Connecticut western news., 1901-07-18
VIXEN" !"
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 curvet- ting horse or the deep roar of lion, indicated that the mighty show was in full swing.
 In the rear of the great marquee, their dark humps standing out against the background of the starlit sky, stood score or more of caravans, the homes day and night, week in and week out, year after year, whether jolting and rumbling over heavy roads or backed up, as at present, upon miasmatic meadow, of all that curious, peripatetic crowd known throughout the length and breadth of the land as Rodwelfs 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 undertones. "He has already spoken, thenY ask ed the elder girl. q did not think-I shouldn't-I-what am I saying? It was very sudden"
 'In the end 1t was, perhaps" said the younger, but 1t seems he had loved me long time, and-well, Kitty, 1 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, sis?'
 "Of course; was only thinking But never mind what 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, mo-" returned her sister hur- riedly, with a forced, hysterical laugh. '.Why should I? Only''- & You thought I was going to run ] away and leave you, and you would | lose a sister and partner in one, eh? | I thought of that before, and so it's | stipulated that we're not to marry for year and even then that you and I are to work our turns just the same as l usual. It 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 lowing i'll acknowledgment of the plaudits | when the girls entered. He had one ! turn more before the sisters, Kitty and Lillie Lansom, essayed their marvel ous aerial flights and high wire feat" fMellin'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 a convenient opportunity for her second.
 "Oh, how I hate that brutew said Lillie as the professor lithely skipped up the steps of the cage and, with a half bow to the audience, passed through the bars.
 Vixen bounded angrily toward him, but the tanners eye was upon her, and 1t was not even necessary to threaten with the loaded thong he carried.
 Round and round the cage, snarling her discontent at being disturbed, Vix- en careered, her slackening steps ever and anon being quickened by the sharp crack of the whip. Then over hurdles and again under barriers which requir- cd all the animals crouching powers to negotiate. Finally a flaming hooI was passed into the cage, the professor holding it in his left hand, licked and cracked the huge cat through and through and round and round until tho animal seemed half dazed and ex | lausted.
 The mastery was complete. Vixen's Surliness availed nothing with Frit,
 Mellin. Whatever her record else
 where, here in Rodwel's circus, under
 the Prince of Tamers," Vixen had nt
 other course but to behave herself an(
 obey.
 The people were frantic with admira
 tion and delight. They cheered ant
 counter cheerea in ringing tones a
 Fritz, leaving the cage, bowed repeat
 edly from the top of the steps.
 Then came the aerial flight, and il
 the hairbreadth adventures above thei
 heads the people forgot the man eatin,
 tigress and her daring master.
 Kitty, however, high up, Hitting iron
 trapeze to trapeze, could not banisl
 Lilies love affair from her mind. Fiv
 years before Fritz Mellin had put t
 her the same question he had now pro
 posed to her sister.
 She had loved him then with he
 whole heart, as she loved him still. a she would never cease from loving him yet she declined his offer. She remem bered even now the look of mingled disappointment and anger upon hi
 face when she gently but firmly tolt him so.
 It was for her sisters Sake she dit this, for Lillie, left to her charge, ,
 growing girl, who could not be desert