St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-23
A FIENDlSH REVENGE.

OiIlOChlOu OO Oo4lO0 al
English village.
It was not much more than hamlet.
poor and ugly one.
But twice a year a function, called
1.-THE fair by the inhabitants of Smock-
ton, swept away the clothes lines. the
poles and the donkeys, and filed the
common with glitter and animation.
Several gayly painted wagons, OF the
kind known as caravans, took possession
of the common; a shooting gallery was
established in a booth; rickety stalls for
the sale of cheap drapery, boots and
conglomerated sweets were erected. and
a good-siZed tent stretched its weather.
beaten canvas over the most conspicu-
Gus plot of ground.
A large picture of crude design sus-
pended over the entrance represented
impossible gymnaStic and aerobatlc
feats, wrestling, duels and the attitude
of fascinating female Samson, poiSing
100-pound weights with extended arms
and jeweled fingers. A thin. rOuged.
white Wigged clown, whose lower limbs
were cased in ordinary trousers, stand
ing outside ON a barrel. announced In
Shrill tones, with intervals of drum
beating. that at the close of each OF the
three daily performances the celebrated
athlete and fencing master, Mazagrauo.
owner of the show, who met in single
combat all the crow ned heads of Europe,
would condescend to fight with sw ord.
saber, foils or sticks any gentleman IN
the audience willing to step into the
ring and enter the lists with him.
1t was the close of sultry August
day; the sun was sinking, and pierced
with its level rays the haze, made OF
heat and dust. through which the wag-
onS. the booths and the people doomed
large and distinct.
The lifted canvas curtain of the ath-
letes' tents showed roughly con-
structed circle OF boards and prOfled on
the block opening the swiftly moving fg-
ure of Lorenzo MaZagranO engaged In
single stick combat with tall. straight,
neat-limbed soldier, who had thrown
of his regimenJal jacket and accepted
the proffered opportunity of measuring
himself with the professional fencer Tor
ninepenuy stakes. The men we're not
badly matched.
The athlete was by far the most mus
eular of the two: but the private had
superior skill and knowledge of his art.
He wore All easy, good-humored smile,
while ms opponent fought with set
teeth and dark seowl, as ii more bent
on avenging some personal quarrel than
displaying professional talent. The
contest was the last on the programme.
Most of the spectators. oppressed with
the intense heat in the tent and allured
by the prospect or refreshment outside,
had deserted the ring. and stood laZilY
near the entrance. Inside there re-
| manned only the two eOmbatantS. boy
a nf the
the pale-faced clown and woman.
She was seated on square deal chest
in corner of the tent, gathering tightly
round her shoulders threadbare water
proof cloak which, however, did not
conceal her person so closely as to pre-
vent a pink sandal. the lower part of
fiesh-colOred stocking and the edge of a
red skirt bound with furnished gold
from being visible. At her feet were
three large black cubes with handles,
on which we're written respectively IN
large white figures pounds 100, pounds
200, pounds 500. She had rested her
elbows on her knees, dropped her chin
in her hands. and kept her eyes fixed on
the athlete and the soldier.
It would have been difficult TO state
accurately the age of the woman, or de-
eide whether she was pretty or not; an
mated, her expression might be pleas
ant enough: in its concentrated atten-
ton it was almost hard. Her complex
ion was brown to dull red; her hair.
plastered in feStOonS on her forehead,
was braided at the back in broad oiled
pIaits confined by large brass hairpins.
Her mouth was small, her lips thin: her
eyes. which were large and round, had
the haIf-vacant, half-m elaneh0ly look
noticeable in the eyes of beasts of ar-
den. which, while they stretch out their
necks TO the yoke with the placid in
difference of long habit. carry in their
patient, reprOachful glanceS a silent
protest against the hOpeleSsnesS of their
fate.
ANY one who had watched the woman
narrowly might have seen that at each
feint or subtle stroke her pupils dilated
and her breath came more quickly
through her parted lips. Presently the
invincible MaZagrano had to confess
himself absolutely vanquiShed. The
fight was over. The soldier turned with
a little gesture of triumph toward the
woman and smilingly saluted her with
a stick in military fashion. She re-
sponded neither by look nor gesture.
The athlete. who had remained dog
gedly mute listening to the applause of
the men outside, who had thrust their
dispense once more; then striding to-
ward the private, who had resumed his
jacket. he placed his coarse hand on his
shoulder and said savagely:
Not so soon, my fine fellow. Let US
play quits. Work it out with your fists.
+ Well wrestIe. if you please"
The soldier looked surprised. The
woman had started TO her feet. The
cloak falling to the ground revealed the
garnishes of her circus dress aud her
bare outstrerched arms.
Don't fight him." she almost shrieked
in a voice of terrified entreaty. He
is in one of his taItrums; he'll hurt
you"
Mazagrane turned on her furiously.
so" he said, with an ugly sheer,
ssyou're afraid I'll spoil his beauty.
missus." Then facing the private again
he added. brutality, Are you a man or
coward?.
The soldier had become quite pale.
He was brave but not eEerstrong, and
he knew it. However, he began slowly
to inhibition his coat again.
"Den't fight with him, Don't fightv'
repeated the woman mechanically and
almost iHaudibly. as she sank down
helpless on the wooden box.
Mazagrano crossed his arms over his
UE6dSt dllu otHuu HiOtlOuftSSs Willie his
opponent attired himself in the wres-
tiers scanty apparel that had been flung
at his feet. The athletes eyes were
bloodshot, his upper lip was lifted in a
smile of bestial ferocity, and OCCASION
ally he shot cruel glance at the woman,
who glanced before her with widened.
terror-stricken eyes. As soon as the
SOLDIERS toilet was completed, the two
men faced each other and closed. Not
for long. Almost at once the soldier
was thrown. both his shoulders touch
ing the ground.
Before he could even attempt to rise
MaGgrano placed one knee on his
chest. and, seiZing his head with his two
hands. was slowly twisting it around.
A stified groan of agony broke from the
victim. echoed by piercing scream of
despair from the woman. Then the
athlete arose. spurning with his foot the
inanimate mass.
The soldiers spinal chord was broken.
The woman had fallen forward on her