The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-12-21

lyn.
He came q great deal to the circus
came at times when we were not per-
forming, and sat with me under the
shade u the great trees beyond the
white tents Of the side shows, and
taught me to sing sweet little songs in
which love was the principal theme,
and love shone in the dark dangerous
eyes looking into mine.
l encouraged him In this, mainly be-
cause it made Alick so nearly furious. l
did not care for Treylyn any more than
/ did for old blind Mat, the bugler, but
he was handsome, and agreeable, and
Alick, thought, was so very unreason-
able, though even then | knew in nay
heart that Aleck was right.
IL went on for some time, this sense
less Irritation between me and Trevlyn,
until even my father saw fit to remon-
strate. was making fool Of myself,
he said. and driving Aleck to despair.
/ was as good as married to Aleck, and
he would have no more Of my childish
folly.
This reused the spirit of revolt within
me, and flirted more than ever.
Aleck entirely withdrew from my So
ciety, and'it was with sharpest agony
that saw him often lingering by the
side of pretty Blanche Jerrold, The tight
rope dancF. But, of course, he did not
know how much pain this gave me, and
/ would not have had him know it for
worlds.
Sometimes he looked at me in such a
sad sorrowful way that it almost broke
my heart, and once he laid his kind
hand on my head, and said:
Lizzie dear, Heaven grant that sor-
row may never come TO you through the
course you are takingw
And / had flung off the hand with
hooking words, and danced away, car
olling gay little song taught me by
Ralph Trevlyn. aai
Towards .the close of the season, we
were to perform in Washington and it
was understood the noted men there
and from abroad were to be present.
All our star parts were of course,
brought forward and rchearsed.
The name of La Refine Gabrielle. as
was known to the public, was great
deal on the mammoth posters, for Twas
accounted the best female rider in the
circus, and people were pleased to say
that no performance was complete with
out me.
NV name was plain one, only Lizzie
Leigh, but Herr Graffenburg, the man
ager, insisted that a French name look
ed better on the bills than plain Lizzie
Leigh, SO ! was La Refine Gabrielle.
II had not been announced what feats
Mons. MerIini was to perform. and l
was burning up with anxiety to know,
but | would not ask. Some vague pre-
science told me that Aleck would not be
content with any ordinary exhibition Of
his skill, and | was full Of dread lest he
might be daring enough to attempt a
feat had once, with dizzy brain and
hushed breath, seen him perform, and
which he had promised me, for my
loves sweet sake. never again to under
take.
1t was feat requiring great strength
and agility, attended with much danger.
/ am glad to know that it is never
allowed in circuses now. The man.
ager who suffered 1t TO be done, I'M
der any circumstances, must have been
destitute Of the common feelings Of
hu.n"lily. 80. III series of daring
somersaults through the trapeze, end
ing in flying leap through the air of
many feet, and passing at the last
through an immense hoop, covered
with blazing tar and tow, and landing
on the back Of horse which was pass-
ing around the ring at full gallop.
/ do not know that am able to give
you full understanding of the feat,
but twas by far the most dangerous snd
reckless performance of anything
known to our troupe.
Aleck was the only one Of them who
had ever attempted it, and it was al
ways received by the public with thumb
ers of applause.
A day or two before the issue of the
last bills advertising the great show,
Aleck sought mo under the shade Of q
great tree.
My heart beat unanimously at his APP
proach. said to myself that If he were
gentle and loving / would bridge the
breach between US with smile or
two, and Trevlyn might 60 whittier he
listed.
But Alick was grave and subdued.
lie did not take my hand; he did not
call mo Lizzie, but La Refine Gabrielle.
How hated the name! but l was as
naughty and reserved rs himself.
In four days we appear at Washing
ton, he said slowly, "and Herr Grallen-
burg desired me to give the audi
ence the benefit of my great perform
ancc---"
mot the Blazing Starp" | cried with
involuntary horror.
He took step towards me, his eyes
searching my face.
"Do you care, Lizziep Will youlbid
me not TO do itp"
In moment was my proud vain
self again. He had sighted mo lately,
and he had idled his time away with
that Blanche Jerrold, and he deserv-
cd to be punished. I answered him
coldly:
"Of course not. Why should / carer
II you choose to risk your neck in such
a mad feat, why do so, and | walked
away with an air Of naughty indiiler.