Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-10
mere at home, and leave her boz t, trs

know until too late.
Out from its linen wrappings sh'
drew forth the plain merino dress, ant
with trembling fingers put It on; theI
she fastened the quaint. old-fashionet
bonnet which had done faithful dut,
for ten long years, drew on her gloves
gathered up few needful articles
and sailed forth, locking the house
door behind her, and slipping the Ike.
into the capacious pocket OF her dress
A long stretch Of road lay between
her and the station. II was a hot ant
dusty way, but she toiled on. She hat
no time to feel fatigue or tire. but II
spite Of herself her voice was weat
and ouivering as she asked the clerI
the price Of her ticket, and tears came
into her eyes when she learned tha'
she must wait two long hours before
the next train would arrive. and thai
II must be dark night when she reach
ed the great terminus Of the route.
For the first time she had time tt
think. There was nothing to do but
sit with folded hands and wait. con
turing I'D visions Of her boy. and how
sha should And him-liying or dead.
At last the train Numbered up. She
va Tho onlv messenger from the little
station. It seemed hardly possible that
this great painting, almost human
thing should stop for her; but stop 1,
Ala She took her seat, the whistle
blew and again the wheels were In
motion Tast-faster they flew, but ID
her thew seemed to creep.
The sun sank. the twilight gathered
the night came on. but night as the
old yes had never before seen 1t, when
the train at last drew up in the great
city station. and the glare Of myriad
lamps burst upon her view.
she was nearing John, however. He
would make all these crooked ways
straight Crooked ways, indeed, they
seemed when the policeman to whom
she applIed for assistance, perhaps re-
membering an old mother Of his own
had found time to answer all her ques
tons kindly and finally to put her
and himself in cab and give direct
ions to the man where to drive.
Would they never stop rafting over
the stones? Suppose-supyose John
were dead. and all her dreadful jour
new had been made in vain! But no!
The cab stopped at last before a small
humble house.
The landlady herself opened the
door The poor mother could scarcely
nut the question as to how she might
find her boy. when the woman, giving
her withered hand a hearty grasp, led
her into the lighted room.
80 YOU be Johns mother, and you
feared he was dead. No, indeed! You
NAV feel proud of your boy. There's
no nluckier lad in all the town"
"But where Is he? | must see HIM
"He's IN at the Gardens, and you
ought to see him sure enough! Let me
see"-glancing at the clock-"youll be
iust in time. I'll take you to the door
myself and see you get a ticket all
right shan't have the time to 70 In
though | never get tired of looking al
him.
What did It all mean? Once more
mt in the streets. hurrying on to an
unknown goal. Finally her companion
paused before large building, bril-.
liantly lighted.
Crowds of people were pressing in
She followed with the rest until she
found herself again alone, seated be
fore large ring surrounded by a sea
of strange and unfamiliar faces.
Suddenly cry--a shout, a cheer
burst from myriad of threats, follow
ed by long. angry roar. She saw then
what she had not before noticed-that
TO her left were three cages of wild
beasts while into the ring there sprang
man dressed in partl.colored tights
and holding in his left hand a whip
which looked as though a child might
have broken it. His right hand was in
sling
"The lion broke his wrist last week
He's brave fellow to try II single
handed she heard one man explain
IN another
Then she looked again, and then she
saw that 1t was John-her boy-bow
ing his thanks.
She had no power to move or Try as
she watched him run forward, and
opening one of the cages, spring
among the beasts.
They shrank' cowed' before MIN. 10
his hand the toy whip was mghtiel
than the sword. But suddenly mlgnty
hush fell on the assembled people He
had entered the cage where the llon
stood alone, 1t was this beast, VINO
only last week. with one stroke Oh
huse paw i'au snappeu ms w WIS,
no ,, ,a's'a s n's Mnip' ina ' Ua open n
eu WIZ WIZ ~. inauau'e n'1 Ju. nv ,. puo
PIE he'u .ie'' prea'n a. JUN khe'' an,
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