Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-07-02

ubuAl DISPLAY OIL SOTBeOu4 pTebeutS, u
fne band has been playing. professional
dancers have done their part; now they
are ready for Min Toxic and his per-
formances.
The whole lawn Is flooded with cleo
tric light, and, In mighty tents. all
decorated with roses, they are setting
forth feast. The bride and bridegroom
sit upon sort Of throne that seems
made of orange blossoms. Tiers Of
seats. occupied by people in evening
dress, surround the lawn, leaving an
archway through which the performers
enter. 1t is opposite the bridal-thsone;
and. as Min Toxic passes through. bow
ing and smiling. his eyes meet those
Of the bride, and he seems to give her
special greeting.
Standing in the midst Of the circle.
he begins to gather, from heaven
knows where. white roses, Of which ~
makes a mighty ball, how. no one can
guess. This he throws toward tho
throne. As It floats in the air 1t opens
and forth flies little pink Cupid. who
filings kisses abroad and flies skyward
and is gone. Thunders Of applause foi-
low this compliment to the bride. and
then the little waiting on Min
Toxic brings in the chairs. the tables.
the fans. the wands. the boxes. and tho
show begins. It is sufficient to say
that the man seems to be able to over
come the laws of gravitation, to STAND
upon nothing, to fold himself up like .
foot-rule. to put himself away In spaces
that seem impossible: and to do all this
gracefully. with beautiful accessories.
The brides eyes never leave him
Min Toxic did not boast falsely. Though
his position and residence IN Cnlns-
town seem to her to place him as faf
beneath her as though she were an
empress and he a serf. she has always
admired him intensely, and she knows
that he Is in love with her. She mas
often wished that he were OF her race
and kind. He has been made . sort
Of pet amongst the Californians Do
fore whom he has performed. ana no mas
had opportunities to speak a few wotds
to her and. as he said. to kiss her nano
thrice. Tonight she feels that sns
bids him adieu and tonight he fascin-
ates her strangely.
When at last. as usual. he inquiries
II any two Of the audience will assist
him in some closing performances.
she whispers to her bridegroom:
Come, Arthur. let US CO."
And the young man replies.
lawfully bad form: but II you wish
It, Of course"
II is a look that Min Toxic has given
her that makes her do this thing. and
the bridegroom hands her down into
the center of the lawn. and they three
stand together there.
"wil you be pleased to help me ny
this kite, sir?" says Min Toxic to tho
bridegroom, as he filings into the air the
thing we know of. See. this is how"
The kite darto upward swiftly In .
moment. Its brilliant breast Is NO
longer visible. Only long copper
colored cord shimmers in the air from
Min Toko's hand moonward.
Come to me all ye butterdies! he
cries. Come! Gomez And down the
cord sweep a myriad butterflies and
cover the performers bosom and van
ish. Little mousew he cries. Come.
little mouse" and whistles exquisitely.
| And the little gray mouse creeps down.
ats on his shoulder and Is gone. And
now, sir" Min Toxic says. with bow
to the groom and a smile to the bride.
.if you like you may call blue bird
and a white bird. red bird. yellow
bird, green bird. and after that one OF
the stars from heaven" And he puts
the cord into the bridegroom's hand.
who calls loudly:
| Here, you blue bird, come II you
cant! And there is blue bird and
amidst shouts OF merriment, and while
the bride claps her little palms and
showers smiles about her. the birds OF
all colors come down.
| The green bird has arrived and dis
appeared, when suddenly the bride puts
forth her hand playfully and snatches
the cord from the bridegroom's hand.
"You shan't have all the fun" she
says, with pretty pout. Il intend to
call the star down myself. Ah. how the
cord pulls! No. you shan't touch 1t. l
will do 1t alone. What do you say. Min
Toxic? brightest star OF heaven come
to met Is that right?"
She beams on him and lifts her sweet,
shrill voice and calls aloud, and far up
in the sky appears great diamond
star. that shimmers and glows as 1t
comes earthward. And. with one wild
spring, Min Toxic snatches the cord
from the brides hand. saying some
thing that she only hears as he does SO.
and pushing her fiercely from him so
that she falls into her bridegroom's
arms.
Then the star Is upon Min Toko's
breast and he lies upon the ground. and
the gaudy kite flutters down and lies
beside him; and those who gather about
him see that he is dead. with the fear
| full burn Of electricity upon his bosom.
The kite must have attracted 1t. they
say. Plainly, when he snatched 1t from
the brides hand. he saw that there was
danger. Poor fellow!. How brave! How
noble!
There are no more festivities that
| nisht. of course-no feast, no fireworks.
All night the bride weeps bitterly.
and when, in the morning. her BRIDE
groom bears her away. she is still
broken-hearted.
The words that Min Toxic whispered
as he snatched the fatal cord from her
are still ringing in her ears. She Will
I h.EA ~ -