The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-19
THE WIRE WALKER,
"a MUSIC HALL STORY,
Blu EX-CHIEF INSPECTOR CAVANAGH.


entine" took such a prominent part.
Mdlle. Clementine was a rope and wire
walker. and was considered the best Of
her class. She was head and shoulders
above all her competitors fn her line OF
business. and consequently gained the envy
OF them all Clementiue had the satisfac-
ton OF seeing the Corintlian, tac hall
she was engaged az. crammed nightly
She did the II O'Clock turn-rltncr a
late one-but il mattered little as Ear as
the prosperity Of the place was concerned,
for every one waited 70 see the perform
ance Of the great, the love-
~, and graceful wire-walker.
Clementine had been brought up
from the age OF in a French circus, con-
sequently. a. far as early training was
concerned. she was perfect.
Her parents died when she was very
young. the circus master undertaking, az
their request, the education OF Clementine.
lie was an old friend Of her fathers; in
fact. they were boys together in the aero
batic line Of business. Having no children
of his own. he VS. only too pleased 10 be-
come the adopted father OF the little one.
He had always a liking for the child. and
row, that her parents were dead. he would
devote himself heart aud soul 10 her fu-
ture. He spared no expense ON her edu-
cation, and was rewarded. at the early
age OF IA. to find that she had "a complete
knowledge of five different languages. She
seemed a born linguist.
The principal OF the school made him
handsome offer't 10 allow her 10 remain as
a teacher of languages. but on his sug-
costing this 10 Clementine, she begged
him not to press the point, and told him
she was languishiRg in the school. and
Ionged for her freedom in the circus.
He was amazed and disappointed. He
pointed out to her that she should now
consider herself a lady. and "A I'm at some
thing higher; but TO no purpose. She
pined for her old kind of life and could
not be Influenced.
Very reluctantly he took her away. and
to his own home, placing her under the
care Of his wife, who at once became
much attached to her. She was now be-
tween fifteen and sixteen, and had de-
veloped into a singularly beautiful young
woman, of delicate and refined physique.
She went the night after leaving school TO
the circus, and naptuEouslY applauded
every good act of the performers. Her
heart and soul We're in her Old line of bust
ness, and the circus master saw it at a
glance.
on going home she begged him to let
her step on the wire once more-On the
dear old wire that had borne her SO
bravely and so well In her childhood, and
which had been slowed away since her
departure.
How he wished she would talk about
something else. He wished in vain; and
seeing IL was useless to go against her in
clinations, he agreed, directly she OBJ
tanned her professional attire, TO try her
reminding her that as So many years had
elapsed since she had walked it, il would
be necessary for her to commence with
extreme caution. How she laughedi How
she shouted How she Rugged the old
man in the presence of his Wife for Weld
ing TO her whims and fancies, Is beyond
my powers of description.
l only know that one touch of nature
perVaded the little party huddled together
so to speak, in the modest sitting room
OF the circus master.
Yet, when the first outburst of Joy was
over, a seriousness overspread the mas
ters face. He advised her not to be too
sanguine OF success in case of failure
Failurel The word made her laugh hvs-
terically. She informed him she knew She
would not only be a no-success. but a yeri-
table triumph; and would soon earn sum
position.
The poor old fellow still had his doubts,
because OF her long absence from the ring,
out couldn't help admiring her extraordi-
nary courage and confidence in herself
upon which almost all depended.
Inc morning came, and with il a knock
az the door Of the circus master. who. i'm
MS ordinary course, would have slept for
an hour or two longer. The door was
o SleI.s by ms wife, who, observing Gle
My dear child, why are you up so
are fully dressed"
i know what il means 3" said +ba ola
man; she wants TO get on that wire
he was right-that was her sole aim.
out she also wanted to try ii alone, being
100 impatient to wait for her professional
dress, which had yet to be ordered She
couldn't and wouldn't wait The old cir
Gus master, much as he loved her, and
much as he would do for her were n in bis
power, was now taken abaek' and har5Iy
knew how 10 act. He knew her impui-
slyenesS and self-will; and had exne-
Tienced this already and too soon. He
couldn't allow her to go to the circus
alone many of the performers sleeping
there. He, therefore, advised her to wait
pntn 10 O'Clock, and he would accompany
To this she consented, and soon after
that hour they We're in the circus. which
was only few yards away. Very few of
the present company had been engaged
at the time Clementine performed; still
there were too or three, and these group
ang themselves together, engaged in earn
est conversation. Rumors had been float
ang ABOUT that the child Clementine had
developed into a magnificent lady, and
mat she was so highly educated that she
could speak every language in Europe;
yet, Notwithstanding all this, she intended
continuing her performances on the wire
lWhile they were thus engaged in CONVEX
satlon the master and a young lady came
IN near where they were standing. They
at once came to the conclusion the lady
was Clementine. They were not mista-
ken. She instantly recognized them, and
embracing the female portion almost fran
ideally, greeted the others in the most
cordial manner.
All the new members of the company
were enraptured at her kindness of heart
and anectonate disposition-with one ex-
ceptlon. This proved to be the celebrated
Mdlle Marie, the present occupier of the
wire at the circus, who held aloof
Marie's reputation was second to none:
but she had heard of Clementine's prowess
on the wire as a child, and her desire
now that she had developed into a lovely
creature, to resume her old occupation
Marie was neither pretty nor educated,
but she was fine figure. and knew her
business to perfection. She had been al
the circus a considerable time, and had
large number of admirers, among them
wealthy young Spaniard, who, excepting
a few words was quite at fault with the
French language.
Marie, speaking her native tongue to
perfection, was equally i'll at ease with
the Spanish; consequently, fearing that
Clement1ne-whO spoke five languages
nuently-might surpass her on the WIRE
and also in another direction, and that she
might have to take a subordinate posi-
ton, took an instant dislike TO her; and
on Clementine approaching her with open
he u