Wichita eagle., 1889-05-26
THE CLOWN IN TRAGEDY.

Seized with sudden rage that turned his
face lvid, the young man sprang from his
knees where be had been kneeling before her.
"Have q care, Doral" be cried, with fash
ing eyes; you know how I love you, and
you know how far ] might 60. Don't push
me too hardI"
The young woman, reclining calmly on the
sofa, shrugged her shoulders.
Threats, ehF' she said, coldly; that was
all that was lacking, and by what right
by the right you gave me IN allowing me
for the last six Laonths to think that you
loved me-"
"Wen, II have ret you think so, are you
fool enough not to see that perhaps it was
because did love youl"
But you have ended with it all now; is it
not sof' replied the young man, clenching his
teeth
at appears So" She paused, and,
throwing aside her Indifferent air, became
more earnest ''Come, let Us finish this right
here, Mario But let us finish it once and for
ell That viii be the best thing for both Of
us You talk of rights l have not given
you any, unless it was to love me as
much as / wanted you to. It is the same
story always, and all the world over, my
good fellow Chance brought Us together In
the same circus at Vienna, /, O rope dancer,
you, q clown 1t was an accident like any
other, was it mott 1t might not have hap
pened But it did happen-so far so good |
took fancy to you, or, rather, you pleased
me, that is better still. l told you that /
liked you, strange thing to say, perhaps.
but it was true and said IL You proflted
by it for six months, and now what more do
you wantl Do You expect this to go on for
ever; do you want to live your whole life this
way! All, no, no, indeedl l see no reason
for it; do not wish it. Here we are at
Paris. still with the same circus, for luck
would have it that the same manager should
engage us together. But that is no reason
why we should remain chained to each other
like a couple Of convicts For my part l
have had quite enough of the chain If it
we're q golden one, might consider the mat
ter But that is not the case, as you
know, ehi Wen, now l have found
enc which is truly of that metal, and,
moreover, an easy one which / can carry as
/ please, provided that / carry it with de-
cency. Now, my dear fellow, you are in the
way, you are O hindrance, even a danger.
Do you think / have no ambition, no dreams
to gratifyi Do you suppose l should be con-
tent to follow in such track Is this all my
life tinei l have my future to look out for,
but you don't SEEN to consider that. can
never be certain that you won't spoil every
thing with your bursts of stupid jealousy. Do
not think l would hesitate for moment be-
tween you and fortuna You are very
agreeable, but / prefer the hundred thou
sand francs year which am offered; pre-
fer the carriage and dresses and servants
which can have if ! only say the word.
prefer them, l tell you And that is why
/ declare to you thus frankly that all is at
an end between US, quite at an end Come.
give me your hand and let Us not speak Of it
again Is it agreeds'
Mario stood before her-a handsome fellow,
indeed, with an athletic figure Of which his
street dress could not conceal the powerful
yet elegant outlines He remained looking ut
her without speaking, gazing into her face,
his black eyebrows fercely contracted, as II
struggling with frighful temptation TO
strangle the words in her throat
THAT is your last word" he demanded.
finally, with an effort.
My last What more is there to say7'
Dora, beg YOU be broke out, with
trembling voice.
There, you ere not going to commence
again, l hope Alb, there goes the bellf 1t Is
the count. Quick, get out by this door, and
don't put your foot in here again have
no more time to waste with you Como,
don't you hear what / sayi" she cried, bru-
tally And, running up, she pushed him out
by the shoulders
When she had slammed the door on his
fingers the clown turned and shook his fist
at it.
Eleven O'Clock. The circus glares with its
myriad of Hghts A murmur Of inpatience
runs along the tiers OF seats, glittering with
the bright toilets Of the ladies The Jug
glers, the tumblers, the dnshing eqnestri-
ennes, the performers upon the trapeze, all
accompanied by the ridiculous clowns, have
each had their turn. Now nervous hands are
crumplng the satin programmes They
await the performance Of the daring Nile
Dora.
Fifty feet high on steel wire, without
polel It's marvellous"
And without net, tooI'
1T is madness Why DO they not take
that precaution, at leastT
Simply TO produce q sensation, my dear.
w lLIOut CANCER tDSTe ID NJ eAIiS-A3cAs~ 40
would be an insipid affair with net. You
might as wei 60 to sse q hon tanner perform
with bis beasts muzzled, or an exhibition Of
wrestling between a man and stuffed bear.
One comes TO tho circus to be thrilled, and IL
is the business Of the managerial see that you
are frightened your moneys worth"
We'll, EN- already frightened enough II
she should faIlF'
Dora doesn't fall She startled Vienna
all last GUNNER with tho came performance
She has been doing 1t In Pays for rlonta-
When you see her IL looks as IL nothing were
easier than to dance In the middle OF spoce
without tbs breadth Of an inch 70 support
you, and you never think Of the danger, she
appears to accomplish it ell 50 easily. All,
there she is''
With bound, Nile. Dora has Just appeared
In the middle Of the ring, light and quick Is
bird, her strong, slender body incz2sed In
feshings the color Of rose.
Through the lorgnettss the vast audsence
convergss its Interested gaze upon her, arsc
from every mouth co1oss acTy CT sdrntrutscn
BE bows to tho RICH. and IN, b~udinS
gracefully, ber beautiful lips tak parted IN a
srnile, which displays double row Of pearA
Then shs turns, stsps back . dozeo PAGES,
selunS cord which hangs before tie pr
formsrs' entrance. and puls hersek up 70 the
wire, hand over hand, with al sA<y, cc1tSsz1s
strength Ths-c sss Is, away up 81 TIE ED
Of a wire, hsr form Imported On Tie tTo
cords shst lead % .hs Ete Ct tse bc1ctng
She steps here n Instant, looking down ~
the sea q taoes a1sd notioale1 witt Inter
Cd. she er,aats coe tIk clad lrn5, AID with
the sc,e O. lar foot getty taps tes razTc~
thrzaa @. GEL On which sbe = About % 9Th
nenos h~ portions tcrnsy. A seoood lases