood rushing into his face and MAX
ing it in moment red with rage; 'sdo
you think l would chat logic with a
strclling vagabond like you2 1 told you
to pack up and be off. Do so at once.''
And as the baronet uttered his com
mand he raised the hand in which he
held the whip as if about to strike the
acrobat.
Duval looked at him with savage
glare of his keen dark eyes, and SLOWLY,
in a deep voice trembling suppressed
rage, said:
You had better not.'
"Duval, said his wife, gently pulling
him by the sleeve, and in tone of mingl.
ed pathos and humility, ''never mind the
gentleman. We shouldn't have come in
without his leave. We humbly ask your
pardon, sir. Come, Duval, let us go.'
sLTol< uo,1r . a..