The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
A BUNCH OF VIOLETS.

CIRCUS IN THE WoRLD.-Jumbo. the Ec-
centric Elephant, and the Extraordinary Pea
cock Mules, Donkeys, Dogs, Banco, the
Clown, and his Inimitable Jokes, Startling
and unparalleled Feats of Eouestr1anism.
on Her Trained Horse Spitfire. Doors open at
1t was a very exciting bill of fare for a
dull cathedral town, in which mundane
amusements was believed to pave the road
to perdition. And so thought Charlie Will
mot a captain in the K D. g., whose regi-
ment had been quartered i've dreary months
in York. He glanced at his watch. Five
o'clock" he said to himself, half aloud,
ssjust time enough to dine comfortably, and
drop in about the middle of one mummery.
I'll go. Anythingis better than the routine
of this horrible place"
At about 9 O. clock Charlie WilHot strolled
quietly into a seat at the circus, as much
aloof as possible from his kind.
The Orchestrs. at the moment, after TWO
discordant crashes, struck up a monotonous,
but not unmelodius, air. The gate opened
wide, and Mademoiselle Lucille, the Wonder
of the West, on her trained horse Spitfire,
appeared. In she came amid clapping of
hands, bit of girl. scarcely more than q
child; slight figure in a tightly fitting
dark green habit; figure lovely now, but
giving promise of perfection later; face
beautiful as a houri's, pure as an angels;
great innocent blue eyes, very sad and wist-
full, sorry contrast to the stereotyped
y
features, chisleled like cameo; a skin as
though she had been dieted on milk aud
roses, and hair that was positive glory
long, ripping, shining, straying over the
delicate temples down to the slender, supple
waist
Spltfire was good looking bit of horse
flesh, and merited the putting he got in the
bill. There was no vice in his eye, either,
in spite of his dangerous coguomen; and he
waItzed and capered, pirouetted and vault
ed at the will of the rider. Mademoiselle
Lucille was a decided success. As she
went round and round the audience cheered
and hravoed her, while deeper rose flush
tinted her cheek. A smile still beamed on
her half parted lips, and the same sad, wistful
look IN her large eyes; and Charlie Wilmot,
reused out of Incidence and ennui, sat with
his gaze fixed on the girls face. That face
had fairly fascinated him when the last
round was completed. The Wonder of the
West few down from her steed as lightly
as a bird, and bowed and kissed her tiny
hands to the audience she had taken by
storm. Then, as she turned to go, Charlie
Wilmot leant eagerly forward, and, taking a
them down. They touched Mademoiselle
Lucille's glittering hair in their fall. She
quickly lifted up her face; two pairs of eyes
met. Then the girl stopped, picked up the
yiolets and thrust them in her bosom.
Charlie Wilmot strolled home through the
had bewitched him. The demon of ennui
was exercised by Mademoiselle Lucilie's
face. Was he really caught at last? The
thought struck him ludicrously, and he
laughed aloud. 'Mademoiselle Lucille, -
forsoothl Probably a Jemima or Bstsy
sprung from the lowest depths girl who
piled her trade for the amusement of grow
cling mass, whose very features and form
were to be commented on and criticised by
vulgar tongues. But what figure she had.
And what eyesl Charlie Wilmot fell asleep.
with the blue eyes, SO sad and wistful, of
Mademoiselle Lucille looking into his.
The two following evenings found Charlie
at the circus Immovabie, almost SPELL
bound, he watched Lucille in her flying
rounds. Was it only fancy, he wondered,
or did the blue eyes that haunted him per-
petually turn his way? On the third eveI;-
ing, with his hat slouched oyer his forehead
he waited In the sshas5w. near the back en-
trance of the building; and his heart beat
very fast when little figure wrapped in g
dark cloak came out and slightly touched
him in passing. That touch sent quite a
thrill through him, and starting forward, he
laid a finger lightly on the girls shoulder.
She shrank away without glaucins .,ward
him, and hurried on as if s.rald. But Char
lie felt Fat he must speak to her.
ssMademolselle Lucille" he murmured,
in low voice, that shook little in spite OF
himself She paused. Her face, smaller,
winter. lovlier than ever in the starlight,
was turned full to him. But she did not
speak. Forgive me,'' he said at last, for
give me for having detained you; but"
She recognized him at this minute. He
was the man who had flung violets at her
the handsomest man she bad ever seen.
ssBut what?' she asked, in shy voice.
And warm pink color surged over her
face, two broad, white lips dropped, and
and long, curling lashes cast shadow on
her cheek.
But l could not help It," Charlie ans
wered deprecatingly.C Charlie never knew how
it came about. But Lucille's hand, looking
like small snow-drift, was fast imprisoned
in his clasp, and Lucilles beautiful face was
very close to his own. Lucille, he whis
flutter in his. He could hear her breath
come fast, her heart beating in unison with
his own; and all this emboldened him. ''I
isn't strange, is it, Lucille, that mar
should lose, not only his head, but bis heart
to q face like this?' And putting bis hanG
under her chin, he gently raised her face.
Lucille did not shrink away from him
now. She was no hlgh-born lady, and thi
rapid wooing did not offend her. Thoroughly
guileless and frank herself, she believed il
the man whose eyes met hers-not boldly
but softly-almost tenderly.
'Greenway' RoyalIHippodrome" proved,
grand success: Throngs of people crowded
in, and the departure of the circus from
York was daily postponed; and among tn
throng Charlie Wilmot could be nightly seen
Principally at the hour of 10, five minute
before Lucille came on, he threaded his wa.
to seat close to the entrance of the ring
and later, when the town grew silent ant
still, pair walked up and down the street
forgetful of everything save them
selves 1t was only the old, old story
sweeter each time it is told; owing as muc
to witchery now as when Adam whispers
it to his Eve amidst the scented bowers G
Paradise; and between love words an
caresses Charlie cleaned that Lucille ha
nothing foreign about her but her profel
Aonal name. She was simply a wait,
stray, cast on the rough waters of life, WIT
nothing to guard her from trouble but til
shield of her own innocence and the lovin
kindness of God.
Who was her father, who was her mother?
Had she q sister, had she brother?"
To all of which Lucille shook her hea(
uhfIe fha utsffuI shadow deepeued in bf