Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-10

had been following rail fence for near
ly an hour, and was getting hungry. Be
sides, storm was rising.
4 short walk brought me to farmhouse.
My host stopped Ut the pump, washed his
face and hands and mutloned me to do like
wise. We went dripping to big towel
that hung outside the door OF the house.
Several children rushed out and fell upon
the farmer. He gathered both arms full OF
them and led the way into the house, cry
ing out;
"A stranger to grub, motherl" A de-
lightfully sweet voice answered, Make him
welcome Reubew
Just then the mother entered. scarcely
heard my hosts polite words Of introduc-
ton, was 30 thoroughly startled by the
newcomers face. There was surely some.
thing the matter with my eyes closed
them, then looked again at my hostess. No
It was my brain. was recalled to my sense,
by the heavily loaded plate that was sci
before me. Alasl my appetite was gone
At that moment there was terrific peal Of
thunder 1t seemed TO shake the very earth
The room grew dark. Candles were lighted
and placed on the table. Every one began
to eat except myself.
Yer don't seem much hungry, stranger,
my hostess said presently, and so kindly
that ] forced myself to look at her. Ishud
dered, Upon her face | seemed to see tive
hideous snhkes-one colled on each check
From her forehead a diabolical face seemed
to grin ut me. Had l lost my mind en-
tirelyG
That night the farmer and had a gam,
OF cards, RECALLING ourselves between deal
with "old red eye" and water. After som,
time my hostess Joined US.
Are your chicks roasted, motherH" asket
the husband pleasantly. She took a seat
on the arm Of the chair, aud he looked at
fectionutely at her. How thankful WA
that he did not share my hallucinationl
"What a nightn exclaimed his wife.
Just such one as''-began the farmer
and then he stopped,
go on, " said his wife, "go onl Stranger
been lookin ut me ever since came In
Tell him how tits yer married wild WON
amp
Her name was Rebekah. She was /
hired girl for Farmer Brown, and Rcubet
was the hired man. They were afIiancet
lovers. One day II serpent entered thel
paradise in the form OF billposter. III
Hooded the place with highly colored bill
announcing the coming OF a show IL,
came to board with Farmer Brown, ant
from the very first paid Rebekah, or BekAh
us she was called, much attention.
Tho next day the circus came TIL,
billpOster invited Bekah to 10 with him
and she accepted the invitation and went
When she saw the horses and the spanrles
when she heard the music and the clown
jokes, she was fascinated. After the per
formanco her escort took her into the dress
ing tont and introduced her to the actors
They welcomed her eiTusively. The,
dwelt upon the glories of the profession
They declared that she must Join them.
she left kind goodby for Reube ant
departed with the show. The manage,
tried TO teach her to perform on the ira
peze, but she was frightened almost /,
death when taken a few feet from tn,
ground. Then she was asked how sh,
would like to go into the museum. You'd
make your fortune as n wild woman the,
all said.
ENTIRELY ignorant OF what tattooiur
meant, poor Bekah agreed to be tattooed
She was chloroformed, and when she agar
knew anything she found her pretty desl
covered with horrible characters She wa.
full of anguish when she made the discoy
cry. She was placed in the museum. Tn,
life did not suit herr she was completely
heartbroken. Then she thought OF her
lover He would not care for her now. She
submitted 10 everything that was Imposed
on her She was kept In cage.
The show seldom staid more than two
days in any one neighborhood. One piebt
asit was on the road fierce storm came
upon IL. The roads were fearful Ona
wagon after another would become mired
and the elephant would have to helm Il
Finally, as the storm grew wilder, this Gle.
phant got frightened, upset one of the
wagons, and u general stampede ensued.
Poor Bekah, half dead with terror, fell
nom one side of her cage TO the other She
felt that her last hour had come. Suddenly
she heard ayoice call out to her horses
They were stopped. Her deliyerer was Reu.
ben, her lover She cried out to him,
Bekah, how came you In therep he an.
swored, llo could scarcely believe his own
ears, He forced open the door Of her carr
and she fell iu his arms. As the lightning
flashed he saw her face.
when he heard her story he took her
back In his arms.
Come dear he said, come, let us find
He never said ono word of reproaeb 70
me-" added Bekah, the tears streaming
down her serpentine cheeks an she smoke
but has loved mo always, as il 1 wut iust
Ike other women.
Reuben was on his way home whom he
met the show"
The good Lord had hand in itnbe
said firmly, rs he aud Bekah kissed each
other.-Arkansaw Traveller
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