The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-02-16

you; her nerves will be stronger.
He slouched across the van and down
the steps, Meg lazily watching him as he
passed out into the red light of the sunset.
Aud she stood watching-not jim, but
something far away and beyond Jim-until
the sun, glowing and red, dipped into 'the
under world.
Pritchetts Universally Renowned Circus
Daring Equestrian Feats-Marvelous Pistol
Performance-Jim, the Worlds Wonder,
Win Shoot Cigar fran a Woman's Lips
at a Distance of Twenty Yards.
The bills were posted on the walls of
Blessington early on the following day.
The excitement in the circus was almost
as great as that among the inhabitants of
the town, for, though Jim had often spoken
of the cigar business, none Of the COM
pany had expected that Meg would consent
to stand calmly to be shot at.
Meg was herself surprised to find that
she had yielded to Jim's masterfulness.
They had been practicing all the morning,
and she had so often gone safely through
the ordeal that already it had begun to
lose its terror. Why should Meg-with
character elemental, animal, gross-repose
in this Jim passionate confidence which
touched her whole being to finer issues +?
Who can tell? 1t may be the divine spark
never wholly becomes extinetin any human
soul. Because the lower nature loved, the
higher trusted.
Jim himself had not given her so much
rs n word of commendation, but it scarcely
mattered to Meg. 1t was enough for her
apathetie nature to know that she had
proved herself as brave as Liza, and that
he could not now taunt her with "nerves,
or institute comparisons between her age
and that of her rival.
Alone in her caravan she shuddered and
grew cold at the thought Of the evening
performance, when before the excited
spectators she would have to stand, cigar
in mouth, TO be shot at. That was how
the action always appeared to her; it was
not the cigar at which Jim was aiming, but
herself.
\ sudden fear shot sharply through her
and reused her to a vivid sense of peril.
She would not do IT, Nothing should in
duee her to become a target for JIM She
would refuse at the last moment, when the
presence Of the Manager would protect her
from Jim'S anger
As she decided thus, Jim came in and
tossed small parcel into her lap
That's for your pluck, Meg, he said,
faint show of admiration in his voice.
'sYOu nust wear it tonight, and when |
see il shall know how TO take aim.
Meg opened the parcel slowly, debating
with herself whether TO tell Jim she was
not going through any performance that
night. But when she saw the gaudy red
stone in its setting of cheap metal she look
ed up smiling
'-It's u beautiful brooch You never
gave me anything before, jim. III be
certain TO wear it tonight"
She had decided her fate. Nothing
would induce her to disappOint Jim now,
and deny herself the pleasure Of Haunting
the brooch-Jim's gift-before Liza's envi-
Gus eyes She stood firmly enough on the
platform that evening, and she did not
finch when Jim took up his position twenty
yards from her and aimed deliberately, as
il seemed, at her head.
Ii was u moment of terrible tension, vet
the cigar in her white lips was held firmly
and steadily
Her profile was toward the man, and af-
ter the frt glance she could not see him,
but she was conscious Of every movement
he made.
Then, quick, sharp shot. The cigar,
cut in two, fell to the ground; Wild cheer
burst from the spectators, and Meg, unharm-
ed, went slowly out Of the tent.
Life in the circus, even life colored with
the varitoned light of love, was neither a
beautiful nor an eyentful thing. The sun
rose and set, the daily performances took
place, Meg went through her ordeal until
It ceased to be one. and only on the rise
and fall of human passion broke the mo-
notony Of the camp.
Yet it had its rCmanccs, too; its seasons
of birth and burial; its episodes Of love and
marriage, the latter not always regarded as
sine qua non by he lovers, and now and
then a tragedy would be enacted upon its
small stage.
Rumor had been busy of late with Meg S
name.
OF her past the company knew little
il was as well not to peer too closely into
personal histories when so few would
bear looking into. A stone thrown at
ones neighbor might rebound upon one $
self.
Meg's past was therefore allowed to lie
buried.
The past is our own, not our neighbor ;,
and it may remain peaeeably in its grave;
but the present belongs to the community
aud an oiFeuse against the Now is an insult
to our own times.
Meg's name began to be freely whispered
about,
Among the women first; then the rumor
spread, and the men-disposed to look toll
erantly at any lapse in morality which tes-
tilted to their influence over the frail sex
would wink slyly when she passed them.
Jim was the last to hear the whisper that
was circulating; and when he did so, he
laughed and winked with the rest, and alb,
straetedly turned over in his pockets some
stray shots remaining from the pistol charge
of the previous night.
"They say he has given her gold
brooch, he heard, as he moved away; but
the words fell unheeded on his ears, and
he sauntered off in the direction of Meg'S
van. He entered, and, finding it empty
sat down, moodily, to wait the womans ar
rival.
Ho had not long to wait. Meg's step
slower and heavier than of old, was heard
ascending the ladder, and Meg herself stooC
breathless at the door.
She gave slight start upon seeing jim
then came in and greeted him in her usua
impassive manner.
The man maintained sulky silence
and, used to his moods, she busted hersel
quietly about the small matters of he
menage.
All at once he spoke, and his tone o
wrathful contempt had power to overturl
Meg's composure.