Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-27
NOT ALL TINSEL.

NOT ALL TINSEL.
A grand potpourri of sounds by tn
brass band. The white gloved attache
OF Pecktin and Piebald's cirque drew III
at eithe. side of the ring entrance. TIL
Elken curtains parted and young wo
man in cloudy mass ofgauze-bespanglet
skirts bounded into the ring. Her pretty
face wreathed in smiles as she curtsiet
and kissed her hands to the applaudine
audience. Then she vaulted upon The
bare back of horse that stood proudly
srching his glossy neck, as if aware O
the honor of carrying such dainty
charming little figure as that of the
young but daring equestrienhe, Lolf
Fay.
Close to the ring curb sat man whose
eyes followed with wistful intentness
every motion of horse and rider. A man
counting at least thirty years; not hand.
some, but with honest ruggedness OF
purpose shining from out his gray eyes
and showing itself in the square-cut chin
and thin, firm lips-a man whose hands
had been soiled and roughened by hard
work, but whose heart was as yet free
from guile. Once or twice, as the in
trepid rider executed some daring feat, a
look of anxiety, mingled with passionate
yearning, swept across the mans face
and the veins of his hands stood out like
whip-cords, as clenching them he mutter.
ed beneath his breath:
"My God! I cannot bear it,
As he rose and sought to make his
way out, cries of "Sit down! Down in
'front.'" They reached the ears of the
young equestrienne and caused her to
glance inquiringly in that direction. A
faint exclamation escaped her lips. She
lost her balance, thereby missing the pa
per hoop through which she was to
jump.
In moment all was confusion. The
man, at sight of the riders swaying fig
ure, had sprung over the ring curb into
the ring. The audience saw him grasp
the 1.-the form of the circus girl from be-
meath the horses hoofs; saw him stagger
back and fall as the frightened horse
kicked out wildly. Then woman's
scream cut the air with heart-rending
sound; and sharp and shrill echoed the
words: "My God! have killed him!"
as Lola Fay threw herself upon the
ground and sought to raise his senseless
body in her arms.
X X X
Some eighteen months previous to the
opening of my story the little village of
Quietton was awakened into a decided
state of excitement by flaming posters of
the advent of circus within their midst.
These honest but narrow minded villag-
ers were mostly of the opinion that it
was encouraging the devil to allow a
show within their precinct. Nevertheless
the majority were inclined to learn more
of this wickedness, doubtless, the better
to enable them to depict its pitfalls.
The eventful day arrived, and Quiet
ton was crowded to overlooking with in
coming visitors and the show folk. 1t
was with rather feeling of doubling his
approval that kindly Mrs. Sturdy inform
ed her son John that she had let her
spare TOOm 10 TWO Ol tHe clrcuS IOlkS,
adding:
"Lor', John, I couldn't help it; they
were so friendly, like. Not bit what
you'd think. Real ladies, I'd have said,
If I hadn't of known 'em for the show
folks"
'Well, mother, as it's only for night,
there's not much harm done any way,
but I've always heard that such folks
gave sight of trouble, and the rest
of the sentence died upon Johns lips as
a young girl tripped into the room with
"Oh could you please tell me the
time? Ny watch has stopped" holding
out tiny gold repeater.
Nothing like this dainty bit of human
ity had ever crossed John Sturdy's path.
Was it her delicate, creamy, skin or the
soft lustre of her deep hazel eyes? Did
the charm lay in the grace Of her tiny
figure or in her childike, appealing ways
He could not have told, but from that
moment John Sturdy loved this young
circus girl with all the strength and pas
sion of his great, noble heart. Not that
he was aware that the new sensation he
felt was love, at least not until they
brought her home that night, pale and
weak from a broken arm, and he rode the
old mare as he had never done before to
q neigboring town for doctor,
For hours John lay awake thinking of
the little sufferer beneath his roof. If it
had only happened to him instead of her.
II she would only let him he would take
her from a life in which she ran such
risks. Would the village rise in horror
at his mating with circus girl? The
grandson of a minister. He laughed
softly to himself. The villagers and
his ancestors would never trouble him il
he could but win her. Then with bitter
ness he thought, What have I to offer?
A great clumsy fellow. I am not worthy
of her. She is far too good for me. And
his mother? He was her only child, and
if he were happy she would be content,
he knew.
Early next morning the circus left
Quietton, but Lola remained behind.
She cried a little at parting with her Sis
ter, whose care she had been from a child.
In fact, the elder sister was almost like
mother to the younger; even her mar
riage had not weakened her affection for
Lola. Il had only given the spoilt girl
q kind brother. Mm. Sturdy was to re-
oeive weekly stipend for I.ola's bard.