The Holly chieftain., 1903-01-09

eyes I03I ua8Q0Q Om1nOo1iy ana voices
that were from time 10 time lifted in
angry grow1s.
When the keepers had freed the
lions from their chains. an act that
seemed to I'LL the audience With fear.
Maubikeck stepped from his chariot
and went among them. They crouchei
as he approached, and cringed 1t his
touch. It seemed to me as II they
recognized and acknowledged the
power Of the man over them.
Following Maubikeck came some
acrobats and dancers. and while they
pleased US. they failed to charm or to
win from the audience the tremendous
applause that had rewarded Maubi-
keck.
During the time they were out. some
Of the employees OF the circus began
working on . trapeze that hung high
up above our heads. Ropes were
pulled, bars were raised in position,
and when the sustaining and guy
ropes were made fast, there were two
fixed horizontal bars, with q flying
trapeze between them.
Suddenly q hush came over the
audience as girl appeared and
walked to spot directly under the
trapeze.
Nita Barlotti was. without doubt,
the most beautiful girl who had ever
appeared before New York public.
Her features were matchless. She
had 2 wealth Of dark-brown hair.
which was tightly drawn into q knot
so that 1t would not interfere with her
in her performances on the bar. Her
face was perfect in its 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 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-air. 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 clung to the flying or swinging
trapeze. On this she gave marvel.
ous 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 III 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. a
tall, black-bearded, mean-leoking 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
cou- te.- ance was dead to us-dead to
the tremendous applause and greeting
she had won from the people-when
she passed Maubikeck 1t was to him
that her beautiful head was bowed.
and one bright, neeting smile showed
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 q 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"
"F{Ang Graviscourt! !" replied. "Yes,
I wil3 be there. II for 20 other reason
than to show the fellow I am still alive
and In the arena"
"Good!" said the major. "And good
night
..Graviscourt's genius for entertain
ing h indisputable," said the major,
on the following evening. as he,. Dil-
kins and I sat together. among scorc
Al more kindred spirits, all forming an
appreciative audience ct Graviscourt's 8
"atnskn antertainmer,f ~