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


1t a beautiful summer afternoon; the
SKY was vivid blue, with fleecy white
clouds now and then yelling the face OF
the sun and casting their shadows upon
the ground beneath. The only sounds
to be heard were the rustling of the full
leaved trees, the cool rushing swish OF
the clear and sparkling river, and the
distant voices of the hay-makers busily
at work among the fragrant hay. The
quiet town lay bathed in sunshine, and
all was peace and tranquility-w sud
denly the whole aspect of the place was
changed; the air was filled with loud
music, not quite discOrdant, although
there was a larger proportion Of drum
than any other instrument in it.
! In few minutes all the inhabitants
of Knkstone had turned out to see what
this unusual excitement meant. The
gaily-colored bills posted on the walls
soon enlightened them, and they stood
laughing and talking together as they
waited to see the procession that was
moving slowly across the old stone
bridge into the quaint, narrow streets,
and the country children'S eyes grew
round with wonder and delight at the
unexpected sight.
There were grand gilded carriages
drawn by many horses, while beautiful
''ladies" were seated high up on tx;
golden seats; there were piebald ponies
with long tails, and number of hand
some cavaliers; and last of all came a
magnificent white horse with trappings
of bright scarlet. and on this huge crea-
ture rode tiny child, dressed in simple
white. with golden hair that hung about
the sweet baby face in bright curls All
the girls and boys ran along by the side
Of the carriages and the horses, wonder
ing and eager, following the procession
through all the streets quite away to the
field outside the town, where many busy
hands had ALREADY erected the large can
vass tent which was magic palace in
the eyes Of these children, hiding as it
did so many wonders from their long
ing gaze.
The gay procession went slowly
through the gate into the field; and even
then the children fingered round, gaz-
ing at the bright pictures outside the
tent, and trying to peep through the
canvass door to get tiny glimpse of
the splendor beyond.
"Dick, Dick!' cried the little girl with
the golden locks, putting out her tiny
hands to be lifted down; and Dick, who
had been lying on the grass with a pipe
in his mouth, sprang up quickly and
clasped her gently with his strong arms.
A strange contrast these two present
ed-the pretty, innocent child and the
careworn dissipated-loOking man, on
whose still handsome face there was so
plainly written the story of the ruined
life he thought so lightly of. And yet,
in spite of the hard wild look of his fine
features, there Iurked in his blue eyes
something indescribably tender and low
ing as he gaZed on the child eager, hap !
py face.
"And have you had nice ride, Fairy, |
and seen many pretty things?' he asked. |.
Yes; the trees, Dick, are so pretty;
and the water is white like milk, and
makes such funny noise!'
I'VE will go and see it together some
time-shall we darlingj''
You dear old Dick-I do love yOul'' |
she answered, her face growing brighter
than ever, as she clasped her tiny arms /
tightly round his neck
The tender look in his eyes deepened, !
and even the hard mouth, that the heavy I
almost covered, sOftened q |
little at-her caresSeS.
The gaily-dressed women soon chang /
ed their bright robes and appeared in .
their everyday apparel, standing in
groups, laughing and talking together
in loud tones, while the men lounged |
about smoking.
One of the riders came up to where |
Dick was standing; she was a shabbiiy- |
dressed woman with white, careworn /
face, from which her dark eyes cleaned .
brightly.
Come with NE, Fairy; we will 60
home now and have some tea," she
said.
AUu Dith, lOO. CilCt L ali y . IOlulllp
fast to his strong, supple hand.
And Dick, too, if he will come" said
her mother.
So the three passed out of the field
and walked on into the now deserted
streets.
1t was a poorly-furnished but clean
lodging in a side street, which, for Il few
short days, Fairy and her mother would
call home, and yet, in spite of the com
mon surroundings and the simple fare,
it was more homelike than any place
that Dick had known for many years.
"Wild Dick" as he was called, had
Joined the travelling circus only few
weeks before: he was one of the finest
bareback riders in the world and could
high salary, but he was Il
restless, rowing character and could
never stop in one place for any length
of time; so for the sake of the continual
change of scene he threw up his engage