The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-11-11

~
II Wat a mon b iatHf During ihf
passing month John Foster had pehled
hla W. half HhnHdfed times, coming out
uhaoniheH
A %ifamaudous aal ehoa Wa gathered
IN The pavilion " llpman'a oriental
Etua icnffleulum. drawn there pfinh
pally w iha fame " Aignof ~fOsahfellfs
performance Tho pats Of th0 clown
The waiting "a The acrobat, The contof
tiona ~ The homeless mnn, the antics ~
tho trick horse, NIL became things NJ
TIN past FOR that occasion, Last ~ nll
was " oome the entrance ~ the lion
tanner Into the cage " monsters
slRnor loirafoln appeared ITO bowed
10 the audience. smiled, and then IN.
tafed Tho place whore no other man ~
all that thronx could ba . gone, aud
lived 10 tell ~ his daring.
This nineteenth century boasts II ita
civilization But some way or other
Am reminded of tho ~gladiainrial dayaoi
Rome ~ wrltc Of John Foster. The
blood ~ tho sacrifice seems M sweet ~
the people now as II was then . tenn.
poral q m0rrsi
Tho man went through with his per.
fofmanee successfully. the audience
hanging brcathlessly upon his actions.
His boasts oboyed him Ms well rs usual.
Slgnor foscarolli, a. ! have said, went
through his performance successfully
he was about ready 70 retire fr0ts III,
cage, Slowly he stepped backward.
Suddenly there was a suppressed roar
In nm Instant the man saw his peril
The eyes Of his largest animal were
flashing fire, and his great red tongu,
had dropped out. There was n spring
and simultaneously a cry Of fear from
tho audience.
But the lion-tamcr was not slain. III
had kept his presence Of mind, and hi
motions woro quicker than those of TN
angry beast Tho great iron door Of tn
cage closed with q crash between hin
and the lion. and no was safe. Still. h,
had left his sleeve inside. and there wa
an ugly scratch on bis arm-an ugl,
scratch. 10 more
! John Foster bowed and smiled again
Then In n moment his tall. athleti
figure had disappeared from the sight q
the multi tude.
His escape had occurred during III
: afternoon performance. That evening
after he had eaten his supper, he cam
: out Of the dining-room into the office q
:. tho hotel. Standing by the desk Of III
. clerk WINS the man with dark eye,
' elosoly-shaven face, white teeth, nm
thin lips. John Foster recognized hin
Immediately.
: "Good-evening, Signor foscarclli,
. he said.
J "Good-eycning." said John Fostel
' coldly.
: "T understand that you have had
narrow escapc." said MIR. Peter Gwyr
: Nov. II | had been In the payillo
. this afternoon. you would have bee
' killed. no doubt am TO be In 1T III
! death. however. 10 you were sparct
Are you aware that Ihaye seen YOU pei
form several timcs during tho ln
. month"; You soc, | nm q man
means. and IT'S my within 10 follow 20
: around In this way"
III don't know anything about you
movements, SIR" said John Foster
angrily. "Neither do | caro- 10. Yo
are too cold ,blooiad 10 suit mo-"
81 shall see you perform again u
night" said Mr.. Peter Gwyn, display
Ing no heat whatever.
John Foster turned on his heel. an
walked away. His ~countenancc b,
trayed nothing. but he felt his hear
= sink. lie had expected at any rate thu
i. the lions would be harder TO manag
: than usual lilo felt that the presenS
, Of this man would unneryc him. ~
: fore his vision rose tho faco Of the wo.l
an no loved, and she was weeping
Was his doom staring him Ia the fac
The thought suggested itself TO him thu
n he might refuse TO appear. But ho shl
n his teeth hard. and drove Il away.
b IL am no coward. Mr. Peter Gwyn,
y he muttercd. As though speaking TO d
man who seemed TO be- his foo. ''Yol
silly twsddle shall not brighten me fro
my business."
d. But that very thought was proof IN
u John Fostcr was affected. And he, bra
u man ~ ever lived. was strangely s
u However. for some reason. why. Jol
A.. Foster knew. Peter Gwyn was n
!, present that night, and the animals we
as docile and obedient as no had cv
b. kuoun kham.