The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-06
THEFLOW.ER OF THE AIR.
l SSsss9


may the little one he gave to heaven
forget hlmw
He took q hand Of each. and the chill
dren, fascinated, went away with him.
Down below the hillside in the shadow
of the woods. the oxen that drew the
great yellow and scarlet caravans made
siesta for the midday.
Antonio was as good Us his word. No
father and mother could have been
more tender to the little walls than he
and Teresita.
There was no hue and cry upon
their tracks, Who cared Tor them,
poor little human crickets. when the
goats came home alone in the evening.
At Arst the stick stood ready to the
stout peasants hands to punish them
when they should come. But presently
it was realized that they would not
come and none grleved. since Beppo
was q weakllng and Maddalena pas
slonate and obstinate.
The years passed very happily. Jour
neylng up and down the strange cOun-
tries, with Antonio and TeresIta ana
their troupe OF mummers. Maddalena
brought prosperity of kind to AntO-
MIC. She was no ordinary dancing girl,
no common acrobat. The strength and
suppleness which made Antonio call
her Glover Of the Air" retained her
name. and everywhere the caravans
halted drew crowds to see her dance
on the tight rope and dIsport herself at
glddy heights as secure and graceful as
any bird.
But, as the SHOWS and storms drove
the circus into winter quarters. so the
SHOWS Of age in time fe1 on Antonio.
They had all earned for the day and
saved nothing; and the time came
when the troupe melted and broke up,
and Antonio and TeresItn were left all
but alone with their children.
1t was then that the English impress
sarlo saw the performance of the
"Flower Of the Air and offered her an
engagement at a salary that nigh took
her breath away.
Maddalena danced with Joy.
Now 1t is my turn" she said, land
you win go back to Sicily, little father
and mother, and own little vineyard,
and keep a roof for Beppo and me to
return TO one day"
''Beppo Will go with thee, child?" said
Antonio. 1T is well. Are you not broth
err and sister? And Teresita and viii
be happier knowing he is near thee In
the wicked world"
I'VE are to marry. Beppo and I. See
you, we have always loved each other.
Before you came to love US we had only
each other and the Madonna and the
angels. And IT is better that should be
signora than slgnOrina in the world we
go to-"
And SO 1t was settled, and the little
lovers of old became husband and
wife and went away with the English
impressarlo, while Antonio and Teresa
tn went sadly back to Sicily and be-.
came proprietors, selling the caravans
and turning the white oxen to the
plough.
The performance at the Variety drew
many of the class which likes to see It's
fellow creatures throw dice with death.
Two men watched her from private
box us she curtesIed to the audience.
She was unspeakably brilliant in her
doublet of gold tissue and hose of yell
low satin.
''what a charming creature" said
one.
yes" said the other, and then hit
ed his hat. ave flor AIartyrum!" he
added graveIy.
why Hilton" said the other what
words in such a place.
81 say 1t every time see her" said
the other. Look. man. and you Will
say It, too. Don't you see the martyr
In hes eyes?"
"You are sentimental. Hilton"
NO, 1t is only that you are dull.
Dalyell. One day-she Will be less
strong than usual. or she will be dis
tracted-the least little wrench during
her somersault. and she Will break her
bncK. have come here day after day
to see It. She knows that 1t win hap
pen in all probability. She is prepared
for death every time she steps on that
stage. 1t is race between her and
death"
81 hope you are not right, Hilton. II
you are, the legislature should put
down such performances"
1T will eventually. when some great