The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-13
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.

THEY rode through the town in fine
style, with prancing horses, bright
trappings and jingling harness; the
chariots were one blaze of gilt and
gorgeous paintings, the band discoursed
melodious strains, and the three ele-
plants marched with stately strides
midway of the procession. First and
foremost, Mr.. Midriff himself, blear-
eyed, round-shouldered and well
dressed, rode in a Roman chariot driv-
en- by a bare legged youth in a blue
tunic and dilapidated sandals, and dis
tributed bills among the gaping crowd.
Mr.. Midritf, without seeming to notice
anything in particular, took very keen
and especial note of all things; and par
ticularly of the first two. couples imme-
diately following him; who led the long
train of equestrians. These two were
Mdlle. Zerlina and Mdlle. Leo, with
their respective escorts.
Mdlle. Zerlina came first upon her
black horse; a coarse-featured woman,
possessing nevertheless sort of flesh
and-blood beauty quite popular with
her audiences; red cheeks, black eyes
and hair, well set off by her picturesque
Moorish habit. A woman of coarse
nature, that showed itself through the
thin varnish of superficial courtesy. BY
her side Midriff's partner, the ring
master, made good figure; he was a
splendid horseman-and that was the
sum total of his accomplishments.
Mdlle. Leo, who followed, upon a large
gray horse, was slender and willowy of
form, with large hazel eyes, and hair
the color Of the chestnut-down. She
was rather pale, and wore just now an
expression at once listless and discon-
tented; she rode with downcast eyes,
hardly glancing at the crowded streets;
answering in monosyllables the occa-
sional remarks of her companion. This
was rather thick-set young man, with
short, sandy hair, who watched her fur
lively.
There came, of a sudden, child S
cry; a woman's shrek. A three-years-
old boy escaped from his mother and
ran laughing before the horses. Mdlle.
Zerlina's black laid the poor thing flat
with one prancing hoof; and was reined
up by his frightened rider, seized by
the ring-master, sworn at by Mr.. Mid
riff, who jumped from his chariot and
was in time to catch up the child. The
mother tainted, the boy-bruised a
trifie-screamed Justify; a sudden con-
fused stop took place among the eques-
TRANS. Mdlle. Leo raised her large eyes
with a sort of languid impotence,
dropped them again, and brushed a fly
from her horses name.
Cant you look brighter" said Mr..
Midriff, in an angry tone to her, as he
made it in his way to pause beside her.
ga body would think you was dead and
goin' to be buried"
81 wish | was,'' answered the girl,
with a glance of cool contempt. Look
ing up a moment after, to meet his an
CRY eyes as he got into his chariot, she
recollected the threat of horsewhipping
that Mr. Midriff was fond of hanging
over the heads of unruly girls-no idle
threat, either. She turned, therefore,
to her companion, and made an effort
to become interested in his remarks;
but not succeeding-for the young man
was rather coarse and very illiterate-
gave way again to the old listless alb
straction.
Mdlle. Leo, whose real name was
Leonie Mitchell, had grown, in fact,
heartily tired of the whole business.
Trained to itfrom child, a skillful horse
woman and danseuse, she had, neverthe-
less, kind of hatred for the ring. She
hated the riders, the other girls, the
loose morality, the questionable asso-
ciations-the very applause that the peo-
pie showered so lavishly upon her. She
had not much education. but was by
nature refined; she had quick precep-
tons, keen intentions. She was gen
orally supposed to be Mr.. Midriff' S
niece; but of late years she had come
to know better. Father or mother she
had never known; but she surely came
of "a stock that had no sympathy with
the low and vile. Some of the girls
were well enough. Others-notably
Mdlle Zerlina--embittered her life by
their loose morality, openly promul-
gated, constant sneers and covert envy.
And now Mr.. Midrifl wanted her to
marry Tom Alden This was the san
dy-haired young man, her escort. She
rebelled here; she had formerly yielded
mechanical obedience to the tyrant of
the circus; but always with secret,
strong presentiment of final release,
some day, from the life, and from him.
Now to rivet stronger her letters, to
marry into a hopeless servitude, to bar
gain herself, body and soul, to life OF
dancing, leaping through crowded
arenas on horses backs-this was what
Mr.. Midriff wanted. Oh! he was keen
man. He read perfectly her growing
distaste for the circus, that was sooner
or later to break out into open rebellion.
He was not at all sure in his own mind
of his ultimate triumph in contest
with her And he wanted to be sure.
Mdlle. Leo, with her rather ATTRACTIVE