The Washington herald., 1908-03-11

three feet four inches or stature and look
ed up at Juliet Juliet. the elephant idol
OF circus -goers. responded with a sympa-
thetic pat that very nearly took the di-
minutive captain OF his feet
It's too bad, juliet" he said. softly.
IL Gretchen were here now 20 enjoy this,
how happy we should be-" The captains
glance roamed over the gay crowd II
was the day Of the ehidrens parade at
a seaside resort. and the throng OF minia-
ture men and women in their fnery re-
minded Capt. Kidd more than ever of his
own tiny Gretchen. Tears stole down his
furrowed cheeks. and Juliet. in dumb
sympathy. placed her trunk caressingly
around the captains neck
Perhaps she knew OF what he was
thinking; perhaps & was only the instinct
OF dumb brUte; but the captain was
comforted by her caress. For fifteen years
he and Juliet had travelled through thu
world together, ard there had sprung up
between them a love that, until the ap
pearance OF Gretchen. had been fun and
complete. Juliet still lavished upon her
trainer the wealth OF her elephantine
love. but the captain had divided hts
heart between the elephant and the dain-
~ 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 10 90 10 the
strange land. he had begged Gretchen TO
dccompsny him She had been willing
enough. but the director OF the troupe OF
Lilliputians would not give his consent
20 losing one OF his most valuable little
players. He had hired Gretchen from her
mother.
When the dwarfs had parted in the big
arena I'm Paris she had promised 10 al
ways be true 10 him. ane had hinted that
perhaps she might maTage 10 come 20
him some time. He had given her his ad-
dress, written on scrap OF programme,
and the short. misspelled letters she had
sent were tucked into the pocket OF the
gay uniform coat and brought comfort
10 him in the long nights when he lay in
JEliet's stall. studying them out by the
aid OF a lantern Exhibition midgets get
little schooling. and the captain did not
realize his inamOTata'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
10 his heart and gave him courage 20
face strange land. He was al least
more fortunate than Gretchen. because
he had Juliet. the faithful
His love for Juliet antedated HIS love
for Gretchen. Fifteen years he had play
ed in the troupe. there had been a long
stay in Paris. and he had grown attached
10 Juliet. the largest elephant Of the herd
The proprietor. quick 20 see his oppor-
tunity. had shown the midget how TO put
9 II
tricks.
Since then the captain and Juliet had
not been separated for single day
When they Travelled by rail he slept IN
the car. On board ship or on land he
slept IN her stall. The elephant quarters
were far sWeeter and cleaner than some
Of the boarding houses at which he had
been lodged, and the captain hated 10 be
parted from Juliet for a moment
Thus there had grown up between them
a love almost human in its intensity. The
owner OF the menagerie hzd finally per
mtted the captain 10 purchase the ele-
phant out OF his slender earnings and the
tips he had received.
The captain had several hundred dol
lars saved up but not enough 10 purchase
GTetChen's release from her contract. In
time he could manage TO save up enough,
so he tried TO be content.
But here at the beach the sight OF the
children in t:ieir fancy dresses put him
strongly in mind Of the little troupe of
which Gretchen was the star. The cap
tain grieved. and Juliet grieved in SYM
pathy.
The two Of them had come down from
New York that morning to take part in
a circus in the evening. which was 10
close the days festivities. 1t had been a
long. firing trip, and the captain felt de-
pressed. Even the worn letters in his
pocket failed to bring him comfort; and,
though Juliet caressed him with her
trunk. her efforts were Of no avail. and
The captain regarded the crowd Of pleas
ure seekers through tear-blinded eyes.
Then the manager of the entertainment
came clustering up with the warning that
the parade was ready to start Juliet
swung the captain up TO her neck, and.
under the direction OF his hook. she
moved of with stately tread TO take her
place at the head OF the line.
As the great mass paced along between
the lines Of eager spectators. the captain
no longer watched the crowd. His
thoughts were far away across the water
with the little madchen.
Juliet proudly led the way. enjoying the
surprise she excited. and glad OF the op-
portunity to parade. She did not need
guidance when the way was so plainly
marked. and. rejoicing in the fact that
the children along the line were generous
with their peanuts and candy, she kept
watchful eye on the crowd
A cry Of terror reused the captain from
his day dreaming. Juliet was excitedly
trying TO force her way through the
crowd. which broke and scattered before
her. The captain used the hook on ears
and trunk. but, though Juliet trumpeted
shrilly in her pain. she obeyed neither
hook nor voice. A dozen alert policemen
sought to break her charge, but they
hastily lodged aside at her approach.
Then a cry Of horror ran through the
crowd.
A little girl evidently one OF the pa
raiders on her way 10 the start, stood Gi-
restly in the elephants path. One of the
policemen sprang TO her rescue. but be-