The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-10-14
The Dwarf's
Revenge.

Gugusse, the favorite Of the Winter
Cirque, which stood in the shadow
of the Kremlin, was not handsome
fellow. He had neither the wit OF the
clown, the grace of the chariot driv-
er, nor the versatility of the ringmas-
ter, yet ne was more popular with
the Muscovites than all three togetn-
er. He owed his popularity good
deal to Nature, who had sent him into
the world equipped with an enormous
head, large, fanlike ears, and huncn-
back balanced upon slender legs,
which bowed beneath their weight. He
was the king of the dwarfs and the
idol of the mob-for, to mob, grace,
wit and strength are nothing compar-
ed with hideous deformity.
Yet he was man. He had pas
sions like other men. He had heart
within his bony breast as capable of
human affection as that possessed by
any of the public who app'auded mis-
tricks. And this heart he had thrown
at the feet of Mile. Nina, daughter OF
Adolphe, the equilibrist, the handsom-
est horsewoman in the circus.
When she appeared at the circus for
the first time ne was dazed by her
beauty. She danced into the ring in
cloud of gauze, amongst which span
giles glittered like diamonds. A white
rose, suspended from pearly teeth.
contrasted with the rich red of her
cheeks and the coils of jet black hair
which streamed luxuriant:y down to
her waist. She was proudly, insolent-
ly beautiful, and the dwarf-whom the
within of circus manager had taken
from the cobbler's lapstone-was COM
pletely dazzled by the sight of such
radiant loveliness.
He gazed on her with the reverence
which Russian peasant looks ON the
sacred icon which adorns his home.
She seemed to him like a meteor
which had suddenly flashed across the
sky. Between such an ethereal crea-
ture and vile subject of earth such
as he there was an Unreasonable dis
lance All he could do was to throw
out his soul to her in wild, passionate,
speeches. alteration.
AS time went on the star dropped
from the sky. The distance between
them grew less and less as the illu-
sion faded from his eyes. Every
morning ne used to see the dazzling
beauty of the previous night in dirty
morning wrapper, patching her scanty
xvordroho oS .-i,a xvotohad the Dat hOi1
in the open air. He began to talk with
her, and then he began to dream, and
In his dreams he saw Nina walking
by his side, radiant with happiness.
Nina laughed at his gibes, screamed
at his jokes, and shouted, Encore,
Gugusse!'' when the lovestricken
dwarf made some grotesque movement
which, he hoped. would be interpreted
as an exhibition of affection. The
fair horsewoman occasionally caressed
him as she would have caressed a
dog. He was less than dog in the
eyes of the circus people. Jealous of
his popularity. they cuffed him when
ever they met him. and the dTarf
found it useless to protest.
One evening he told Nina that he
loved her The girl stared at him as
If she had not heard Alright ami then
burst into fit of laughter. Gugusse
frowned, and drew himself up to the
full height of his little figure, hoping
perchance to impress her. Then he
told her how he had loved her from
the moment he first saw her. and how
life was impossible without her re-
gard.
Every word the dwarf uttered was
like a jest to the merry-hearted girl.
She sat in her chair and shook with
the exuberanee of her mirth. 'Gugusse
stepped forward and took one of her
white. plump hands in his horny palm.
Nina jumped up with gesture of dis
gust, drew her hand away, and struck
the dwarf blow on the face.
4 few hours later the circus rang
with cheers as Gugusse entered. But
ne dwarf had no heart for his work