Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-14
A COUNTRY CIRCUS.
Why Alice Was SO Very Proud Of
Leander.

16roDlnCn ROckWellS 0ahl1aS and car
nations. with that fair maiden following
close in pursuit, her checked sun-bonnet
waved above her head like an ensign of
war. Leander stood and watched the
pursuit, with the cool, impartial smile
of disinterested spectator, until the
speckled fugitive bethought herself to
dart headlong into the sunny angle of
the stone wall, where the scarlet
spheres of ripening tomatoes basked on
a rude wooden frame. At the supreme
second, he swooped noiselessly down
from his unseen vantage point, and
seized Old Speckle by her futtering
wings.
Here's your fowl, Terebinth, said
he.
"Well, declared" said Miss Terebinth,
according a reluctant admiration to the
dizziness of the capture And I've
been chasin' the creature this ten min
utes! Pm goin' to have fricdssee for
dinner"
Company coming?"
81 mean to ask Elder Atkinson and
his wife,
ssDon't ask EN-" said Leander. ''Put
it off till some other time, Terebinth. p"
For goodness sakel why?'
Leander drew three square of yellow
pasteboard from his pocket.
Look" said he, I've got tickets for
the circus to-night-for you and me and
Ally Ames."
Miss Terebinth's careworn visage
frightened up. To these simple coun-
try-folk, the annual visitation of the
circus signified opera, theater, polo, and
athletic games all in one
'Good!" cried she. releasing the
struggling hen. ''Then I'll let Old
Speckle go this time. But, Leander,
have you asked A1ice?"
''I'm going there now"
care yon sure she'll go?"
s'Of course; why shouldn't she?"
Terebinth hesitated as she tied the
sun-bonnet strings under her chin.
perhaps that young English tourist
that boards at the hotel-Captain Cassell
they call him, don't they?"
Leander's handsome, sun-burned Wis
age darkened-
ssWhat of himT' said he, sharply.
HE may have asked her. Don't be
vexed, Leander, "she added. pleadingly.
Folks do say she's dreadful took up
with him, and don't knows 1 wonder
so much arter 1 heard him talk. t'other
night, to Mary Bailey's Chinese party
He's travelled most everywhere: and if
you could hear him describe the tigers
he killed in Ceylon and the elephants
he's hunted on the Niger river"
''Oh, hang the tigers and the ele-
phants!' impatiently broke in Leander.
ST don't believe a word of it. / dare
say he's all very wells but for my part,
haven't much opinion of fellow that
loafs around a hotel piazza in hay-naak-
ing time, doing nothing, with white
scarf on his hat, and q sash for all the
world like a girls tied around his
waistr'
Its the fashion, said Terebinth.
ga queer fashion, I think commented
Leander-
''He's a very brave mana regular
hero,'- went on Terebinth. lie served
in her Majesty's White-Heeled Horse
once. during London riot, and"
"And did wonders, don't doubt" in
terrupted Leander- ''But 1 don't see
what all this has to do With US and Cal
umet's circus"
He took up his hat from the grass
where it had been reposing among but
ter-cups and white clover blossoms all
this time and started OH at brisk
walk. Terebinth looked dolefully after
him.
..Poor Leander," ssia she, half aloud.
| 'sI'm afraid he's goin's 70 he badly dis
appointed"
Alice Ames WAS sitting on the porch,
under the green, shifting shadows Of
the hop-sines. Smelling Lima beans to
dry, as Leandef RockWelPs fine, tall
figure came swinging up the path. He was
very handsome, thought the girl, but he
lacked the ease and polish OF the dapper
little Captain OF ''her Nsjesty's White
Heeled Horse His clothes bore evil
dence of country cut-his boots were
powdered with dust and his face was
bronzed with August heats.
sHoW do you do, AllyT' said he; end
Alice, reAsenb ering the deferential
! manner with which the Captain
always addressed her Is miss Ames.'
answered, with toss OF the head:
I'm pretty we'll, 1 thank your
eve been gettin' some tickets for the
circus tonight, Ally" said he, plung-
ing con amaze into his subject ''Wll
you go with meF'
"Thank you, ever % much" said she.
STOPPING for Q fresh handful Of the vel
| vety, green pods, ''but I've promised
Captain Cassel to go With him."
| "Humphr' observed Leander, $50 Pa
too latee"
I Eyes, little too late.
/ SIS il to be always so. Allyn
| 81 don't know what you mean, L0aR-
der"
| "You used to care for me little, be
fore this Boosting captain-of-horse came
here"
II like you yell enough. non, Lean
der"
"Well enough to marry me?"
81 don't think YOU'RE justified in ask
ing me any such questions, ssid Alice.
| jumping up and retreatine hnrriedlJ
into the house
81 understand remsrked Lesnder
Grimly. 81 don't stand ony chanc<
alongside OF the tger-huntine hero
It's pity we haven't few wild beasts
in these woods to kill The captain
must miss his occupation Well. goot
afternoon, Ally. Terebinth and L vii
have to GO to the circus by ourselves.
suppose"
The mammoth tent on Durklli Com
mon was crowded that night Calumet