Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-04-21
A QUEEN IN RAGS.


Y OCI-LA!'
ri Crack went the circus
Il Il masters whip as the girls
flying figure went through the last tin
sel-covcrcd circle higher even than the
preceding ones, and alightcd safely in
the saddle amid rounds of rough ap-
plause.
One solitary figure occupied the
dress" scats-a tall. dark man, with
bronzed face and keen eyes, and to this
one upper-class patron was the cream
of the entertainment directed.
AS the girl rode round before her exit
she made the usual fent of blowing Il
kiss to the stranger, but the circus mas
ter's jealous eye noted that deep flush
dyed her forehead. He also noted that
the same solitary figure was there for
the third night in succession-was there
alone-and that as soon as Queen Ca
mlla' left the ring he got up. collected
stick, hat and gloves and departed.
Hes fish out o water" muttercd
the man to himself. whats he dom
here, | wonder? If he's got an eye upon
Camilla he'll soon find as how others
as got an eye upon him.
And that night, after frugal but
somewhat noisy supper the ringmnster
sought out a fat, elderly woman. al
ways strongly rcdoient of gin. but who,
In spite of that and other little dcln-
quencies, was called by courtesy the
wardrobe mistress. The manager-for
in Leo Salternes circus the manager.
1i1.n.tpf .,I rip,rp, Star
rolled in one-calne upon this lady as
she was folding away Camilla's gilt
tering robes.
Look here he began roughly.
'IIave you heard anythn' about the
gent that's been hangin' aroundT'
Course | have" muttered the wom-
an sulkily. "Who 'asn't? Hes the new
squire, just come home from Australy."
AN what's lie doin' here?'
"Come to see Salterne's circus sup
pose" she replied-"lcastways he pays
is money like the rest
There was silence, save for the tin
king OF baubles as she folded the cos
tunes. Then the man seized her by
the arm.
You amt been spllttin'?' he Kissed.
'If you have. Meg Hudson, it'll be the
worse for you.'
"Dye think | want to get rid of the
girl? Dye think don't know that the
show would soon go to the dogs if it
warn't for Queen Cam? Dye think
don't know that she keeps things goin'
both before and behind scenes: Why.
there isn't one O the whole company
but what loves her, and'-with scowl-
ing glance-"hates YOU"
well, it's n dangerous ncighborhood.
anyway" said the man, shifting uncasi-
ly beneath the glance, AN it's time
we was movin' on"
"Ay. AS long as the Hall stood emp
ty, and no one knew where to look for
a heir"
"Hold your tongue for a croakinc old
fool. cried the manager angrily, glanc-
ing round at the thin wooden partition.
'Who knows who might hear We, We old
bird O the night. Anyway, We'll be
movin' on. We can't afford to throw
away money but there's worse might
happen if we stayed" And, slamming
the door, he went.
At least old Meg thought he had gone,
and she muttered to herself
no, an We can't afford to be found
out neither. my fine master"
The Whit of q cheap cigar and a NUT
tered oath told her that she had been
overheard, though she didn't catch the
managers concluding remark.
"I'll find some means of stopping
your tongue, madam; you know too
much, and seem like CROWN danger
GUS"
When Ronald King laid his half
crown on the grimy sill of the little
pay office next night he was Informed
that 1.-The reserved seats was all took
by party" But instead of the turn
ing away in disgust as the manager
hoped, he merely exchanged the coin
for a siXpcnce, and passed in among
the crowd
Queen Camilla was to do her high
flight tonight, and 1t was Queen Ca
milla he went to see. He hadn't waited
to analyze the attractions; he simply
went because he was attracted. To be
sure, entertainment was scarce in the
village where he had suddenly been
cast; and though he was the owner of Il
lovely estate and $1,000 year, there
wasn't more friendless creature than
he in existence.
He had been ranching for fourteen
years in Australia, and had been re-
called in most unexpected fashion to
step into his dead uncles shoes. The
family history was to him a sealed
book. His uncle had had children who
had died. and that was all he knew.
Queen Cam was later than usual that
night, and many watches had been i'm