Connecticut western news., 1901-07-18
CANAAN CONN. THURSDAY JULY IS. 1901

more. She had promised their mother, and her promises were unbreakable as steel. To saddle the man of her choice with the expense of her sister was an alternative that found no favor In her sight.
 "But you are unreasonable, Kitty" he had said. Why cannot we be en- gagged and married in five years, ten years, when you willP'
 She had not forgotten her answer. 1t came back to her with exemplified force and meaning now.
 Five years work many changes, Fritz, and I would not have you bound. But come to me then, and you know now what my answer will be-"
 Five years had worked changes. When they met at length and the sis ters were starring together, Kitty had changed. Hard work and anxiety had told their tale. Lillie had grown into the very model of what her sister was when he knew her. So strong was the likeness that at first sight he had mis- taken her for his former love. Lillie had grown into Kitty, and Kitty was lost to him.
 From this stage the situation natural ly evolved itself to an inevitable eli max. That climax had arrived. The sister for whose very life she had striven all these years had unconscious ly robbed her of the man she loved. For her the blackness of the future held no gleam, yet there was no resent ment within her. Her one prayer was that Lillie might never know.
 Suddenly a woman's scream rose from the audience. Kitty was about to make her sensational dive from the very apex of the building to trapeze many feet below. The frightened sound unnerved her at the critical mo- ment. She dropped short of the bar by a couple of inches and landed in a heap in the net. Loud cries filled the circus, and at first she thought they were sole ly for her; but, scrambling to her feet, she discovered her mistake. A wild panic had seized the crowd-yixen was loose.
 Men trampled women and children underfoot in the mad rush for the ex- its. Knives came out and were freely used in slashing the canvas. Pande- monium reigned supreme.
 More startled and alarmed than all, Vixen stood hesitating, quivering, while the mad uproar grew louder and loud CT, stifling the means and protestations of the injured and the helpless. Then the beast lifted up its voice in one soul terrifying snarl of rage and exaspera- ton. It redoubled the efforts of the weak women back, children went down and were wantonly hammered under heel.
 Down, Vixen, downw The great cat turned suddenly, and as she did so the heavy thong of the trainer bit into her beautiful skin. She shuddered and covered, but her fear was only momen- tary. Her old blood lust was upon her, and, growing viciously, she sprang at Fritz just as his arm was upraised to direct another blow at her.
 The man dropped like log, and the brute's teeth crunched into his right shoulder to the bone. Fritz reached with his left hand for his revolver, which he always carried, but only sue ceeded in disengaging it from his pock- et His nerveless fingers could not re- tain their grip, and he let the weapon fall.
 All this had happened In a matter of seconds, yet already the vast amphi- theater had emptied. High above the two girls had witnessed the rapidly changing scene with staring eyes and blanched faces. But the mishap to the trainer changed Kitty's fright into re- solve. Running as fast as the net would allow, she reached the guide rope, swung herself over and shot like an arrow to the ground.
 No thought of danger occurred to her. Her one aim was to reach the revolver and save the life of the man she loved. Crack! Vixen responded with ter | rifying growl of pain and suddenly | dropped Fritz, whom she had raised in ! her jaws as a cat would a mousse Crack! The first bullet had wounded | her paw, the second lodged fairly in her chest. With one horrible heave she sprang upon her new enemy and bore her to the ground. Kitty felt the cruel claws in her breast and the beasts fangs in her head, and then-darkness | Dearest, it Is I-Fritz. You saved me, and I-heaven help me-but"-
 The words sounded very far off tc Kitty, lying upon a couch in the pro prietor's caravan. She opened hel eyes.
 Forgive mev he cried. "It seemed when I met your sister that it was Lillie had always loved, but know now and"-
 | She lifted her hand deprecatingly.
 Ut Is best as it Is, Fritz" she said Knowing all, could not care to live and Lillie-you will be happy with her Promise me you will never tell her. would break her heart"
 He bent his head low to hers anC spoke softly in her ear. The doctor discreetly keeping in the shadow, won dered what it might have been, for tn patients face lighted with a smile Then the mans lips met hers.
 'If could only"-
 q am glad" she said faintly. "Ther
 was-no-other-way
 She sank back exhausted.
 When the doctor looked again, he nc
 ticed that which made him hurriedl
 cross and take the girls hand in his
 He stood a moment thoughtfully, the
 he shook his head.-Penny Pictoria
 Magazine.