Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-07-09
A CIRCUS ROMANCE.

"A VI IN ~ IoO-h AANNL.
"Why is Miss Ryland so Indifferent
to men?"
The question was asked by curious
woman who had just left the Sashing
young equestrienne's apartments at the
Ringing Bros. circus one evening last
week.
"And why is she so fond of a black
cOstume?" queried another. "E notice
that she rides in somber colors nearly
every night"
Behind the answer to these interroga-
tories lies story favored with ro-
nance, but unaccompanied by the usual
denouement that makes the romance
complete. There is sadness at the begin
ming and end of it and just enough in
the middle that is joyful to make the
tale pretty. 1t is a pathetic narrative,
on the whole, and interesting, though
it does recount the woes of lovers.
Miss Ryland was not born into her
art. She is not the seventh daughter Of
a seventh daughter of circus fame. Her
abundant auburn tresses blossOmed into
radiance under the warm rays of a Mis-
sissippi sun, and her muscular Drawn
was early developed Oh her fathers
plantation way down south.
Mr.. Ryland was one of the largest
cotton growers i'll his vicinity. He lived
three miles from his plantation, on the
outskirts of pretty southern town.
His handsome home was the scene of
numerous fashionable events, and Elena,
his only daughter, was the most admired
woman in the place.
In the later eighties small circus
visited the town. Mr. Ryland allowed
the management to use part of his spa
clous grounds for show property. Every
body in the village was out to see the
first and only performance given by the
aggregation i'll the little city, among
others Elena Ryland.
In the circus was a young bareback
rider, Alfred Julian by name. He had
been with the company only few
weeks and was but a mediocre perform
er. By profession he was an artist but
fame and fortune did not roll his way,
and he gave up the pencil for more lucra
tive employment under the canvas. He
was good looking, educated fellow of
20 years and became quite popular with
his fellow performers.
The young man was unfortunate on
his appearance that night. in attempt
ing to leap through a hoop and on to his
horses back he missed his footing and
fell with terrific force on the box curb
ing surrounding the ring. He was pick
ed up i'll an unconscious condition, and
it was found that his right arm and leg
were broken.
The accident stopped the show The
spectators left their seats and crowded
about the ring to learn the extent Of
Julian S injury. Mr.. Ryland was one of
the first to reach the youths side The
circus doctor was summoned and adj
Vlsed that the young man be taken at
once to a hospital. There was no hos
pltal in the place, and the only accom-
mediation available was the temporary
shelter of the dressing room.
Ryland came to the aid of the man
agement by offering the use of his home
to the injured man. The offer was
gratefully accepted, and Julian was re-
moved to the magnificent Ryland resi-
dence for treatment. The generous, no.
BILE hearted planter went further. He
insisted Oh calling III the family physi-
clan to treat Julian, and when the cir
Gus left town the next day the bareback
rider was resting easy in the most COM
Portable quarters he had enjoyed since
he quit his eastern home three weeks
before.
Julian required a nurse. Elena Ry-
land, sympathetic and loving, gladly
took upon herself the task of minister
ing to the needs of the suffering man.
She would be his nurse, she declared,
and she performed her duty more faith
fully and with greater pleasure than
could be expected of any paid servant.
The second day after his fall Julian
regained consciousness. He opened his
eyes and looked i'll wonderment on his
strange surroundings. He did not speak
for several moments. Then he inquired
in soft voice of his fair attendant,
"Where am ~
"4Ou are in friends house," Miss
Ryland replied. THE circus is gone,
but you need not worry for your safety"
He did not worry. He suffered ex-
cruciating pain and often would have
murmured over his lot, but the gentle
words of his watchful nurse helped him
to bravely bear his troubles III silence.
Slowly he recovered. AS he grew bet
ter he learned to appreciate the service
OF his kind attendant. She was more
than sister to him, and her heart was
filling with more than sisters love
for friend in distress.
He asked all about his accident and
the events following it, He was some
what humiliated at his i'll luck and
vowed he would never again enter the
circus ring. Miss Ryland was fascinat-
ed with his stories of circus life and lis
tened intently to every word that fell
from his lips
The patient was interested i'll his fair
nurse. He fully reciprocated her attach