Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-09-29
n: SHOWN NJ ! j ATE.

| looked at her in amazcment- she
was the loveliest girl l had ever seen.
Slightly above medium height, slender
and graceful, with face beautiful in fea
turc and c0ioring. but above all lighted
with an expression indescribably lovely.
She was the showmans daughter, and
as much out of place in her present sur
roundingS as an angel would be 1T Il
Punch and Judy show
AS | looked at her the Snowman him
self came and stood by her side. lie
looked at me for a moment, and then
lifting his gilt-hcadcd cane, poked me
with an air Of friendly yuigarity in the
ribs. Then | recognized him. II was
old Jimmy Merton, a man with whom
| had once toured many years before,
when | was IL beginner, ready to snap at
anything, and he was running blood
curdling mclodrama.
Poor old Jimmy. He was Il typical
Snowman loudly dressed, very shiny sllk
hat slightly tilted, clean shavcn, bright,
! tWlnkling little eyes, and nose which
Illustrated its own story IN coiorS.
think he had managed every KIND OF en-
ieitainment in every part of the globe
plays. circuscS, lectures religious. Sclen-
tihc and comicl, freaks, 'portahlCs, dis
solving views and performing dogs. He
had all the itlnFrant sh0Wman'S bounce
and SWaggcr, he was by trade something
of fraud, he knew all the usual lodges
of his business, and had one or two ia
yoritc wrinkles of his own, and at the
bottom of his heart ne was a good-hcaFt-
ed, plucky old boy, who had made for
tunes for others and ruined himself.
You bounder.' he reared, b0isterous-
~. Fancy meeting you! How are you?
| What are YOU going to hayeE
We shook hands, aud glanced sques-
tioningly at the young lady at his side
You know her" he shouted. Don't
you remember the little girl you used to
give sweets to and tell fairy tales p
| surely it isn't little 'MaidicT
Are you Mr.. Bcresford?" she said,
eagerly, with Il flash of recognition. And
| remember that she colorcd with pleas
nre. and Il small firm hand caught min
with womanly grip which | have never
forgotten.
She had been a little 3-year-old when
| was about 20, and we had been inSep-
arabic chums during the six months |
worked with old Jimmy. That she should
have developed into this radiant Great
ure, with perfect manners and style, in
the teeth of such Il rough and tumble
ttfc. was little less than Il miracle. But
| learned afterward that old Jimmy, in
spite of innumerabe reverSes of fortune,
had cuntrlved to keep her at Il tirSt-ClaSS
boarding school, and some Unborn good
breeding of her own had done the rest.
Although she was always known rs
Maldie Merton, she was not .Iimmny's
daughter. lie had married her mother
who had once been prominent London
actress, when Maidje was an infant
Mrs. Mcrrion'S professional name was
Ada Sinclair, but there appeared to be
some mystery concerning her first hus
band, AMI beyond the fact that he was
. Mr.. Douglas nothing was known Of
nun. Mrs. Merton had been dead some
hiteen years. and old Jimmy had beru .
father to his witr's little orphan eyer
since.
We had a long talk I'oor old Jimmy
to use his own CNprcSsion--w nearly
ION his uppers." He vas running q
tcnth-rate trades aud cycle exhibition
without sufficient capital and the sleepy
town Of Norfold had not responded to
his call.
I've tried all the whcczcS, dear hoy
he said dolefully. but it's no gonl.
They won't come in"
When does the exhibition close" |
asked.
AT the end of next week We are not
taking ~ shillingS day, including side,
shows ana the expenses are $50 wcek"
Nv hat are you going to dot"
Il shall hang on here until the last nos
Sihle minute he whispered, "and then
we must have bolt for IT, | can't nav
M, because | haven't a flyer left"
! There was a moments uncomfortable
/ SiItni5Gr, and noticed the look of pain on
! MaldiC'S face. IL was easy IT, <rr how
| the poor girl detcstcl the lie. and how
/ old Jlmmlr's Nulgaritics grated ON her
! ANA Yet she was too good Il httl, woman
/ /" rtpr9ach the man who. with all his
ioNlS' had been SO good to her
ING for once quite naturally. i've bnJ
l a.