The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-04-02
8iSteIlauenus.
A NIGHT OF AGONY.
ADAPTED BY PAU DOYLE.

At last the ardently wished for day
had come. In the gayest and rosiest
of humors, my little bride on my arm,
| wandered though the streets of Jas
sy, always stopping again before the
bill that | had read a hundred times
already always reading again, that to-
night, in the Zapetti Circus, the we'd
ding benefit of the lion tanner hero
and the bottle queen, Mile. FiCra Du-
pres, was to take place.
All, when | think of that time, how
rosy indeed does love make life. And
L was no longer young-already well
up in the thirties. 1had fallen in love
with her the very first day. | was eX
ceedingly pleased with the neat little
figure, that quiet and modest demean-
or, the soft eye, the sleek hair, dazzling
by its golden lustre. And her voice !!
Never had Il human voice seemed to
me so melodiOus as my Floras. I'm
fortunately, did not understand her,
as she spoke only French, and | only
English.
| had been with the Xapetti Circus
for about year when she came there.
We were travelling through the south
of Russia, Turkey and Roumauia.
She was a clever performer, and
particularly one of her acts always
called forth a sensation. On n table
were placed five bottles, and upon
these 4 board upon this five more
bottles were set-this time somewhat
closer together-on these came an
other board and five more bottles.
Thus the pyramid was built up as
high as you pleased, and on the top
Flora then went through her tricks.
After awhile, all the bottles standing
on the outside were removed, and only
the five middle ones and the boards
remained. On this lettering founda-
ton Mile. Flora now stood and execut-
ed the most difficult exercises, precise
ly as if she were standing on the level
sand in the ring.
AS my turn came two numbers be-
hind hers, and after successful exit,
she always repaired to her dressing
room, and from there, accompanied by
her mother, went home, L had no OPP
portunity to approach her. Things
remained so for almost nine months,
when had the good luck to do Mile.
Flora a service.
In our company was another Eng
lishman-I am a Yorkshire man my
self-Jim Cody by name, who was
employed in the menagerie as keep
era disagreeable fellow, who was
said to have been in prison. He laid
snares for the pretty French girl,
| without, of course, meeting any sue
cess.
Now, one day-it was after a rehear-
sail was going down the long pas
sage behind the stalls, when l heard
| violent and loud talk, and directly
| thereafter Jim Cody and Mile. Dupres
came round the corner. L stepped be-
hind door and let the two pass by.
All at once heard Mile. Flora say:
You are shameless fellow. If
| you don't go | shall call for help -
She spoke these words in quite pas
sable English, which she had taken
every pains to learn. What reply
Jim Cody made | did not understand;
| | only saw how he threw his arm
| around her attempted to kiss her.
| Mile. Depres cried out and tried to
| free herself. but l had already sprung
towards them, seized the wretch and
given him a push that sent him roll
ing at least twenty steps away. He
picked himself up ; but when he saw
his heels. Mile. Flora gave me a
grateful look and held out her hand
| to me.
81 thank you ~ she said in English,
and | was only able to stammer a few
words. When l saw that she wished
| to go, l took courage and told her that
| was great admirer of her skill and
| had always regretted that | had never
seen her in the circus during my per-
| Torrance. Finally, however, had
accompanied her and we had reached
| the house in which she lived-I begged
| here to allow me to visit her. She
| looked up at me shyly, and said in
mangled English and French that she
| must first ask her mother After this
she sprang away and disappeared in
| the house.
| In the evening she remained at the
| circus. | saw her at once, notwith-
standing that she sat, rather concealed
in box. | entered the iron cage, and
never in my life had my profession fill
ed me with more happiness and pride
! than ON this evening. The next morn
ing l received a pretty little note,
which invited me to call on Mile.
| Flora in the afternoon of the same
day. That day seemed to have three
times their usual length, but at last
| the time came round, and | entered
the room of my adored one with wild
| " beating heart. | asked Mile. Flora
if my performance had pleased her
and she said:
Very well, only l must not beat the
| poor beasts So"
And when | asked her whether she
| feared that the beasts would hurt or
even kill me, she cried out surprised ::
No, such thought did not come to
me at all. What lion would be able
| to attack you p
Then | knew that she loved me for
woman always loves a man whom
she admires. Yes, she loved me, and
she loves me still to-day, despite that
long years have elapsed since then.
| 4 nd nlthannh l ". &c anlinnl To W q II u N