The Somerset reporter., 1901-07-04
alternative that found no favor In her

"But you are unreasonable, Kitty"
he had said. why cannot we be en-
gagged and married In five years. ten
years. when you will?"
She had not forgotten her answer. 1t
came back to her with exemplifed force
and meaning now.
Five years work many changes,
Fritz, and 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
tiers were starring together, Kitty had
changed. Hard work and anxiety had
told their tale. Lille had grown into
the very model of what her sister was
when he knew her. So strong was the
likeness that at,as'st sight he had mis-
taken her for his former love. Lille
had grown into Kitty, and Kitty WAS
lost to him.
From this stage the situation natural
ly evolved itself to an inevitable ell
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 CLEAN, yet there was no resent
ment within her. Her one prayer was
that Lille might never know.
Suddenly a woman's scream rose
from the audience. Kitty was about to
make her sensational dive from the
Of hn To
many feet below. The frightened
sound unnerved her at the critical mo-
ment, She dropped short of the bar by
couple of inches and landed in 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-Vixen 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
or, sitting 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. 1t redoubled the efforts of the
mob to escape. Strong men struck
weak women back, children went down
and were wantonly hammered under
heel.
Down, Vixen. DOWN. 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 appraised 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 peck
ct 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 emptled High above the
two girls had witnessed the rapidly
changing scene with staring eyes and
blanched faces. But the mishap to the
trainer changed Kltty'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 a ter
rifyng growl of pain and suddenly
dropped Fritz. whom she had raised In
her jaws as a cat would mouse.
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, 1t Is Fritz You saved
me, and Heaven help me-but"-
The words sounded very far off to
Kitty, lying upon couch in the pro-
prietor's caravan. She opened her
eyes.
Forgive mer' be cried at seemed
when | met your sister that II was
Lille had always loved but | know
now and
She lifted her hand deprecatingly
at is best as II 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. 1t
would break her heart"
He bent his head low to hers and
spoke softly In her ear The doctor,
discreetly keeping In the shadow, won
dered what 1t might have been. for the
PATIENTS face lighted with a smile.
Then the mans lips met hers.
IF could only
~ am glad" she said family. There
was no other way"
she sank back exhausted.
When the doctor looked again. be no.
ticed that which made him hurriedly
cross and take the girls hand In his.
He stood n moment thoughtfully. then
he shook his head.-Penny Pictorial