Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-06-03
ANNAPoIIs ND. MONDAY EVENING. JUNE 8. 1880

i sne mlddie Or the ring, iight ana quick as
4 bird. her strong, slender body incased in
neshings the color of = rosa
Through the lorgnettes tho vast audience
converges It's Interested gaze upon her, and
from every mouth comes ncry Of admiration
She bows TO the right and left. bending
gracefully, her beautiful lips half parted in q
smile. which displays double row Of pearls
Then she turns. steps back . dozen PAGES.
seizing q cord which hangs before tho per
formers entrance, aud pulls herself up to the
wire. hand over hand, with an easy, confident
strength. There she IS, away up ct the end
Of q wire. her form supported on tho two
cords that lead to the side of the buiiaing.
She stops here an instant. looking down at
the SEQ Of faces dxed motionless with inter-
est She extends one silk clad limb, and with
the sole OF her foot gently taps the narrow
thread OF steel on which she Is about to com
mence Der perflous journey. A second later
and you win SEQ her start, run along the
wire. stop tUrn around, and balance on one
feet Is gracefully as bird.
In the middle Of the ring three clowns are
going through q series OF contorfions and
tumbling. In exact time they fall upon their
feet altogether Two Of them, doubling up
TO be seen peeping from behind their knees
sidle or tho scene. The third has stayed be-
hind, his neck craned up toward Dora, who
Is about to take her first step into danger.
What Ia he going to dol Some crowning alb
mzfdity, no doubt You win have your pains
for your trouble. my good fellow no one is
looking ct you now
A conscientious fellow, this Mario. Not a
glance Is for him now, but what Of iti He
win act bis part; there he Is, in the middle Of
the ring, trembling violently In all his limbs
rather good bit of comedy this Il is she,
up there. who walks along to death, IL might
be, but ii Is he down below who Is frightened
But it is an old trick, that sort OF farce
From clown Of bis standing one would ex.
pect something better, especially IS there Is
no variation to it Come, that viii do.
What do you think you are doing, you great
BOBBY, following the movements OF the
aerial walker step By step, and holding out
your arms as II she were going to faIIl Nile
Dora is not in the habit Of falling, you know
well enough. And for q mirth provoker.
really your appearance is not very funny.
Where in the world did you pick up that
undertaken facet One would even think you
were pale underneath all that white paint,
and that it is from real fear you tremblel
"What Is thatr'
A simultaneous cry Of horror has broken
from q thousand throats Under Nile
Dora's feet the wire has Just snapped in
twaini Whirling over and over through the
air, she falls
The audience has risen to It's feet with di.
lated eyes and blanched faces On the saw.
dust the clown and the unfortunate girl have
rolled together; for, by a remarkable feat Of
agility, Mario has caught her in his arms.
They are lifted and bornea away Mile. Dora
has received no injury; she has onlyfninted.
But the man who by miracle has saved her
has not come of SO easily. shoulder dis
located, broken arm, and internal injuries,
the surgeons say.
Another man finished for the circus basi-
ness, +" muttered the ring master. as he left his
stand.
Two days afterwards Nile Dora In rich
street dress, was seated at the bed side of her
former lover. There were the four white
walls of the hospital chamber, the bare Hoor,
o small table with bottle on it, chair, and
that was ALL
.Wen, my poor Mario, how do you feelr'
she asked in a voice that tried to be sympa
thetic.
"As you see, replied the clown with a wo-
ful smile, pointing to the bandages wound
round his arm and shoulder.
''It is to you that owe my life, Mario.
shall never forget it "
"Ah' said the young man with ray Of
hope in his eyes; ''you win love me againq"
Yes, but not as you mean. Come Mario,
do not commence that sort Of thing again
Pray let us talk Of something else Do you
know what they discoveredF'
mo- be replied, absently
ssThe wire was cut.
"Cutf
"And they have the culprik
.They havel And who is itF'
The property man. You know that fool
who hates mo 20 much because put him out
Of my dressing room.
"But It Is not possible that he could have
done it.
why notG He Is arrested, and the thing
Is proved against him
There was short silence. The tight rou
walker was thinking how much time decency
required her to prolong her visit to the man
who had saved her life. The face Of the
clown betrayed series Of changing emotions
His brow was contracted, and he seemed to
be suffering great mental anguish
Listen, Dora, he broke out suddenly. Ia
. half whisper; this man must be released
.sWhyf'
Because am certain that it was not be
who cut the wire. ("
~What do you know about itr
II am sure Of it.
Who was it. thenr
1T was -
1oul" The young woman had started
bark with movement Of horror.
'Bcn't leave me, ! beseech youls he
groaned; forgive mel / loved you 50 much
that became crazy over ftla s0bbed the
poor fellow
Dora arose with look Of pftiless disgust
upon her face. She took up Der parasol, and
coldiys without look. without q word,
walked to the door and went out
The poor wretch, immovable upon his cot.
heard down the steps the hard click OF her
high heels. theswish of her silken skirts. Doors
opened on the door below and then banged 70.
Mario was alona A strange, hopeless look
cana into his eyes, and with q shudder he
turned his face 70 fha waI1