The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-28
THE ACROBAT'S REVENGE.

The sun was setting behind the hills
of Maldon, one June evening, in the
year 1S45, when an acrobat with his
wife, were seen plodding along the
road toward the next market town.
They were weary and sad. The
acrobat himself was a man about thir-
ty, of dark complexion, with raven
black hair curling over his forehead.
His eyes were black and piercing, and
there was something in his look which
bespoke 2 nature above that of Il
mOuntebank.
His wife was some years younger,
and carried an infant child on her
breast She, too, had the appearance
of a person superior to her lot, and her
face was comely to look upon.
Their life was a hard one, but they
bore it well. Nor, as yet, had all the
hardships which poverty had brought
into their door sent love, as the PROV
erb has it, flying out of the window.
They were now journeying to the
market town of Maldon, and as to-mor-
row would be market day, Duval
thought he might come in for portion
of the money that would be changing
hands. But as it was very desirable
that he and his wife should have sup
per after 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 oppor-
tunity arose by which, as he thought,
he might do so.
Almost opposite to him, at 200 or
800 yards distance, was a lodge and
noble gateway of a gentleman's park.
As Duval approached it, he heard
voices sounding high and mirthful in
the air-the voices of children making
merry, with their light, young hearts,
and their clear, ringing laughter
As he came nearer and looked
through the gate. he saw between twen-
ty and thirty children, in holiday attire,
playing upon the lawn, before an old
and spacious mansion, which had be-
longed to the Windus family for many
generations, and was now in the pos
session of Sir Windus, the tenth bar
onet; and it was the birthday of his
little daughter which the children were
celebrating.
The acrobat's eyes kindled as he
looked in at the bevy of holiday makers.
Here was q grand chance for him.
Surely it would delight the children to
see him fash his golden balls into the
air, whirling them up and up, like the
ever-springing stream of a 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 little ladies and
gentlemen.
He paused for moment, then slowly
pushed open the gate, and walked in
toward the lawn, followed by his wife.
Had there been any one there whose
permission he could have asked, he
would have dore so. But there was
no one but the children themselves;
and, therefore, addressing one of the
oldest, he asked her if they would like
to see some of his late feats. The girl
smilingly 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 his little audience in watching the
acrobat, and so intent was Duval in
catching his brass balls, that none of
them perceived that Sir William Windus
was approaching with his gamekeeper.
He came forward with rapid strides,
and when within few PAGES of Duval,
he called out to him, in voice of
thunder:
"Vagabondl how dare you enter
here?'
For moment Duval stood astounded
and dumb at this sudden interruption.