The Republican., 1891-09-18
ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND.
It Started in q Whirl and Ended
in a Wedding.


Amy Anstruther said, as she buttoned
up her ulster. ''Anything like matri
monial negotiation is SO distasteful to
me that would not marry the king of
Siam to please anybody"
The king of Siam-wcll, no." said
Beulah, smiling. But Robert Craig
is not a Mongolian, my dear. He is
rich and good looking and clever as can
be-"
"BahG' said Amy, as she knotted her
vail above the fluffy coil of blonde
hair. 81 almost hate him already"
THAT is what he said about you!"
Beulah observed, coolly.
''Then he has some sense" Amy re-
piled. Come, Beulah, let us alone!
There is no use of trying to strike an
Anstruther-Craig alliance just for the
sake of raking up the family arms.
What do we Americans care for the
duke of Anstruther and the earl of
Craig? My grandfather kept shop,
you know, and Henry Craig was Il
wholesale shoe manufacturer You
might as well let us go on being com
mon, There! I'm all ready. Where's
Dicky?"
An infant warwhoop in the hall was
her reply.
With the small author of that yell
she went to the merrygo-round pavil-
ion, but the ring of flying animals had
just started, and Amy and Diclly sat
down to wait. Near them was little
girl, perfect fairy, in white, with long,
floating hair and pleading eyes.
please, Uncle Bert, won't you let
me go?' she coaKed a gentleman be-
side her. Il won't get hurt. See!
There's Nellie Graham riding a camel
all alone. Please let me go,'
charlotte, you mustn't ask me,
dear. Your mother told me to take
care of you, and don't know what
she thinks of merry -go-rounds. l
couldn't think of letting you go alone"
The child was silent; but Amy saw
great tears rolling down her checks,
and said, very quickly: "If you don't
mind, your little girl can go with our
Dicky. Diclsy, you'll take care of her,
won't you, dear? Dichy's an old merry
go-rounder."
"Oh" cried Charlotte. MAY I,
Uncle Bert?'
do You think it is all right?" the
gentleman inquired, looking at Amy.
"Oh, yes; it is perfectly safe. Let
her go. She will enjoy it."
The gong rung, and Dicky held out
out his hands. THE Little Fisher
maiden" was ground out gayly from
the organ, and Charlotte mounted the
camel.
Amy found her companion delight
ful. 1t was five o'clock when the
children came back, with their tickets
all gone.
Come back tomorrow" said Diclzy,
Hospitality. ''We come here every
afternoon, don't we, Aunt Amy?"
Amy blushed.
81 am certainly very much obliged
to you, Master Dick" said the gentle
man, warmly.
Amy bowed rather nervously and
hurried away.
The merry-go Ground grew more and
more attractive. Dicky spent child's
fortune on it, and Charlotte rode every
animal in the caravan. Amy and
"Uncle Bert" in the meanwhile,
talked and-took care of the children.
Suppose we try it this time?" he
said, one afternoon, weeks later, when
the children mounted their wooden
steeds
Would you like to?" Amy said,
smiling. "Do you prefer an ostrich or
u lion?"
'Oh, shall stand up, thank you!"
he replied. How shall you ride?"
SIN a sleigh, if you please. am
not so rash as to mount one of those
fiery animals"
The bell struck and the organ tegan
to grind out "Roclt-a-by, Baby"
Amy laughed in spite of herself.
What would Beulah say if she knew?
Round and round they went
''How do you like it?" Amy asked.
He shook his head.
Il feel like a singing top" he said,
obviously.
Better sit down." she said, but he
not move
Once more they spun round.
Amy's escort uttered low exclama.
tion and staggered against the feet OF
the horse.
81 am horribly giddy," he said, faint.
ly.
Take carer' she cried, reaching out
her hand This way"
He took step toward her. His face
was deadly pale.
Good heavensr' he cried. Glow hor'
rible this is!''
The next moment there was Cry
from the spectators in the pavilion. He
had fallen at the feet of the horse and
the flying wheel flung him off with ter
rible force upon the floor.
There was wild excitement in a mo-
ment.
Amy felt herself getting deathly
sick when she saw him lying there mo-
tiouless.
Tho oman Csnnnad EvervhOdu