Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-08-01

horse, Monsieur Ariel on his glasses,
the great variety of clowns whom I had
seen in the dressing the trapez.
lists, the performing animsls-au lent
variety to the entertainment, which was
to conclude with the vaulting Of the
whole company over the backs of horses
placed side by side.
I had noticed, from time to time in
the ring, the young clown whom they
called Johnny" Though I had re-
Gently see him crying over the news
from homo, and had toned him up with
physic, he seemed to be in high spirits,
and the crowd rosred at his sallies.
The young woman in black, who had
carried the prescription, sat alone on
the front tier and followed him every
where with wistful eyes.
The vaulters were led by q clown
with a shock of red hair like flame in
the wind. In the rear came Johnny
Stone, who leaped with an ease far ex-
ceeding anything shown by the rest OF
the company.
After awhile he was left alone in the
contest. All the others had dropped
out, as one horse after another was
brought from the stables and placed in
position for the vaulter to clear them.
I had noticed an indecision in the young
clowns face as the distance widened.
1 even thought of crossing the ring
and warning him against further
exertions.
But the country people clamored for
more.
For the final leap, Stone ran along
the spring-board, rose in the air. turned
complete somersault, and, falling,
struck full with his back on the spine Of
the farthest horse. The animal broke
from the line, frightened but unin.
jured. The clown tumbled inanimate
into the ring.
I heard a scream-it may have been
from one of our party. Before I we'll
knew where I was, I found myself in
the ring with the clowns head on my
knee, trying to keep off the crowd which
pressed around.
is he dead?"
"No, no; he's not dead. Give him
some whisky. He's coming to, poo,
lad"
But lie did not scome to-" not TO,
hours, until I had taken him to the
nearest available place, which happened
to be my own house.
All the night long I sat by his bed.
side. I felt somehow Is though I had
murdered him, or helped to do it. Fol-
had not followed the multitude to dc
evil"-added my five dollars to tempt
him, OF, rather, the skinflint father, who
was making money by him. to tumble
for our amusement? True, he would
have done it all the same If had moi
been there; but still, I scas there.
and my young ladies had swelled the
number which had lured him to hi,
destruction, and I felt guilty. What
they felt, poor dears, I do not know; il
was quite impossible for me to take any
heed Of them.
IF he had died. DOCTOR" said some
body behind me, 81 should always have
said that he had been murdered
There was an intensity in the voic<
which quite startled me; for she had
kept 20 quietly in the background thai
I had scarcely noticed her till now-ths
young woman in black. I noticed nov
that she was not an Exceptionally pretty
young woman; but she had soft, hind
eyes, an intelligent forehead, and a
excessively sweet voice.
@Who are you. my dear?' I whis
pered His sister,?
mo. SIR
@His cousin, thenf'
sNo."
I looked my next question, and abe
answered il with the simple honesty
which I expected from the owner q
that voice
@John and I were playfellows, ther
We kept company for Eve years, and
meant to be married next month. Hi
father was against it. or il would have
been sooner, but Johnny wanted r
quit the circus business. and old Stone
wanted money and wouldn't let him 90
At Last they agIsed for Gx more Per
3nemances. and this vs. The 6rss Of IL
*