The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-26
The EVENING STORY
Captain Kidd's Two Loves.
(By Carl Williams.)

stature and looked up at Juliet. Jul
liet, the elephant-idol of circus goers
responded with sympathetic pal
that very nearly took the diminutive
captain off his feet.
Its too bad, Juliet" he said soft
ly IF Gretchen were here now to
enjoy this, how happy we should be-.
The captains glance roamed over the
gay crowd. 1t was the day of the
children's parade at a. seaside resort
and the throng of miniature men and
women in their finery reminded Cap
tain Kidd more than ever of his own
tiny Gretchen. Tears stole down his
furrowed cheeks and Juliet, in dumb
ingly around the captains neck.
Perhaps she knew of what he was
thinking; perhaps 1t was only the in
stinct of a dumb brute, but the cap
tain was comforted by her caress. For
fifteen years he and Juliet had travel
ed through the world together. and
there had sprung up between them a
love, that, until the appearance of
Gretchen, had been full and COM
plete. Juliet still lavished upon her
trainer the wealth of her elephantine
love, but the captain had divided his
heart between the elephant and the
dainty little woman whom he met in
Paris just before he had sailed for
America.
When the Snowman who paid him
his salary had ordered him to go to
the strange land, he had begged
Gretchen to accompany him. She
had been willing enough, but the d.
rector of the troupe of Lilliputians
would not give his consent to losing
one Of his most valuable little players.
He had hired Gretchen from her
mother.
When the dwarfs had parted in the
to always be true to him. and had
limited that perhaps she might man
age to come to him sometime. He
had given her his address, written on
scrap of program and the short,
mispelled letters she had sent were
tucked into the pocket of the gay uni
form coat, and brought comfort to
him in the long nights when he lay
in Juliet's stall, studying them out by
the aid of a lantern. Exhibition mid
tain did not realize his inamorata's
shortcomings since his own education
was even more sadly neglected than
hers. He cared nothing except that
each tiny missive reiterated the 'Ich
lieb dich" which bore comfort to his
heart and gave him courage to face
a strange land. He was at least more
fortunate than Gretchen, because he
had Juliet, the faithful.
His love for Juliet antedated his
had played in the troupe with
Juliet. and he had grown at
tached to her. the largest elephant
Of the herd. The proprietor. quick to
see his opportunity. had shown the
midget how to put the great beast
her few simple tricks
Since then the captain and Juliet
had not been separated for a single
day. When they travelled by rail he
slept in the car. On board ship or on
plant quarters were far sweeter and
cleaner than some of the boarding
houses at which he had lodged, and
the captain hated to be parted from
Juliet even for moment.
Thus there had grown up between
hem a love almost human in it's in
The owner of the managerie
had finally permitted the captain to
purchase the elephant out of his slen-
der earnings and the tips he had re-
,eived.
The captain had several hundred
dollars saved UP, but not enough to
purchase Gretchen's release from her
contract. In time he could manage to
save up enough so he tried to be con-
ent.
But here at the beach the sight of
he children in their fancy dresses
put him strongly in mind Of the little
roupe of which Gretchen was the
'tar. The captain grieved and Juliet
srieved in sympathy
The two of them had come down
rom New York that morning to take
part in a circus in the evening, which
vas to close the days festivities. 1t
lad been a long, trying trip and the
aptain felt depressed. Even the worn
Tim comfort, and though Juliet ca
essed him with her trunk, her efforts |
we're of no avail. and the captain re-
arded the crowd of pleasure seekers |
through tear-blinded eyes.
Then the manager of the entertain |
nent came clustering UP with the
farming that the parade was ready to
tart, Juliet swung the captain up to
er neck, and under the direction of
is hook she moved off with stately
read to take her place at the head of
ne line.
AS the great mass paced along be-
ween the lines of eager spectators
ne captain no longer watched the
rowd. His thoughts were far away
cross the water with the little Mad
hen.
Juliet proudly led the way, enjoy
lg the surprise she excited and glad
the opportunity to parade. She did
OF need guidance when the way was
} plainly marked and, rejoicing in
he fact that the children along the
ne were generous with their peanuts
nd candy, she kept watchful eye
n the crowd.
ON his day-dreaming. Juliet was
trying to force her way
trough the crowd which broke and
before her. Captain used
le hook on ears and trunk, but
rough Juliet trumpeted shrilly in her
ain, she obeyed neither hook nor
oice A dozen alert policemen
,ught to break her charge, but they
astily lodged aside at her approach. '
hen a cry Of horror ran through the I
'owd. G
A little girl, evidently one of the
araders on her way to the start,
God directly in the elephants path.
ne of the policemen sprang to her
scue, but before he could reach her,
lliet had caught her around the waist =
Id had lifted her high in the air.
Strong men turned aside that they
light not see the child dashed to I