Frederick citizen., 1895-02-08

formance again tonight. Bede?"
IF not inconvenient to you and Mrs.
Brandreth." said the surgeon-"I
should like TO go so much.''
Bah! I cannot see the charm of it
to me it is a ghastly spectacle. Did
you see the sort OF bound the lion gave
just as the fellow came out? 1t was
sickening, and brutalizing to the
masses"
There I agree with you" said Sir
Maxwell. But nevertheless. to the
scientific eye 1t is fine study"
Study of what?" said Mrs. Brand
reth. mot of anatomy, those wretcLed
lions have scarcely room to move their
cramped limbs, IL you saw it on a
grand scale where every movement of
the grand beasts could be seen as you
can see them in the new dens OF the
Zoo-then l could understand the
pleasure of the study"
II was not thinking of the lions" he
said quietly.
"Oh! of the man himself?"
Yes. it is fine study of the triumph
OF spirit over matter, the man is the
most splendid fellow ever saw"
Lucy looked up at him earnestly. 'It
must require great courage" she said.
Ma agniRcent courage" he answered.
The finest courage Of all, conquest of
his own terror" and moved by the
strength of his own words, Sir Maxwell
Bede walked to the window.
Arthur" said Mrs Brandreth after
a moments pause. will you take me
to see it again tonight"
Better not" muttered the surgeon
from the window.
But Lucy was accustomed to having
her own way. II want to CO." she said.
Arthur, will you take places again 2"
Colonel Brandreth thought it all a
bore. He liked his quiet lazy evenings
reading the paper over comfortable
fire, listening to his wife's charming
music. comfortably smoking in the
smoking room later on, as he lazily
talked over old times with his dearly
loved friend. But Lucy's will was law,
and he did as he requested.
The circus was crowded that night.
All day huge playbills appearing on
every available spot. announced that it
was to be the positively last appear
ance of the celebrated lion tanner, be-
fore his temporary retirement from,
public life. The excitement had beer
increased greatly by old Dion's plunge
on the previous night. 1t had risen tc
such a height that the audience was
unruly and difficult to manage. they
whistled and stamped and applaudet
recklessly.
The manager was uneasy, he KEEP
coming in to the arena during all the
usual routine, looking anxiously abou
him, watching the temper of his audi
ence. He was a humane man, and a.
he went out for the sixth or seventh
time, he touched the clown on tn
shoulder and whispered: IF they cam
behave themselves I shall not sent
| Condor on"
Elsie rode beautifully, she sprang, sh
leapt through half a dozen hoops. sh
exceeded herself so that tho Amazon
Jenny, watching in a safe position
nodded, and said to herself Poo
soul, she is riding for an encore to pu
off the evil moment. Poor Elsie. 1t will
be better for her, when 1t is over.
wonder how she will like Bed'am."
They encored Elsie.
Colonel Brandreth was not The onlI
one who looked at his watch impa
tiently
1t was over at last The clown begar
his usual by-play to fill up the time
The riders trooped in and cleared tht
space for the lions cage.
The manager appeared, sleek. ant
good-looking in his smart evening
clothes, but singularly pale. He made
his speech more earnestly than usual
but the excitement of the people was
uncomfortable.
Outside, Condor stood ready, Elsie
by his side. The clown rolled out turn
Ing head-over-heels as he went, ant
Joined them.
A heavy rolling and clanking OF bar:
and chains. a dull snarling and tramp
ing seemed to I'LL the air, the VILE
beasts were being rolled in.
"Do 1t quickly to-day, Condor" sait
Albert earnestly. And II there is any
difficulty don't lie down"
What would the apdience say t.
that?" said Will grasping his hand
Nonsense! 1t Is not worse tonight
than any other night. Now Elsier
She was looking up at him, burder
Of indescribable anguish in her eyes
She gave him a quick short kiss, ther
!
/ to the gate and stood watching.
Will Condor came forward, and al
the sight of him, a burst of applause
broke out. The lions in their cage
moved restlessly, reared themselves
up, and burst into roar. even old
Dion rose slowly, walked TO the bars
with a snarling sound and flung him.
self down again.
The sound of hush, hush! went
round. and the people were silent.
For a moment he stood before them
handsome Will Condor. upright, SYM
metrical, so perfect in proportion, that
the eye rested on him in keen admir-
alton, then lightly. swiftly he walked
on, opened the gate, and went in.
He walked familiarly about among
the lions, touching one, and patting
another, pushing one on one side, al
ways keeping his eye on old Dion. who
! had Withdrawn to the further end of
the cage, and lay there slowly stirring
his huge tall.
Not a sound, the people were wrap ut
in breathless silence. What was IT.
Why did not the usual routine pro-
ceed? Will was standing quite still
with his hand on his chest, not moving
from place to place, as he generally
did. What allied him? His eyes were
| fixed on Dion. II was too evident.
The horrible weakness OF humanity
had come over him, the terrible ire
pressible cough shaking him from head
| to foot taking from him all nower aIl