The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-08-22
A COUNTRY CIRCUS.
Amy Randolph in View York Ledger.
"Cut, cut, ca-daw cut! Cut, cut

pursuit, HeT CncCkcu SuhouHhS' ""'NS
above her head like an ensign OF war
Lcander stood and watched the pursuit
with the cool, impartial smile of disln-
terested spectator until the speckled fugi-
tive bcthought herself to dart hcadlong
into the sunny angle of the stone wall,
where the scarlet spheres of ripcning to-
matoes baskcd on rude wooden frame.
At the supreme second he swooped noise
lessly down from his unseen vantage point
and seized Old Specklc by her futtering
wings.
"Here's your fowl Terebinth," said he.
"Well. / declare" said Miss Tcrcbinth,
according reluctant admiration to the
dcftness of the capture. And I've been
chasin' the creature this ten minutes! I'm
roin' to have fricassec for dinner"
Company comm
81 mean to ask Elder Atkinson and his
wife"
Don't ask en- said Leandcr. put
it off till some other time, Terebinth.'
For goodness sake! WHY"
Lcander drew three squares of yellow
pastcboard from his pocket.
Look" said he; "lyc got tickets for
the circus to-night-for YOU and me and
Ally Ames"
Miss Terebinth's care-worn visage
brightencn up. To these simple country
felix the annual visitation of the circus
signifed opera, theatcr, polo and athletic
games all in one.
Good" cried she, releasing the strug-
Cling hen. "Thcn I'll LET Old Speckle 90
this time. But, Leander, have you asked
Alice"
'.I'm going there now
Are YOU sure she'll goY"
"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 hotc-Capt. Cassell
they call him, don't thcy!"
Lcandcr's handsome, sunburncd visage
darkcncd.
What of him." said he. sharply.
"Hc may have asked her. Don't be
vcxcd, Leandcr," she added, pleadingly.
Folks do say she's dreadful took up with
him, and don't knows wonder so much
artcr heard him talk t'othcr night to
Mary Balsy's Chinese party He's tray
eled most everywhere; and if you could
hear him describe the tigers he killed in
Ccylon and the elephants he's hunted on
the Niger river
"Oh, hang the tigers and the elephants"
impatiently broke in Leandcr. Il don't
believe IL word of it. dare say he's all
very well; but, for my part, haven't much
opinion of fellow that loafs around
hotel piazza in hay making time, doing
nothing, with white scarf on his hat, and
sash, for all the world like girls tied
around his waist"
Its the fashion" said Tcrebinth.
"A queer fashion, think, commented
Lcander.
Hes a very brave man-n regular
hero" went on Tcrcbinth "He served in
her majcsty's White Hecled Horse once
during II London riot, and"-
And did wonders, l don't Doubt" in
tcrrupted Lcandcr. "But don't see what
all this has to do with us and Calumct's
circus"
He took up his hat from the grass where
it had been reposing among buttercups
and white clover blossoms all this time,
and started off at brisk walk. Terebinth
looked dolefully after him.
Poor Leandcr," said she, half aloud,
I'm afraid he's going to be badly disap
pointed"
Alice Amcs was sitting on the porch
under the green, shifting shadows of the
hop vines Smelling Lima beans to dry as
Leandcr Rockwell's fine tall figure came
swinging up the path He WAS very hand
some, thought the girl, hut he lacked the
case and polish Of the dappcr little cap
tain of cher majesty's White Heeled
Horse His clothes bore evidence of
country cut-hiS boots were powdered
with dust, and his face was bronzed with
August heats.
"How do you do, Ally" said he, and
Alice. remembering the dctercntial man
ner with which the captain always ad
dressed her rs Miss Ames," answered,
with toss of her head:
"I'm pretty well. thank YOU"
"l'vc been gettin some tickets for the
circus tonight, Ally" said he. plungng
con amore into his subject. will YOU 60
with me?'
Thank you, ever so much. said she,
STOPPING for fresh handful of the velvetv,
green pods, but I've promised Capt. Cas-
sell to go with him.
"Humph" observed Leander, 80 I'm
too latcI"
Yes, a little too late"
rs it to he always so, Ally?"
II don't know what YOU mean, Lean
der
You used to care for me little before
this Boosting captain of horse came
here"
II like YOU we'll enough now, Leander."
We'll enough to marry me me?'
II don't think you're justified in asking
me any such questions" said Alice, jump
ing up and retreating hurriedly into the
house"
II understand" remarked Leander,
grizzly II don't stand any chance along
side Of the tiger-hunting hero. It's pity
we haven't IL few wild beasts in these
woods to kill. The captain must miss his
occupation. Well, good afternoon. ALLY,
Terebinth and | will have to 60 to the
circus by ourselves, suppose"
The mammoth tent on Durkill COM
mon was crowded that night. Calumet's
circus was local celebrity and had been
widely advertised. The rural population
had not many opportunities of enjoyment
and did not propose to let this one 60 by
default. Every one was there, from Ell
der Atkinson and his wife down to little
Michael Ryan, the cobbler and the pinohed
looking better half. Capt. Cassell and
pretty Alice Ames occupied conspicu-
Gus front seat, and few rows further
back sat Lcander Rockwell with Miss
Terebnth and her friend, Hannah Binns,
beside her, plain little seamstress body,
who had been asked at the eleventh hour
"sooner than waste the ticket" thrifty
Miss Terebinth had said. One by one the