Morris tribune., 1901-07-27
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VIXEN J! |! !! = :
A Romance. Of the Ring.


The brazen blare Of trumpets and the
heavy thump Of the drum, with now
and then the shrill whinny Of a curvet,
ting horse or the deep roar of lion,
indicated that the mighty show was in
full swing. =, .E 80
In the rear Of the great marquee,
their dark humps standing out against
the background Of the stariit sky, stood
score or more Of caravans, the homes
day and night, week In and week out,
year after year. whether joltfng and
tumbling over heavy roads or backed
up, as at present. upon a miasmatic
meadow. Of all that curious, peripatetic
crowd known throughout the length
and breadth Of the land as Rodwelps
Amalgamation.
Two girls. their Shapely. spangled
figures enveloped in besmirched and
travel worn cloaks, sat upon the steps
Of one Of these movable homesteads
talking In hurried unde1tones.
'sHe has already spoken. then2' ask
ed the elder girl. II did not think-1
shouldn't-I-what am I saylng7 It
was very sudden" .s..
'1In the end it was, perhaps" said
the younger, "but it seems he had loved
me a long time, and-well. Kitty, can
say 1t to you-the world has only held
one man since I met him. But you
don't seem pleased, Kitty. You're not
angry with me? Aren't you going to
congratulate me, sisY'
''Of course; was only thinking But
never mind what I thought" She Kiss
ed her sister hurriedly.
''May. you be ever so happy, dear"
she said.
''Why, your face is all wet, Kit.
You're-you're not crying?" .,,,,,
''No, no." returned her sister hur-
riedly, with a forced, hysterical laugh.
"Why should I? Only. wv. ,.y.. +.
.''"'You thought. I was going to run
away and leave you. and you would
lose a sister and a partner in one, Ell?
I thought of that before, and so it's
stipulated that we're not to marry for
a year and even. then that you. and
are to work our turns just the SAME as
usual 1t won't make bit Of differ
ence. But there goes Fritz's revolver.
We had better get inside"
Professor Fritz Mellin had concluded
his bout with the lions and was bowling
in acknowledgment OF the .plaudits
when the girls entered. He had one
turn more before the sisters, Kitty and
Lille Lansom, .essayed their marvel
GUS aerial flights and high wire feat"
Mellin's great turn was the famous
rencontre with Vixen, an Indian tigress
that had had her first taste Of human
blood and was generally expected to, be
watching convenient opportunity for
her second. .,ss,., $50. ,,...s..n,....s
"Oh, how hate that bruteg' said
Lille as the professor lithely skipped
up the steps Of the cage and. with a
half bow to. the audience, passed
through the bars. .a,...a .. .r. ~.
Vixen bounded angrily toward him,
but the tanners eye was upon, her, and |
it was not even necessary to threaten
with, the loaded thong he carried.
Round and round the cage, snarling
her discomfort at being disturbed, viz
en- careered, her slackening steps ever |
and anon being quickened by the sharp
crack Of the whip. Then ever hurdles |
and again under barriers which requir- |
ed all the animals crouching powers
to negotiate Finally a flaming hoop /
was passed into the cage, the professor, |
holding it in his left hand, ficked and |
cracked the, huge. cat through and |
through and round and round until the
animal seemed half dazed and ,ex-
hausted. 4.,fr,t .,-,. .,a.r4
The mastery was complete. Vixen's
surliness availed nothing with Fritz
Mellin. Whatever her, record else
where, here in Rodwell's circus, under
the prince Of Tanners" Vixen had no
Other course but to behave herself and |
obey. ,1- sa:s-o--r s,,... ,s.i
The people were frantic with admira-
ion and delight. They cheered, and
counter cheered in ringing tones asIt
Fritz, leaving the cage. bowed repeat
idly from the top of the steps.
Then came the aerial fight, and in
he hairbreadth adventures above their
leads the people forgot the man eating
igress and, her daring master, ~ +
Kitty, however, high up, fitting from
rapeze to irrapeze, could; not Danish
Lilies love affair from her mind. Five
7ears before Fritz Mellin had put to
Ter the same question he had now pro.
posed to her sister, ,e