Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-07-22


great friends, and the Boyntons almost
adopted Christie as their own. The girls
he had known in New York were very diff
ferent from Patsy So different was their
language and the way they spoke it that
the low English voice of this girl sounded
almost like a different tongue to Christie.
There was much time in which neither of
them had anything to do, so the two chill
dren used to 90 on trips of exploration
around the town in which the circus was
stopping, or out into the country, where
they played like other children who do not
have to work for a living. As long as
Christie was with her he did not think of
the circus, and was only sorry when the
time came for him to 90 back to the pea
nuts and lemonade.
1t does not take girl of twelve very
long to reCiprOcate such a strong passion
as Chrstie's, so in a short time Patsy came
to care for the boy as much as he did for
her, and together they even planned to
marry some day and have a circus of their
own. He would have a buggy even better
than Clyde's, and she would always drive
by his side Some day they would make
enough money to retire, and together they
would go back to her home in England,
which she told Christie many times was
the most beautiful spot on earth.
1t was in August that Boynton came to
the manager one morning and said that
the girl was too i'll to appear. She had
some sort of fever, and the doctor said she
must not leave the hotel Then he sug-
gested that Christie might be allowed to
try the act with him. The manager con
sented. and the horse was brought ont into
the ring. and Christie had his first rehears-
al. 1t was not very difficult, and so long
as he kept cool there was really very little
danger of falling of. He was little
shaky at the afternoon performance but
at night he felt more at home, and when
he had finished the act and ran out into the
dressing-tent, with the applause of the
crowd ringing in his ears, he was happier
than he had been or ever hoped to be in
his life. The next day Clyde got him
beautiful red suit of his own. with silver
spangles all over it,, and a white wig TO
cover his red hair, which, it was found, did
not match with the red of his suit at all.
In week Patsy was up again, had re
Joined the circus. and was able to 90 on
with her act. If it had been any one else
than she. Christie would have very serious
ly objected to his return to the peanut
stand. But as long as it was Patsy. he
was only too glad to see her out and able
to start again on their long walks But
now that the ice had been broken, and
Christie had been tried and not found want
ing, Patsy often resigned her place in his
favor, ana lac had many opportunities TO
wear the red tights and the white wig.
And yet Christie was not perfectly hap
py. He had seen so much of the Boyn-
tons that he knew their affairs pretty well,
and his New York training had not duled
his powers of taking in a situation. He
knew that Mrs. Boynton was not altogeth-
er happy in her present position. She had
left comfortable home to run away with
circus performer, and had gradually drift
ed into the business herself. As time wore
on, and the romance wore off, she put the
blame of her position more and more on
the man who had taken her from her home.
As for Boynton, he wOrshiped his wife as
much as men usually do who marry above
| them and are never allowed to forget il.
He tried to keep her out of the ring and
away from the public, but as long as she
| had to spend her life travelling she insisted
on doing a turn, as it gave her a certain
amount of excitement and a little more
money for the winter months, when they
were idle.
NON tuTlSllt ndu lOlltttl llldl Illt Itld-
tions between the two had been very strain
ed of late, and he thought he knew the
cause There was a man connected with
the business part of the circus who had
been very attentive to Mrs. BOyntOn, and
Christie saw that the husband was desper-
ately Jealous. The woman had always
borne such a good reputation in the com
pany that no one attached any importance
] TO l,a Of. y
| perhaps little foolish, but nothing more.
| The Irritation had been going on for several
weeks, when they came to little onc-night
| stand in Connecticut Patsy and Christie
| had gone out for walk after the after
| noon performance, and had eaten their
| supper in the tent with the other employees
after their return. When Christie went to
| his stand that night the man asked him if
he had heard the news.
''What news?" said Christie.
"Only Mrs. Boynton has run OFF with
the business manager, Ross, that's all
Christie looked very serious, and ran his
fingers through his red hair. He had new
/ er had any experience in domestic TRACE
dies before and as a friend of the family
/ his duties We're not at all apparent to him
at first; but after a few minutes hesta-
| ton he went to look for Boynton. He
/ found him alone in one of the small tents,
/ 1t was dark, but Christie could hear him
| sObbing like a child.
"Do you and Patsy do the turn tonight.
| Mr. Boynton?' he said.
BOyntOn looked up suddenly, and then,
seeing who it was, said:
Eyes, Christie; if | never do it again. -
Christie stood for a moment in the door
! way He saw the man who had been as
good as a father to him with his head
buried in his hands and shaking from
head to foot like a leaf trembling in the
wind.
"Clyde would hardly expect it," he
blurted out; 'and really, Mr.. Boynton
I'm afraid you're not fit"
Don't you worry. Christie said Boyn
ton; I'm be steady enough when the tim,
comes"
But Christie did not think so. He saw
the danger of accident or even death fo
the girl. He started off in pursuit of Pat
sy. He found her just as she was gon.
into the wOmen's dressing tent He rec
ognized her 10y her long white ulster. anC
big hat that shaded her pretty, delicat,
face. He called to her, and when he cam,
up he saw that she knew nothing of wha
had happened.
Patsy" he said, I'D like very mucl
to do the turn tonight
'Why?' said Patsy,
Now Christie was usually very promp
with an answer, but it was different TO
night as he talked with Patsy. He wa
very i'll at ease, and hesitated some TIM
before he spoke.
well" he said after a long pause