The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-16

Love not only laughs at locksmiths,
but 1t grins at mad papas.
But he has rank" suggested.
Yes, and no has heart" he re-
turned. HE is not only n prince, but
q man."
That was all he knew about the case,
and knew no more until the very last
day of the season, when a distinguished
gentleman, with the air if not the title
of prince, arrived as q visitor to our
queen of the circle. tho beautiful bru-
pette, Carlotta.
There is always something of q hurry
and a scurry when tho circus season
comes to an end and the band at tho
last performance plays Home, Sweet
Home, and was unusually busy my
self, but not so much engaged as not to
notice that Carlotta and the stranger
appeared to be supremely happy.
What an act Carlotta rode at both
performances that dayl Such style,
such grace, such abandonl l remarked
1T to ono of the managers with the COM
pliment:
"A great rideri''
Greatest tho world ever saw!" he re-
turned and added. but sho is lost to
us. She will not re-engage.
ION account of the newcomer?" l
suggested
More than likely" returned tho
manager.
AT tho breaking up of the show there
was general handshaking and saying
of "Goodby" all around The last |
said the words 10 was the queen of them
all, tho peerless Carlotta. The beauty
was gracious, and az she extended her
little hand, with its jeweled fingers, she
said sweetly:
You have all been so kind. Adieul"
That was nice, but Carlotta did not in
troduce me to her distinguished visitor.
"Of course he is tho prince" said
to myself. That was the last time ever
saw either of them. And it was years
and years before l even heard of them,
and then obtained my information in
peculiar way-the information came
unsought-l stumbled upon it.
had engaged to go out with a tent
show and was sent for by the manager
just after the holidays to do some writ
ing up FOR the next season. He had been
building some very costly tableau cars
for the street paradcs, and he took me
over to tho winter quarters that | might
see them and eXpend some adjcctives de-
scriptive of their massive grandeur.
y the quarters | met several attaches
with whom had travelled in previous
years, and one, Sailor Dan, was over
Joycd to meet me, as we had not seen
each other for years. Tho old canvas
man $ greeting WAS as honest as it was
hearty. He explained:
II am making Il set of cage covers for
the old man"
Where have you been since saw
you last?" asked.
Down III South America" he re-
piled. Had Il good, great time, but
after all said and done I'm glad to he
back in this country There is no place
like old Philadelphia, after all.
Fortunately the manager was called
TO another part of the quarters, giving
Sailor Dan Il chance to talk, and he WAS
il great tallicr.
You see. - said Dan, when that seat
son ended, when You saw me last, en-
gagged 10 Carlotta TO go to South Amer
lea as her groom. You see, her groom
was that homcsick that he wondn t
travel any more and went home TO some
outlandish part of Europe. Now, I'm
sailor, not altogether green about
horses. as yon may know, knocking
about with circuses as ! have been for
so many years.
Well, we went down into South
a
band, the prince. and mo-
The princc:'
Yes, genuine out and out prince,
with royal blood Ill him. You see. they
fell i'll love with each other before she
banished herself to America, and his
Old man set on him and stopped his
pocket money. But he was true to she,
and she was true to he, and all camo
out like story book. guess the truth
of 1t was the prince was little short of
change. but she had enough for both.
We hadn't more than got down into
South America than there was a great
kerbobery kicked up, one of those short
order revolutions, and what did the
prince do but, being Il military man, he
took hand i'll and just fought his way
right up to the throne, he and me. y
You must have enjoyed your posi-
ton, | said.
Enjoyed it! | guess did," an
swered Sailor Dan. And what IL dandy
queen Carlotta did make, and how the
people loved her! AS for the king, he
was Il me fellow, as nico Il man as
ever worked for. He and / used TO set
day after day on the steps of tho throne
and do nothing but smoke % cent ci-
gars!'-Charles II. Day in New York
Clipper.