The morning call., 1890-10-18
ONLY A CIRCUS RIDER
a handsome mani"

AFkEE9 L DeleNe you are lnlaluateu Will
VI MEN him, and he only a circus rider! l
am ashamed of you. Jane Rudolph"
per haps and the beautiful girl lifted
her eyes dreamily at her almost equally fair
cousin as she repled-"perhaps see deeper
into his character and right position III lie
than you do, Isabelle"
:. Right position? Fiddlesticks! You put
me out of all patience with such nonsense.
Right position, indeed AS If one with the
slightest pretenson TO even more than COM
mon decency, if that much. would become
spangled hero of a sawdust ring"
Spaneled he is not. No one ever dressed
with less tinsel and more refined taste in his
chosen walk of life. Hero lie is, for even
your carping criticism cannot deny he is the
peer of all riders you have ever seen; that
he is ceptionally daring. l tell you, lsa-
belle. there is something more than brute
muscle-there is mind in the direction of his
movements, and all around bow to its mas
terry"
"A prince in disguised laughed her COM
panion.
more than a prince in good looks, and
shall be very much surprised if he is not also
one in education. His face reveals much,
and his slightest motion betrays the gentle
man"
"a gentleman circus rider! A white black
bird r. and Isabelle laughed long and bit
terry.
"Why not as much as any other profes-
SIGN? Have You forgotten the copy you were
so fond of writing at school, and eiernally
DINING in my eGiS?"
Worth makes the man and the rest?
Pshawl l have learned retter since then.
Have forgotten your bread and butter
days. retoIted Jane. for the first time per-
hitting her tongue to drop gall.
81 trust years have brought discretion.
'And, a Ia Pit, the atrOciouS crime Of be-
SStop, Jane! There comes your hero
And hero he is, every inch of him.
Charles Manvers-"Claude St Leon, the
Apollo of the Arena" as named in the brill
isnty illuminated pOster5-passed down the
street, utterly unconscious of being the
cause OF discussion in the rival BEAUTIES.
And it is doubtful il the matter would have
provoked even as much as smile had he
known it,
He was singularIy graceful and hand
some man-one would have said a close
student rather than one living by deeds of
muscular and reckless daring. His figure
was tall and 1.-the, his eyes of extreme bla k
ness-the former most expressive, and The
latter lied III clustering curs about
Shapeiy head. HIS hands and feet were
small, making, according TO the prevailing
opinion, aristocra;ic birth ard blue blood"
His skin was slngularly fair, his manners
tTitle naughty, and tie expression If bis face
always sad.
Of his history nothing was known. 4
veil carefully concealed it from the world.
He had never known any other life, ard yet
Kept himself alO9t from coarse association
always left as soon as his part in the per-
Torrance was ended.
All this mystery made him the topic of
conversation among the easily Il TylnH OF iris
far more than would otherwise have been
the case and had he been so disposed, he
could have readily have persuaded many
foolish heireSS into 4 match that would have
little pleased her parents. The world has
yet 10 learn that many manly and true
heart beats beneath the tinSeled garments of
those HEo waste Lille and strength for their
amusement-ihat they have equal loves and
sorr0ws-more vi physical suffering and few
joys.
1t was growing late in the afternoon, and
the hero OF the arena pressed forward 10 a
distant part of the city, entered a modest
locking house, passed to the upper story and
into neatly furnished apartment, those
Of his mother and himself and single aged
servant.
~ hat makes you so late?' asked his
parent, in tile ouerulOus tone of one who
has long been an Invalid.
Il was detained uneXpectedly. l hope you
aie feeling BETTER" he replied.
Uu Always dsG Diu YOU DIIUp Tile
money? No. l am no better.'
He handed her some gold and, turning to
the side table, he sat down and paTt0ok of
a hurried meal before going to the amphi-
thrater.
At the first glance one would have said
there could have been no relationship be-
tween the mother aud son. She was an
cid, hag-llke wonan-never could have pos
>essed much beauty, and he must have in
herIted from his father, of whom be had no
IecollectiOn-must have got from him also
The taste for study in which he so secretly
INDUCED at every available mament-the
llsh ambition, the fond desire to become
Famous IN the world through some other me
dun than the one be was following.
Ills mother, i'll for years and not long to
remain in this world, had limited a strange
union, and that was all he could learn.
Would the icy fingers of death give to her
lips tree utterance? He bad hoped, ionged
and prayed that such night be the case.
But Till that hour came lie would have to
lear patiently with her ill-temper and grasp
ing ayarice, even though like a promised
eagle beating against the bars for freedom.
IL meal finished. he babe his mother
good night, and passing into the other room
he'd brief and whispered conversation with
the servant, one who had been very long
with them.
II was soon, however. interrupted by
means from the sick chamber, to which they
both FASTENED to look after the sufferer.
And he who was most interested of all of
the earth listened as we'll They both
started, and IN moment were by the bed
Siqe-the bed over which the shadows of the
daTk-wInged angel of death were fast lower
ing.
1t was too late! Respiration had almost
ceased; the tongue was paralyzPd; the ashy
lips moved, but gave no sound. The ewes
looked wjstiully, and the efforts to speak
were painful 10 behold. Her thin and bOny
hands still cutched the money that had been
given her, but great change had come over
the face. The stern and cold lines had
sOflened, and both the watchers saw that
she would have given all her hope for this
world-almOst if not quite, all for the next
-ior even very brief interval OF speech.
1t was too late! Like many who die thus
suddenly she had put off until the hour OF
revelation was beyond her power, and the
secret died with her.
No, not so. As the nurse composed the
chllIlng form scrap Of paper was found
beneath the pillow. upon which was scrawled
atew lines. She handed it to her COM
panion' lie read it and sank into seat
with as feTyent an ejaculation of thankful
ness as ever was breathed by mortal lips.
FOR a time he sat as some one overcome
with good fortune Then the striking of the
clock aroused him, and after a few hurried
instructions, he rushed forth to play his
part, muttcring as he went, For the last
tne-the very last Then / am Free
i he amphiiheater was crowded. 1t was a
gala ght and the assembly far more brill
iant than usual. Every seat was occupied,
every eye turned upon him as he entered,
dressed with unusual beauty and with his
hands me face lighted as no one had ever
seen IT before.
This was remarked by his associates upon
his hrst appearance among them, and
though none questioned him, it became the
subject Of comment. But the man who took
care OF ms horses ventured the remark that
he would be on bis guard.
why 2? y as CURLY asked.
nave never seen the mare so wild and
ugly as she Is tonight"
PShawl Some one has been teasing her
and you are afraid OIL her."
hat may be. sir" and. under his
breath, "she is wild anyhow, and / don't
e think you are much better.''
OF the truth of these words the apollo
Oh me Arena became satisfied as he looked
upon his favorite trick horses. They were
Two 'beautes-One white as milk and the
other OF raven blackness-with the contrast
striking as they dashed at wild speed around
the ring, he rapidly changing position from
one to the other
b.,