Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-09-13
The Girl From
the Circus.
By L. A. HARKER.

He leant his elbow on the table ant
his head ON his hand, and he wa'
thinking OF Phyllis far away In thu
mountains with her husband. The Ia
BILE was piled with books-severa
stood open invitingly-and fair white
sheet Of paper lay On his blotting-pat
but he did not write.
Presently the maid opened the dool
and said:
There's a young woman, sir, asking
to see you; shall l say you're en-
gaged?"
"A young womanT Querisd thu
scholar. What sert OF young wo
MANI"
"We';, sir" and the maid closed thu
door LeGAnd her. "She says she's from
the circus tent that's pitched on the 10
behind the school house"
From the circus?" repeated thu
scholar. what can she waht?"
She won't give her name or mes
sage, sir. Shall 1 say that you're
engaged, sir?"
The maid considered It the "heigh
of impotence" that hussy from thu
circus should dare to ask to see hel
master. Fine doings, indeed. for sucf
as she to be asking for gentlemen, a
bold as brass!
The scholar pondered, then he said
half to himself, Phyllis would like m'
to see her-she was always kind. fol
can show her in"
The maid departed, and presently
ushered young woman into the room
and shut the door after her carefully
The young woman advanced into the
middle of the room and then stood
still awkwardly, and said nothing. Sh'
was a tail, slight girl, attired in
variety OF garments, startling in hue
and having apparently no connection
with one another. Her hair wa'
crowned by a hat of portentous size
adorned by several rather detected
looking feathers. But under the furzs
bush Of hair the face was oval and al
most beautiful in It's regularity Of fea
lures and pure color.
The scholar rose and bowed, ther
with oid-woFld courtesy he set a chair
for her, and having seen ner seated
murmured something shyly as "to wha
he was indebted for the pleasure O
this Yisit?"
The girl stared at him with wide
blue eyes, then said abruptly: II say
you're a KNOWN old cove, aren'
your"
The scholar stared q little at Thu
description of himself, and waved hi
hands deprecatiRgly. The girl wen
on: I've heard in the town as
you are always a-studyin' old books
and knows all sorts OF heathenish lin
go; now do you know how to make
love poshin?"
The scholar gazed at her in speech
less astontshment, then he grasped TIT
edge Of his writing table for supper
and stammerea:
do understand you to ask nae II
knew anything about love philtres?"
Eyes, that's the ticket" said the girl
genially, Il want 6, love poshin to giv'
my young man. He's been and tool
up with Mad'selle Leonore, what doe
the trials OF strength. and I want t.
bring him back to me. was sure al
you'd know"
The scholar felt quite sorry for he
when he realized the disappointment
he was about to indict, she smiled 81
prettily and looked 30 pleasant. HI
shook his head, then he said gently:
I'm afraid am quite unable to hell
you in this matter. know nothing O.
such things, neither do ! believe tia
they can have the smallest effect"
But / thought you was always a
studyin.ancient days." said the girl, ii
an representative voice, leaning for
ward In her chair. do thlnk-iI
some of those old books" (waving hel
hand Ia the direction Of the book
lined waI1s). Amt thsre something IL
some of them old b0oks?"
II fear not" said the scholar almos
sadly, she was 30 eager, so much II
earnest. The girl drew herself up IL
her chair and said abruptly: Pm
honest girl, am"
THAT I ana cure you are, and there
fore you need no love philtres. Believe
me, yen are quite pretty and gooC
enough to inspire love, an honest love
without resource to magic" The schol
ar spoke persuasively, his voice wal
very gentle and his manner courtly
The girl winked her wide blue eyes
and made little swallowing motor
with her throat, then she coughed AND
continued; MY fathers brought us ul
strict. He don't allow swearing fol
women; and If we was light he'd lay
the horse whip about our shoulders, hi
x,,o,.iH uasa e7oTUn In orr show ht