Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-06
THE ACROBAT'S REVENGE.

The sun was setting behind the hills
Of MaldOn, one June evening in the
year 1915, when an acrobat. with his
wife, were seen plodding along the
road toward the next market town.
They were weary and sad. The ac-
robat himself was man about thirty,
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 u nature above that Of Il
mOumtebank.
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 homely 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 where now journeying to the
market town of Maldon,a and as to-mor-
row would be market day, Duval
thought he might come in for Il pOr-
ton of the money that would be chang
ING hands. But as it was very desir-
able that he and his wife should have
supper after d long days journey, and
Il place to sleep in, he was anxious to
earn few pence in the town or be-
fore reaching it, and presently an OPP
pOrtunity arose by which. Us he
thought, he might do so.
Almost opposite to him, at two or
three hundred yards distance, was the
lodge and noble gateway of Il gentle
mans park. AS Duyal 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
twenty and thirty children, in holiday
attire, playing upon the lawn before
an old and spacious mansion, which
had belonged to the Windus, the tenth
baronet 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 beYy of hOliday-mak-
ers. Here was q grand chance for
him. Surely it would delight the
CT ldren to see him flash his. golden
balls in the air, whirling them up and
up, like the everspringing stream of a
fountain. Surely all the other wonder
full things he could do would be the
very thing for them. Surely the great
and wealthy parents would pay hand
SOmely for the amusement of the little
ladies and gentlemen. He paused for
q 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
no one but the children themselves;
and, therefore, addressing one Of the
oldest, he asked her if they would like
to See any Of his 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 us they could go. And so intent
was his little audience III 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:
"Vagabond how dare you enter
here? p
For moment Duval stood astound-
ed and dumb at this sudden Interrupt
ton. He saw before him a gentleman
much taller than himself, in shooting
coat and boots, with felt hat, mar
row shouldered, fair, with q shaven
lip and chin, but bushy whiskers of
deep tawny hue; his eyes, of a blush
gray, large and bright, and his bear
ing that of an aristocrat, with a strong
dash of the bully.
''COHe, pack UP your trumpery and
begoner' said the baronet, seeing that
Duval stood looking at him.
But the acrobat had recovered his
self-possession, and now said, with a
firm voice:
Il meant no offense, your honor,no
to harm any one or anything belong
ing to you. l saw the children, and
made bold to enter, thinking it would |
please them to see MY
''Oh, that S very old story" said |
the baronet. 'When thieves and gyp-
sizes prowl about gentlemen's parks we |
all know that their. intentions are per-
fectly innocent.
''Do you call me thief. sir!" said |
Duval, his dark cheek coloring and his |
eyes flashing fire.
''Scoumdrel! exclaimed Sir Will
liam. his blood rushing into his face
and making it in a moment red with |
age: ''do you think l would chat logic |
with Z strolling vagabond like you9 Il
told you 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 |
a.