Connecticut western news., 1889-12-18
VOL. XIX.


 it could only gape and stare. From some unseen scabbard the girl drew q sword, like q flash of silver fire, and whirling it around her head, began to cut and thrust with the dexterity of a fencing-master.
 Her slender, erect body quivered with flexible muscles, all set in sudden motion. Under the snow of her skin appeared faint rose flush. She smiled to herself, as though the exercise was both familiar and dear. The cleft air hissed to the sharp passage of the blade, and the naked arm of the girl looked like white lightning us she lunged and parried with some invis- ible antagonist, and made her cuts with rapidity that took the breath.
 Upward, downward, darted the blue point of the weapon. The spectators drew back little, feeling the penetra- ting steel in their eyeballs. Electric flashes filled the air. The gathering darkness seemed gashcd and ripped in a hundred places by that streak of colorless flame, leaping in the girls slender hand.
 Presently old Hagan gave signal for the swOrd-exercise to cease. The crowd broke into loud applause-all save the sick gentleman at the carriage window. His pale face put on look of high displeasure.
 'sJacobs!" he called to his coach man, "here is banknote; give it to that wretched ola charlatan, and tell him if he does not instantly cover the girl, and take her under proper shelter, l will have him arrested for cruelty to animals!"
 The servant pushed into the crowd, and a moment after returned and scrambled on his box.
 "I told him, sir" he said.
 "Drive on!" commanded the gentle man, sharply. and the carriage rolled away down the street, and vanished in the gathering night.
 On the platform the sword disap- peared ill its sheath, and old Hagan's ''illustration" proceeded to hide her naked arms and tinsel gown under her long cloak. Some bottles of elixir were passed down to the crowd, and a corresponding number of dollars found their way to Hagan's Happy pocket. The receipts were not large. Plainly Christmas-eve, with the thermometer approaching zero, was not favorable time for the sale of patent-medicine. The crowd ebbed from the platform, and dispersed in the street. Hagan gathered up his bottles. and said to the girl: "Come along, Esther!' and the pair trudged off across the bare, bleak common.
 Her red Turkish slippers were now thrust into ugly overshoes, and Esther walked as if foot-sore and weary. Even the holiday splendor of the little shops failed to arrest her notice.
 "Daddy!" she groaned, 'sfm awful ly cold and very hupgry!"
 ''Hold up, girl!' he answered, not unkindly. s.I know of public-house near by-we'l stop there. You shall have cup of tea, and I'll comfort my self with glass of toddy."
 They found the house and turned into it. Old Ilagan sat down before a cheerful fire to count his receipts.
 ''Let's not go out again tonight, daddy!" pleaded the girl. "People will not buy the elixir on Christmas eve, and snow is beginning to fall"
 They could hear the soft rush of flakes against the window. In the chimney the wind howled like a wolf
 "Come, now," said Hagan, sus- piciously, "you've been only month on the road, Esther; and hanged if don't think you're a-growing sick of it already!"
 She flung out her arms with tragic gesture.
 "I am, daddy-I am!" she &C., knowledged, in heart-broken voice. ''To tramp all day, hungry and cold, from town to towi-to be stared at by strange eyes-it is very hard! And oh, daddy, it kills me to remember how happy once was-'
 ''Hark !'' interrupted iIagan. s'There is somebody at the door,
 He went forward in answer to a sharp knock. Into the room pranced the coachman whom both had seen on the village common.
 "I felt sure that 1 should find you here," began the man. My master, -hIs DiOCNHOlt, HRS Stlil IIlC 10 leic!l you to his house. He's tbe sick gent that was in the carriage tonight and gave you the bank-note. Come along, old man, and young miss with you. Mir. Brockholt doesn't like to be kept waitiHg."
 Old Hagan swelled with importance ''l see" he said, ''your master wants a few bottles of my elixir. Pll wait upon him at once. Hurry, Esther!' "Must go. too?" she said with a grimace.
 "Yes, miss." answered the coach man; ''Mr. Brockholt was very par ticular to speak of you."
 She donned her old cloak wearily, reluctantly. At the door waited the spanking bays and the elegant carriage.
 "My eyes!" cried old Hagan, "but the fame of the elixir is spreading There's some rare streak of luck ahead of us tonight"
 They entered the carriage, and were driven away through the storm-swept streets of the village. Esther leaned back among the soft cushions, with a sigh of intense enjoyment. Old Hagan looked from the window, and saw all arched gate set in a high boundary wall. Through this the horses turned and dashing up drive, stopped be- fore stone house, with tall tower and rows of lighted windows, stand. ing ill forest of Norway frs.
 A footman opened the door. Esther and Hagan followed him across $ wainscoted hall, where wax-lights shone in old wrought-silyer scon"es and the lackey, pushing aside DOT. tiere. called, s'The parties from the inn, sir" and waved the pair into {