The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-10-28
MS hat. "Ave. for Martyrum." he ada

th- lively
why. Hilton" said the other, what
words in such a place.
Il say it ever: time | see her" said the
other. Look. man. and you will say it,
too. Don't you see the martyr in her
eyes?"
You are sentimental. Hilton"
No, it is only that you are dull. Dali
veil. One day-she will be less strong
than usual. or she Will be distracted
the least little wrench during her SON.
e%rsault, and she will break her back. L
have come here day after day TO see it.
She knows that it will happen i'll a-s
probability. She is prepared for death
every time she steps on that stage. 1t
is a race between her and death"
Il hope you are not right. Hilton. If
you are the Legislature should put down
such performances"
1T will eventually. when some great
awakening comss to II country peo-
pie. Just look at their faces. Those
ONE there have the very expression
of the Roman DANES when they turned
up the thumb. What do you suppose
brings them except the chance of See
ing yonder little human flower smashed
to pieces"
And YOU. Hilton"
Il come for the same purpose, but
for another reason. Do YOU see the
handsome fellow in the wings who
gloatS over the signora's beauty"
~ lover??"
"Ies. and a husband. 1t is for his
every day. 1t is for his sake am here"
Tell me more"
The man is dying on his feet. Any
great shock would kill him; but, on the
other hand. a life of well-being might
prolong his indefinitely. This is the
signora's first lucrative engagement.
Every time she performs brings her one
step nearer TO safety for them both.
She has promised me that she will take
him back to Sicily after her time here
terminates. There are a couple of old
people there who depend on her also
How much you know about her, Hill
tom"
She called me in to see him. lie has
been splitting blood"
Does he know her danger?!"
III sees the performance is danger
IL but he is used TO it. and he has UNI
bounded confidence in her strength and
deXterity. They keep themselves from
thinking too much by planning the life
III Sicily when her peril is overall the
years are provided for. They do not
ask much, poor children. They have all
the Italians frugality. Ipray the thing
may end well. But nOw-ah! there she
goes. like a golden butterfly"
Il feel Il hound to be here" said
DalveIl. No, | shall not see her leap.
1t is playing with flesh and blood. And.
good God. there are children here as
well as women"
Watch the husbands face. then" re-
piled the doctor. He is rapturously in
love with her. and yet their happiness
is so quiet. They were children to-
gether."
DaivclI looked at the man in the
wings. Unseen by the rest of the house,
he was kissing his hand to the woman
in the flies. His slender figure leaned
forward ii little; his eager eyes were
full of light.
1t must have been the moment of the
leap. Dalvell heard the low sigh of
suspense of the people about him. He
still watched the husband.
S~uddenly-he could not tell how it
hpnnannI II yyn in a flash of fiDlp-
the man in the wings staggered and
forward. He had the impulse |
to rush to his aid. But there rang |
through the hall the most terrible cry,
and then everyone rose up: there WAS
Il hoarse shout. Il pressing forward. u
swaying. a breaking out of many voices,
and the mass of people was rushing
confusedly in one direction.
Come with me- said Hilton. What
| feared has happened. I'm afraid ! can /
do much for her. 1t is damnable
she should have been allowed to kill
But that poor lad"
Il don't think he will know" said
DalvelI. in a hushed voice, looking to-
the hu~ddled-up figure in the
AT least, he did not see her
fall. Thank God for that"
The Flower of the Air" had been
behind the scenes.
DR.. Hilton hurried there. made q
hasty examination.
Her back is broken" he said; she
will not live very long. She is smashed
o pieces"
Come with me-" said Dalvell. II
.hink they have not found him. but her
husband is lying in the wings.
He saw her fall?"
No. | am afraid she saw him. It
have been that hat caused the ac-
".Ah! I saw her poor little face. Then
he came . crash!"
Beppo was carried to the DRESSING
DOM. There was nothing to be done
or him. He had died quite suddenly.
Angina pectoris, no doubt" said DIR.
Hilton. Perhaps. poor lad. he realized
uddenly that she was in deadly peril.
Perhaps not. Anyhow. he has gone be-
Gre her"
In the broken little figure of the
Flower of the Air" life stirred. The
yes. that seemed the only things I'M
N iuraI nnanaI and fxeJ themselves