Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-15

4 thinking how nice 1t must be to rest
to have nothing to do but rest" Sh
+ uttered the words dreamily, as if speak
ing to herself.
And Fairy is tired too,' said Dick
lifting the child in his arms as he spoke
= and stroking her fair head tenderly.
There is no rest for any of US unit
! our work is done," remarked Mrs. Bren
ham.
Fairy fell fast asleep in Dicks arms
and he was still holding her when the
7 riders came slowly back; the grand quad
rifle was finished, and Mrs. Brenham's
/, work for the evening was over. She
was the last to dismOunt, and got down
slowly. holding up her gaudy habit with
careful hands; her face had lost its
bright crimson flush, and looked gastly
pale in the dim light. She glanced at
Fairy with smile
rs she asleep?' she asked.
"Yes; poor little mortal, she seems
quite tired out" Dick answered; then he
added, IF you are going home now, l
will carry her for you"
Thank you; but won't you be want
ed?" she asked gently.
Il can very soon run back again." he
answered.
Then l will be quick and change nv
dress" She made move forward, then
suddenly stopping, looked up at Dick
with eyes full of anguish. Il feel so
faint-so i'll" she whispered and even
as the spoke she staggered and fell, a
stream of blood rushing from her pale
lips and dyeing she tawdry yellow habit
that she wore.
In moment all was confusion. Dick
handed the sleeping child to woman
who was standing near, and went and
knelt at Mrs. Brenham'S side. Another
OF the men had rushed to fetch doctor,
who in few moments was at her side.
at is a case of a very few minutes
she is in the last stage of consumption,
and has no strength to sustain such Sc
we're hemorrhaga,' he said; and at his
words murmur of pity and sorrow
came from the crowd of sympathetic
lOOkers-on.
The loud music still went on, with the
cracking of whips, the dull thud of the
horses hoOfs, and the shouts and laugh
ter of the people; while the poor circus
rider lay dying.
She recovered consciousness once, and
looked around eagerly. When her eyes
rested on Dick an expression of peace
came into them. She put out her vast
ed hand, and he grasped it with his
strong fingers; her voice was so weak
that he had to bend low to hear her
broken words.
"Fairy-she loves you; be good-to
her; leave her-to you"
A look of pity, mingled with some
other expression which was not so easy
to read, was on his face, and she spoke |
again.
LET me-di die-happy. Promise Il
promise me!' she whispered family.
A look of firm determination and res
Glue purpose daWned in his blue eyes as
he answered.
81 will take her and guard her, as you
yourself would have guarded her, from
all evil"
1t sounded like a solemn VOW and the
dying woman smiled.
Il am-happy-nOw she said, and
her dark eyes closed. In a few moments
she opened them again and looked round
wildly; the shouts of the people and the
music of the band sounded louder than
ever. NO rest; am-sO tired-always
tired. l have tried to be-goOd.
Oh, Heaven knows -hOw-hard -"
Then suddenly the look of feverish rest
IessneSs on her worn face gave place to
an expression of deep JOY and peace; her
dark eyes seemed to be looking far be-
yOnd the group near her, the JOY in their
lepths deepening gradually, and in a
few moments the poor circus rider had
found rest at last.
A sobbing child, whose one cry for
'MOtherI'' rent the heart of "Wild Dick
and made him feel how helpless he was
% comfort her, was the only legacy Mrs.
Brenham left; that, however, did not
give Dick any concern; and Time, the
healer of all sorrows, helped him to
BRING smiles once more to the pretty,
childish face.
The poor woman was buried in the
beautiful churchyard at KirkstOne, and
,OOn afterwards the circus was far away
rom that quaint country town, enchant-
ng other places with its many wonders,
md by many of her fellow workers the {
,nce beautiful rider was almost forgot
en-. But wild Dick" had not forgot
EN- her, or the promise that he had made I
o her, for he worked harder now than {
le had ever worked in his life before,
laving vowed that never again would I
hor ~ na ]
he wonder and envy of the childish 9
,ortion of the circus audience. l
1t was no easy matter to pay for de- I
ent lodgings so as to leave her in safe S
,eeping while he attended to his weary [
work; and vet he did manage it. No l
me knew of the constant struggle be- |
ween good and evil that went on in his t
,reast; and it was no trivial battle to 7
nan who had lived the life he had for q
o many years. He had to fight against
vii temptations, to deny himself luXu- l
les, to keep from drink-he who had l
earned to drown his cares with it-and I
t was harder for him to stand aloOf e
rom his old comrades in past times I
e had been the gayeSt of them. To 1
Weigh against these temptations and al [
urements there was only little child C
is legacy; but the child won, because Il
e loved her.
In the early part of August the circus g
vas stationed at a seaside town, and on Il
he first Sunday he had spent the whole S
ay upon the beach with Fairy. She {
Doked a pathetic little figure in her '
lack dress. and was so pretty that many II
yes turned to look at her, and also at n
he handsome man bent over her, listen :
ng with smile to her careless chatter. e
When the light began to fade they a
rent home to their poor lodging in a o
uiet street; and after they had had their Il
nipple meal she sat upon his knee, silent II
nd tired after her happy day. ?
would you like to go to bed, darl- Il
lg? Are you tired?' he asked. Il
"Yes | am tired, Dick-very tired. l
I'LL 90 to bed; but may l say my pray o
re to Won tonight? | ALWAYS used TO d