The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-11
The Showman's Daughter.

| gllt-headed cane, poked me with an air
of friendly vulgari1y in the ribs Then
l recognized him. 1t was old Jimmy
Merton, q man with whom 1 had once
| toured, many years before, when I was
| a beginner, ready to snap al anything,
and he was running blood-curdling
melodrama
| Poor old Jimmy. He was a typical
| showman-loudly dressed, very shiny silk
| hat, slightly tilted. clean shaver, bright,
twinkling eyes. and a nose which Illus
| trated rs OWL story in coors.
You bounder!" he roared, boisterous-
| ly. Fancy meeting you! How are your
What are you going to have?'
We shook hands, and 1 glanced ques-
| tioningiy at the young lady by his side.
You know her. he shouted. Don't
you remember the little girl you used to
give sweets to and tell fairy tales?''
Why bless my soul!' I exclaimed.
| Surely it isn't little Maidie?"
Are you Mr.. Beresford?" she said,
| eagerly with flash Of recognition. And
remember that she colored with pleas
with womanly grip which I have never
| forgotten.
| She had been a little three-year-old
when 1 was about twenty, and we had
| been inseparable chums during the six
months worked with old Jimmy
/ Although she was always knows as
| Maidie Merton. she was not Jimmy's
daughter. He had married her mother,
who had once been a prominent London
actress when Maidie was an infant.
| Mrs. Merrion's professional name was
Ada Sinclair. but there appeared to be
some mystery concerning her first hus-
| band, and beyond the fact that he was
a Mr.. Douglas. nothing was known of
him. Mrs. Merton had been dead some
| fifteen years, and old Jimmy had been
a father to his wife's little orphan ever
since.
We had a LONG talk. Poor old Jimmy
to use his own expression-was nearly
ION his upDers." He was running a
tenth-rate trades and cycle exhibition
without sufficient capital, and the sleepy
| town Of Norford had not responded to
his call
Eyes, laddie," said the old man, speak
ing for once quite naturally, I've had a
good many struggles to keep on my feet,
but I've always managed to pay my way.
tn be- the first time I've had to bolt
I've had my day" Then turning to the
girl with tears twinkling in his eyes he
said: "Why don't YOU leave me? You'd
soon make your way on the stage. I'm
afraid I've got to the end of the tether. -
81 shall never leave you, dad" said
Wen go to London together and make
fresh start
In the meantime an idea had struck
me. I was staying with Sir Andrew
Stillingf1eet at the time, whose place was
only a few miles out of Norford He
too was something of an old Snowman
but an aristocratic one, and he and I,
and few more, were syndicating new
piece. which we were about to send on
tour. II occurred to me that II
could induce him. out Of good nature
to pay a visit to old Jimmy's exhibition
the local aristocracy would be certain to
follow suit. Besides. might manage to
get Maidie engaged for our new piece.
preached the subject 70 him when we
were having an after-dnner smoke
''The man who is running that exhibit
ton in Norford is an old pal of mine
I said by way of introduction.
There's never anything worth seeing
in Norford," said Sir Andrew, shortly.
He's in bit of hole" I continued.
1.-THE townspeople won't support him
wish you would drive over one afternoon
and look in for half an hour. Everybody
would think it good enough to go, too, If
you led the way"
Whats the name of the MANI" he
asked.
TITS Jimmy Merrion-not a bad old
sort in his way"
Jimmy Merrion," he said. sharply, and
with a sudden interest. "I know him.
He was at Oxford with me. Ran through
his money. and went to the bad. The
man was rather a bounder. But there
are many worse
The following day after luncheon, the
Old Baronet suggested we should drive
into Norford and see 1.-THE exhibition.
acquiesced readily, as. I knew what it
would mean to Jimmy. Besides. I was
anxious to see Maidie again. I believe
Sir Andrews visit had the desired eff
feet, and turned the tide in Jimmy's IA
vor. for he told me afterward that he
got out of It with a profit. But more
important things followed that visit.
When the cigars and whisky were go
prise Sir Andrew returned to the sub
ject. mice girl that" he said, laconic-
ally
''who?" inquired.
Jimmy Merrion's daughter. You're a
bit smitten are you not?" he said, CIV
ing me shrewd look.
'WeT," said, evasively, 'I don't
know about being smitten. She IS very
beautiful, and she seems to have a
sweet disposition"
You mean to say she's the best girl
you are head over heels IN love with
her, but don't like 70 own up" faid
the old man, dryly.
I wondered for a moment II he were
joking But curiously enough he was
quite in earnest. The old cynic was al
most as much struck by her beauty and
manners as T was myself
Would you like her TO have a part in
the new play?" he asked.
yes. I should" I answered promptly.
And why not let Jimmy be agent in
advance? We shall never get a better
MANI"
Sir Andrew agreed. and then added.
carelessly. ''T can't understand man
Ike Merton having such a daughter"
"She Is not his own daughter I said.
ALL I guessed as much" he said.
helping himself TO some soda What
was the name Of her mother"
ada Sinclair" answered. IT believe
she was fairly well known In her day"
Il remember her name" he said. and
I Noticed that as he held his tumber 70
the siphon his hand vas shaking.
Now, look here. Beresford." he said.
fixing his keen eyes on mine-and his
face was curiously gray and stern-"yoI
are a Young man. and 7 am IN old one
Nv life les behind me- and IS mostly
z bundle Of regrets You have p future
7 want 70 ask Won q straight question.
Suppose this Merton girl comes on
tour with ms. ard you continue 10 Ike
her. what is the same going 20 bs7'
u should marry her" I said sharply
He locked az me for a moment IN 81
leuce. with queer. hard smile wTink-
ing his old face "A-e you quite GER
tain - thst7'' he said.
Absolutely certain. replied
Although she has neither position nor
morey?"
'Alcthoueh she has neither position Tor