Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
A CIRCUS TRAGEDY.

With mucous ucIOFllllly.
Yet lie was Il man. He had pas
sions like other men. He had Il heart
within his bony body as capable of
human affection as that possessed by
any of the public who applauded his
tricks. And this heart he had thrown
at the feet of Mile. Nina. daughter of
Adoiphe, the cquilibrist, the hand
soonest horscwoman in the circus.
When she appeared ut the circus for
the first time lie was daZZlcd by her
beauty. She danced into the ring in
cloud of gauze. among which span
giles glittered like diamonds. A white
rose, suspended from pearly teeth,
cOntlasted with the rich red of her
cheeks and coils of jet black hair,
which streamed lrlXuriantly down to
her waist. She was proudly. inso-
lently beautiful. and the dwarf
whom the whim of circus manager
had taken from the cobbler's lapstonc
was completely dazzled by the sight
of such radiant lovelincsss.
As time went on the star dropped
from the sky. The distance between
them grew less and less rs the illusion
faded from his eyes. Every morning
he used to see the dazzling beauty OF
the previous night, in n dirty morning
wrapper, patching her scanty ward
robe as She watched the pot boil in
the open air. He began to talk with
her, and then he began to dream. and
In his dreams he saw Nina walking
by his side radiant with happiness.
Nina laughed ut his gibcs, screamed
Mt his jokes and shouted Encore. Gu
gusssew when the love-stricken dwarf
S&de some grotesquc movement.
which, he hoped, would he interpreted
rs an exhibition of affection. The fair
horsewoman occasionally cHresscd
him as she would have carcssed Il dog.
He was less than n dog in the eyes of
the circus people. Jealous of his pop
ularity. they cuffed him whenever
they met him, and the dwarf found it
useless to protest.
One evening he told Nina that he
loved her. The girl stared ut him n
moment rs If she had not heard Alright
and then burst into n fit of laughter.
Gugusse frowncd. and drew himself
up to the full height of his little fig
uie, hoping perchancc to impress her.
Then lie told her how he had loved
her from the moment lie first SAW her.
and how life was impossible without
her regard.
Every word the dwarf uttered was
like n jest to the merry hearted girl.
She sat in her chair and shook with
the cXuberance of mirth. Gugussc
stepped forward and took one of her
white, plump hands in his horny palm.
Nina jumped up with a gesture of dis
gust, drew her hand away, and struck
the dwarf blow in the face.
A few hours later the circus rang
with cheers as Gugusse entered. But
the dwarf had no heart for his work
that night, and he was Missed from
the ring.
The next day the circus bills bore
the imposing announcement:
Unparalleled Novelty. Stupendous
Attractions. The Tragedy of Usande:
or, the Martyred Maiden. Mile. Nina
and Gugusse."
AT O'Clock the house was crowded
The usual exercises took place-tight
rope, tlapeZe, horizontal bar-but
they passed almost unnoticed. The
people were waiting for the promised
tragedy. They wanted 10 see the
white-robed maiden deyourcd by the
bear.
AT last GugusSse and Nina entered
the ring. and the pent,np excitement
of the crowd found vent in cheers.
Nina was witclingly beautiful in her
white toga, over which fell tresses of
rich, dark hair. She looked like the
white-souled martyrs of old, for
whom the stake had no tcrrors. She
advanced to the center of the ring,
and Gugussse. looking as hideous as
the leadsman of the restoration
bound her securely to the post. Nina
clasped her hands together, and lifted
her large eyes skyward in an attitude
Of prayer.
Gususse disappeared and reentercd
the ring with II tame bear which had
been his playfcllow since he left his
Polish home. He held the animal by
the ear, and rs the brute struggled
and growled menacingly, the people
applauded to the echo.
They watched Gugusse approach
the maiden, and heard some words
uttered, which they took to be an an.
peal for her recantation. In reality
Gugusse was murmuring IL passion
ate declaration.
Nina, love YOU. Have pity on
Inc. Can you not hear me? Have pity
on me OF will let Biska fly ut YOU. |
have made him drink brandy, have
beaten him. and this morning stole
his meat from him. He is hungry: he
Is mad; he will tear you to pieces. Will
you be mine:'
Nina shook her head with a gesture
of Impotence.
nina. Nina. am II man have n
right to love you. love Won with
my whole soul. cannot live without
your love. Ire mine! DO not make me
desperate. All. you shake your head
You will not! You despisc me. l
know it. You shall pay dearly for it
now!'
AS lie finished speaking the dwarf
bent down aud unmuzzled the furious