Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-05

were fixed on Dion. 1t was too evident
| The horrible weakness of humanity ha'
come over him, the terrible, irrepresslbl
cough shaking him from head to foot, taxing
from him all power, all dominion, starting
the animals and rousing within them TN
| savage instinct that he was no longer master
etA kind of sob of terror rose from the au
dience; Dion was crouching, lashlng nj
tail-there was tremendous roar, leap
From every side arose wild shrieks.
Condor was down, Dion standing aooV'
him, standing on his chest looking arount
| ON the spectators with great blood-shot eyes
| A kind of sharp whisper thrilled through
| the crowd. It came from Sir Maxwell Bede
who was leaning forward, his hand in hi
breast. 'sFor Gods sake keep silence? ant
they obeyed him.
At this instant suddenly sprang into view
the glittering fairy-clad Elsie. She paused
not. but bounded over the barrier-she knew
the trick OF the iron gates, she opened them
and sprang in; little circus cries burst from
er lips. With a slender, white wand she
pointed at the animals.
"Back Samil back Beautyi now Dion
back sirl Dion! Dion!'
Dion moved slowly, he was still lashing
his tail, but he knew her, he knew the
voice of authority. "Back, sirl back Dion
good Dionp' she cried, and the lion re-
treated, drawing himself backward.
Elsie stood before her husband. he rose to
his feet and drawing her with him slowly
backed toward the door, she still keeping
her eyes on Dion, still uttering the short
circus cries.
They were near the door, with dexterous
fingers he had unfastened it, not foot be-
tween them and safety, when fearful roar
rang through the arena, all the wild lust for
blood had reawakened in the savage brute,
overmasting the superficial discipline-he
sprang-
Bangl
The pistol shot, aimed by the truest hand
that ever surgeon possessed, pierced the
brain of the great African monarch. With
an awful yelp he dropped to the ground,
tearing up all the sawdust in the roll of his
death agony.
Will and Elsie were safe, bespattered
from head to foot with blood and sawdust;
they stood, and all the riders, the clown,
the master, were crowding round them.
Lucy Brandreth had tainted.
When she returned to consciousness the
whole scene was changed. The wild beasts
were gone fresh sawdust was sprinkled, a
gay quartet of pretty people on horses can
tered in, and the audience were recover
ing from the frightful anxiety they had been
through.
"Are you better, Lucy?" said Colonel
Brandreth, tenderly.
"Yes, yes, quite well. Where is Max
well? Oh, where is he?"
"He has gone down to the manager. He
must make good the loss of the lion, my
dearl'
She had grown whittier than ever.
LET me go down." she said; "now, at
once, must see Elsie Condor"
Impossible, my love, among all these
people"
81 must, must!'
She would not be withheld. So much
against his will her husband was obliged to
take her down.
The riders were pleased by the wish of the
pretty and charming lady to see their COM
rade. They made way for her with looks
of interest, as they went through them. The
manager conducted them into one of the
dressing rooms. Will Condor was lying on
heap of cushions hastily piled together.
He was ghastly white; there were blood
stains everywhere Sir Maxwell Bede bent
over him, his fingers on his pulse. Elsie
knelt beside him with her arm porting
his head.
SIS he hurt?" gasped Lucy.
mo, no., said the surgeon. "The poor
fellow has broken blood vessel, we must
keep him perfectly quiet"
"Let me send home for whatever is
wanted" she said eagerly. And Sir Max
we'll took her at her word, and persuaded
her to return herself to make sundry prepa-
rations.
All night the good surgeon spent with his
patient Elsie watching with him in terrible
anxiety. In the morning, as the bleeding
had not returned, they ventured to move
him on stretcher to Brandredth Court at
the owners urgent request, and there all
that the tenderest nursing, nourishing food,
and many comforts could do for him were
lavIshed on him.
Very slowly and painfully poor Will
struggled back to life, and long before he
was restored even to convalescence the circus
must move on, their time at Middleton could
be no longer prolonged.
The manager would accept no compensa-
tion for the loss of the lion, although the
loss not only of the valuable beast, but of
two of the best members of his company,
was severe. The riders made up little sum
of money between them for the Condors, and
Albert brought it to them with tears in his
eyes on the morning of the day on which
the troupe was to leave.
Don't forget me, Elsie" he said, holding
her hands fast in his.
She could only shake her head and falter
out, "God bless you for all your goodness to
me, Albert" and he went on his way.
When poor Will began to creep about
again, and. as the summer approached, to
bask in the warmth of the sun, terrible
anxiety began to seize upon both him and
his wi e about the future. What could they
now do to earn living? Elsie shrank from
the knowledge that sooner or later, to earn
bread to eat she must return to her profess
sion.
But one day their fears were set at rest.
Lucy took Elsie's hand, bade her put aside
her fears and trust to her.
They lived in the lodge Elsie did GER
tain amount of neediework, also she was
employed in other odds and ends of ways,
as riding mistress to the Brandreth children
and to others in the neighborhood. Besides
the small salary attached to the lodge,
means o. earning more were found for Will
himself. Colonel Brandreths dogs were
put into his charge, the care OF the kennels.
Will Condor, with the tact and bright
friendliness which had made him univer-
sal tavorite in the profession, contrived to
conciliate and make friends with the game
keepers, after which his happiness and that
of his wife seemed to be complete especially
after Sir Maxwell Bede told Elsie that
though her husband could never again he
strong, yet with great care and light work
he might live to be an old man yet.
AGood school for Our Girls.
Judging from the catalogue and the good
Al L