The Portland daily press., 1882-02-11
BCEi PRESS.
Hazel.

0lSu1.
Lately she had often dreamed such a
thing One moment she saw herself tran
gully poised upon the vast eXpectant sea OF
upturned faces, the roar of applause still
echoing from the roof; the next, the air went
whistling shrilly past her ears, the circus
lights and the sea of faces below seemed ris-
ing up to meet her with the ground, and
with groan and stiled shrek she lay upon
the tan in the ring, sickening sensation OF
pain shooting through her in every part, a
great cry from the multitude going up from
single throat, the hurrying feet of strong
men rushing forward to lift her poor manned
body, that had Just life enough left to be
conscious vet, followed by frantic appeals for
surgeon in the front, the snuffing uneasl-
ness of the horses as she was carried past,
the lamentations of her comrades, and then
merciful blank that ended all.
Tonight she thought of it again as she
stood in the little dressing-room she shared
with Mrs Bridgeman, the wife of the trained
goat man, and made her face up with red
and white. How lustrous her eyes shone
out above the rouge! How hideous and how
staring they would look out through all the
mask of paint if the life behind them should
suddenly 60 out! swell, there's nobody
but old Tom to care much," she said, with
half sob, staring at her reflection in the
little glass.
''Here, Hazel, hurry up. What's the mat
ter with you? You'll be late again, and
Spear will make a devil of row." said the
deep voice of middle-aged man who had
entered the room without the ceremony of a
knock. He was Tom Scully, the man who
had brought her up and trained her to her
perilous profession. He had evidently only
Just quilted the ring, for he wore tights and
spangled trunks, and his face was glstening
with an oily perspiration he was hopping
with handkerchief whose grayish hue pro-
claimed that it was not over clean.
''Can Bridgeman go on with his trained
goats after Clyde9' asked the girl, with a
sort of tremor in her voice.
s'You amt fluke again tonight hope?''
said Scully, closer and speaking in low
voice, as if he did not wish to be overheard.
Hazel met his glance and half nodded.
Scully puckered up his lips and whistled.
"That's bad" he said in the same low key
you'll come cropper some time, sure
enough, Hazel, if you keep going on in this
way. Where's your nerve? A year ago I'd
have backed you against all the world for
shouting crowd in 'front.' Let the noise put
spirit in you. Pluck up and go on"
81 can't" said Hazel, dejectedly. wish
| could cut the whole biz"
"Cut it and be id" said Scully. You
amt sick hope?"
s'Sickl Oh, Lordr' cried Hazel, "Fm
sick of life-that's allr' She raised her arm
up to the level of her face and kept it there
awhile, screening her eyes,.
Scully eyed her narrowly, and stepping
back, closed the door, s'Look here, Hazel"
he said anxiously, s'you haven't been up to
any shines I don't know of now, have you,
my dear? You amt been fair to keep dark.
I'd never stand in your way, as you know
If you were my own child l couldn't be any
squarer with you; now say"
''No,' said Hazel, ''Pm all right. Tom,
but for those Dreams"
Dreaming again9" said Scully. "Come,
now, dear, no fooling; dreams go by con-
traries, don't you know? Hark! you're
called; And they're bowling out there in
front like mad. That's for Clyde"
"Hazelr' called a voice from the depths.
On the way she passed tall, handsome
young fellow, who had just left the ring.
It was Clyde, the bareback rider of the
troupe, Texan, and this was his first sea-
son with them ALL He was very reserved
and quiet in his manners, and so distant to
the other members of the troupe as to be
little liked. Apparently he did not see Ha-
eel as she passed. She saw him clearly
enough, and her eyes flashed, finding. her
sprang forward in the ring, and was greeted
with deafening burst of applause.
At the side of the ring ladder
was strongly braced that led to a
little platform near the roof Ha-
eel cleared the space between almost
at single bound, put her foot on the first
rung of the ladder, and scrambled up like a
cat, amid the cheers and braves of the house.
Scully, who was watching from below, ap-
through and through" he cried. Suddenly
he saw that she was standing lingering the
ropes with an uncertain, hesitating air. He
shouted something that sounded like "Stretch
the netp and dashed after her across the
ring and up the ladder and to her side,
where she had not yet done lingering the
ropes. cpl look out for you," he painted in
her ear.
Down below it was only noticed that
another performance was to be substitute
for the Great Leap for Life by Hazel, with
out the net. Nobody but the man beside
her saw the awful grayness of the girls face
growing underneath its mockery of red
cheeks
''We'lI give 'em the Brothers." said Scully
You can do that-it's safe. Take the Leap
afterward, if you feel up to it then. Now,
then, stand back. Up she goes! Steady
ready, let CO."
'Tm SO cold," muttered Hazel; but the
man had swung himself already far out upon
the ropes.
He saw her waver before she sprang to
him, and her hands, When he caught them,
were damp and chilly. Alive to the danger,
he swore at her, and while they rocked
together suspended in the air he managed to
get his handkerchief, which was plentifully
chalsed, and dabbed her hands. "Mind
what you're at" he told her, in hoarse
voice that was hardly human iu its sound to
Hazeps ears. 81 swear I'll not let you go;
so if you miss and drop you'll drag me down
and there'll be murder done, and you'll 60
to your eternal judgment with my blood on
your soul.'
After that Hazel went safely and mechanic
ally through her part. There was recall
afterward, but Scully had to go on and show
himself alone. Hazel lay in dead faint in
the little room.
He found her there with Mrs. Brdgeman
when he returned, and Bridgeman lounging
around the door, The house was clamoring
for her, but she refused to be seen again
that night.
SITS no use," she cried exctedly, as she
saw Scully, 81 amt fit to go on See for
yourself what a state I'm in. What's got in
to me, do you suppose, to make me faint?
oh, its an awful feeling! Why, my head
swims yeti l never felt so, not even the
first time l ever went so high without the
mattress or the net " She did not seem to cara
who heard.
Bridgeman arrested Scully at the door.
"Tve about figured it out" he whispered to
him: your girl, there, has gone spoons on
Clyde"
''If thought that cried Scully, and he
spat significantly on his hands.
"He's sly sort of a potato'' continued
Bridgeman, whispering as before. 81 wouldn't
trust him out of my sight with any other wo-
man in the world than Fam" He nodded
in the direction of Mrs. Bridgeman as he
spoke.
Hazel happened to have overheard, low
and indistinct as his whisper had been.
'Don't be too sure of that" she said; "you
old fool-yOu old fool, Clyde has nothing to
do with me, and 1 can guess at the reason
why he never even looks my way. He
lights his cigarettes and walks off when am
called. He has never seen me go through
single act-the only man who was ever here
at Coppec's and didt care to see me in the
ring"
"Great shucks," whispered Bridgeman
again; don't yon see how it is? She watch
es for him every night. l told you she'd
gone spoons"
Hazel noted the whisper, which this time
she failed to hear, and it maddened her,
nervous and upset and weakened as she was.
She pushed Mrs. Bridgeman aside, and went
over to the two men, shaking with passion
Ior 10