The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-05

inmates, rumbled along in the evening,
with the last rays of the dying sun
glinting on the gnarled window panes.
Brigantina!
Oh! how distinctly I see that dark
gypsy girl with the supple, panther.
like form, the ATTRACTION Of the stroll
ing circus of Belli," who, at the time of
this story was doing" the southern
provinces of Holland.
Her equestrian feats were the most
striking. Why she remained with the
small circus proprietor for the paltry
salary she was receiving, when she
might have had splendid remunerative
engagements in the largest and most
renowned circuses, was 3 mystery to
me at first
But then I saw later on that Brigan-
tina cherished a desire to become Nine.
Belli
Belli was young man of not more
than five and twenty years of age. hav-
ing inherited the circus not long before
this from his parents. who had both
died suddenly one after the other.
The circus was composed Of half q
dozen green caravans and couple OF
dozen of tolerably good horses.
The pride of the circus, however. was
really well-trained elephant, "Moffa,"
which was brought into the ring by
Belli and Brigantina in turns.
The proprietor. with his Roman nose,
coal-black mustache and athletic, we'll
built figure. was prototype of brut-
al, masculine beau of the annual fair
"a highway Apollo. self-conceited and
overbearing in his treatment with his
subordinates.
Brigantina always rode in Indian
dress-a short skirt, edged with
feathers and shells, with a string of
coral beads around her neck, and at
her side blue silk pouch, containing
small, gilded Juggling balls
With one leap she vaulted on to the
bare back of her gray horse, and with
cat-like agility bent forward, pitching
the balls high up into the air, catching
them as they fell, and once more send
ing them flying into space, the mean
while poising herself gracefully, and
with the utmost adroitness, on her
horses back while he continued to gal
lop round and round the ring.
After this performance thick board
was placed in the middle of the ring.
upon which a small circle of not more
than one foot in diameter had been de-
scribed. and then Brigantina was
handed half dozen small, glistening.
sharp-edged hstchets, which flew from
her hands like arrows from bow. one
after the other, without touching or
ever failing to enter the circle
During this exhibition of skill the
audience held its breath and gave a
sigh of relief as Brigantina dismounted
and the board with the axes sticking
in it was removed
They then chalke,l the girls shoe
soles and away she went again to the
wild strains of the music. Wilder and
wilder played the music. and ever more
daring became her possures, more We
hement her urging of the steed, until
he broke into mad gallop. She few
By like the wind
We held the barriers-on, two, three,
Eve barriers-over which she went
perched on the smooth back Of her
horse. With upraised arms, pressing
with her dainty feet she melted the
horse to still greater efforts. shouting
all the time: '.Heidonc. En- svant!
Caesar, Amino. Animor'
Her switch whisked through the air.
her eyes flashed. her long. blue-black
hair touched the tent-poies as she ca
reered past Swift as an arrow the
nad6ened beast rushed past with his /
daring rider holding on by the toes of /
one foo.
The cool evening air blew softly IN I
through the curtains OF the caravan IL /
which Belli sat with Brigantira- whose /
small hands he held tenderly II his /
,wn- She eazed up az him. as il under I
.he influence of some spell. with beam /
ng eyes and dreamy look All was 4
quiet The night air gently caresscd 1
the leaves OF the lindenS- whose sweet /.
scent, mingled with the fresh sea
breeze, penetrated through the wiz 4
lows OF the caravan, intoxicating the /
lovers with its sweet incense