Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-10-24

In her performances on the bar. Her
face was perfect in it's contour and
every feature was poem. And yet
1t seemed to me that she looked sad
--woefully sad--not like one who en-
joyed the triumph of a successful ap-
pearance, but like one who was
ashamed, or who loathed the part she
played. or to whom some great sor.
row or bitterness had come that had
driven all the brightness from her
life.
The trapeze queen drew herself onto
one OF the bars and hung lightly in
mid-afr, head downwards, with no sup
port but her toes. Then she swung to
and fro, and letting go from the bar,
she seemed to soar through the air
and chung to the flying or swinging
trapeze. On this she gave q marvel.
GUS exhibition of her fearlessness and
wonderful skill, in all of which her
writhing white muscles shone and
every beauty of her form seemed to
display to advantage.
The audience watched her in breath.
less silence, and when at last she had
finished, there arose an uproar the
like of which was never heard before
in Madison Square Garden.
There were two men In that
audience who were evidently much in.
terested in the queen of the flying
trapeze. had seen Maubikeck, the
Lion Tanner, clad in ordinary evening
dress, looking like handsome pow.
erful man of the world, standing near
the ropes, watching the beautiful aero.
bat narrowly. There was smile of
encouragement on his face, and he
was among the first in the applause.
Then, as Nita reached the ground.
tall, black-bearded, mean-looking Ital.
ian forced himself through the group
of attendants, and taking the girls
hand in his, led her away from our
sight
And l noticed that, although her
countenance was dead to us-dead to
the tremendous applause and greeting
she had won from the people-when
she passed Maubikeck it was to him
that her beautiful head was bowed,
itself on her lips when her eyes looked
into his.
The next act fell nat, and as neither
Maubikeck nor Barlotti was billed to
appear second time, we soon lost
interest, and before the crowd began
to get restless, we left the Garden and
went home.
Don't forget Graviscourt's stag to-
morrow evening"" said the major, as
was leaving him. You will be there,
suppose"
Hang Graviscourt!" l replied. "Yes.
l will be there, if for no other reason
than to show the fellow / am still alive
and in the arena"
"Good!" said the major. And good
night
"Graviscourt's genius for entertain
ing is indisputable," said the major,
on the following evening. as he, Dill
kins and sat together, among score
of more kindred spirits, all forming an
appreciative audience at Graviscourt's
stag" entertainment.
True" I replied, with tinge of
malice. Zone almost forgets who his
host is, with so much to amuse.'
The program was sort of vaude-
vile. There were songs, skirt dances,
comic sketches by more or less ia
nous artists in their line, and the time
was so well filled and passed so pleas
antly that the hours glided by almost
imperceptibly.
Dilkins, with his usual curiosity and
push, was rummaging around in some
cabinets he had succeeded in opening,
and he suddenly electrified us all by
exclaiming:
by Jove! Dick! Major! Look at
this!'
The major, Gravjscourt and l
reached him at the same moment.
by Heaven! That facet" he cried,
thrusting photograph into the ma
jor's hand.
THAT is a likeness Of Alice Gravis-
court, my brothers wife, taken some
four years before she died." said our
host, calmly.
us it," almost shouted Dilkins. IF
it isn't the Queen Of the Flying Trap.
exc, I'm Dutchman!'
What do you mean?' asked Gravis-
court.
And the major told him about Nita
and Malignis circus.
"Probably more fancied re-
semblance than a true one" he said
calmly, as he took the photograph and
replaced it in the cabinet from which
Dilkins had removed it.
Nothing more was said that night
about the occurrence, but it had pro.
duced in my mind an impression that
could not be shaken off.
On the following day, when l awoke,
the first thoughts that came to me
were of Graviscourt's picture of the
dead woman. With some wild fancy
that Il was furthering my own affairs
and helping myself by seeking to over
throw Graviscourt, | was led by the
extravagant phantom of my brain to
Trinity cemetery. Having arrived
there, / sought and found the family
plot OF the Graviscourts. in which 4
marble monument reared it's head over
three graves.
Three sides of the monument were
carved On ore l read:
Sacred to the Memory of
CHARLES GRAVISCOURT.
Born, Feb. Is, IS.
Died, June 10, 18-.
On another | read:
ALICE.
Relieved Wife of Charles GraviScOurt. |