Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31

wife and the surgeons and was pacing back and
forth on the gallery in front of the room In which
she lay. II not ask parent for his child
he continued, "but If somehow this one could be
mine."
Suddenly these musings were interrupted by the
clown, jingng with bells and bizarre with stripes.
He made strange contrast to the stiffness and
solemnity of the hour, but 1t was only his dress
out Of keeping-there was no merriment in his
eyes, no ring in his voice. and beneath all the
paint and powder with which it was daubed, his
face showed set and pale.
Dead! Is she dead?" he asked.
"No, no, not dead, I'm glad to tell you, but wait
=" for the harlequin's hand on the bolt. "You
must not go in there 1t is a critical moment, and
the surgeons must have perfect quiet"
"Are you her father?" Col. Morton asked as the
Jester stood irresolute weighing In his mind
whether or not to yield his point and enter.
"Her father? Yes, for the past five years
have been her father"
"And her real father?"
'I can tell you nothing of him. My wife found
her with some fruit venders in New Orleans and
fancied she was mistreated. She induced them to
renounce their claim on her. Since then she has
lived with and known nothing but kindness I
taught her to ride-I cared for her myself and
there's not that man from Stickney down that
dares speak unkindly to her. It all went
well enough while my wife lived, but she-she
has been dead two months now and the circus is
no longer the place for Nellie. 1t never was, but
1t was the best that l could do for her. have
thought It over thousand times"
"And the matter is taken out of your hands
now" said the Colonel
"Yes-out of my hands," replied the harlequin
and his voice trembed, "out of my hands. I did
my best for her, and my best has-brought her
to her gravel"
MY good fellow" said the Colonel, going closer
and laying his hand on his shoulder, 'it may not
be her grave, she has come to; she may recover
and IL she does, / have large house here
you see and no one in 1t but my wife; and-and
a heart in which Is treasured the memory of
little girl who has long been out of the reach of
hurt and harm Why not leave your child with
u.s. The circus, as you say, is place for her.
1t never was, but less Leave her with
She shall still know nothing but tenderness,
and all that parents can do for child we will do
for her."
It was spectacle to behold-the striped, be-
dizened body shaken with emotion and the painted
face scanned with the paths of tears He did not
answer at first-he could not trust his voice.
"It looks like God has sent you for her." he said
at length. 81 dare not refuse. There is the
breadth of the world between these homes" mo-
tioning toward the tent, then the house before
him, "and greater difference still between the
fathers" looking the Colonel full in the face and
then laying his hand contemptuously on his own
breast II can not, dare not refuse. But you will
be good to her-you will certainly be good to
her?"
$50 help me God," answered the Colonel rever-
entity, instinctvely, as 1t We're giving his promise
the nature of an oath.
quick, gay prelude was that moment struck
in the tent-the prelude to the clowns solo,
"They wait for mel must CO." he said, and
with few light bounds had reached and cleared
the fence. moment later he was before the
cheering audience in the midst of his song. But
there were false notes in its melody, and no ring
in his laugh His tumblng, too, Indifferent
his jests pointless and irrelevant.
Conrad is losing his grip" said an old habtue
of the circus.
"He is indeed" replied his confrere "He is not
the Conrad of five years ago."
Five hours ago, he might well said. Vainly
the ringmaster tried to recall his wandering mind
he goaded him with jibes, suggested wit and
cracked his whip about his heels. But to pur-