Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-21

ways liked Sal-a bit rough she may
"a been, but honest and-never done
no one dirty"
Outside they were beginning to pull
up the stakes of the big tent. There
was scent of animals. From beyond
the curtain came a murmur OF the
crowd, the echo of hoary circus
jokes, the crash Of the bands, and In
pause the cry of lemonade vender
Only five cents-red and white
cheap drink. long drink, a cold
drink. deep drink--only five centsl'
Mile. Ginger stirred uneasily on
the signor's knees. She opened her
eyes and seemed to listen for the ring
masters voice.
Your CALL" she gasped, raising her
eyes TO his face. You fool-hitch-
get a novel" She turned her head
and kissed the silken fieshings of the
signor's knee, then watched him dis
appear into the glare of the arena
Through the opening she could see his
pet, and putting forth her hand, could
almost feel the canvas vibrate with
the swinging trapeze.
Rosina, costumed for the concert
came from the opposite corner OF the
tent. She had been crying, and the
powder drifted beneath her brows
scarcely served to conceal the redness
of her eyes. She wore to match her
gown handful OF wilted carnations
which the signor had given her that
morning. She took the flowers from
her belt and laid them gently on the
blanket at mademoiselle's feet.
'1-am-very sorry" she said Her
majesty was pretty and her voice un
like circus lady's. And she under
stood both the use and abuse of rouge
Mile. Ginger kicked the flowers over
into the mud beneath the horses feet
Then she closed her eyes and waited
-waited-waited.
Tenny and ST. John, climbing the
hill after the performance was over
and the tent down, passed priest
on his way TO the side OF the injured
girl.
''She might get well" said st. John
hopefully
She won't" said Tenny.
"She highland start little store
or something, and all the fellows
would buy soda water and rabbits and
hot-dogs"
"She won't"
She might-and perhaps the fellow
in the pink tights might come back
and marry her." persisted st. John
day-dreaming, with the startled so
licitude of an elephant crossing an un.
accustomed bridge.
He won't" answered Tenny, gloom.
lily. He's going to marry that slack
wire woman. Saw him kissing her be-
hind the band-stand."
you See" he went on, surveying the
rising moon with disapproval; 1.-The
Fatcs are grown sour with the full
ness OF their years-they are cynical!
Almost any one, IL he were young
enough, could run the universe better
than it is being run. OF course, we
have steam heat and electric light, and
liquid air, submarine boats, automo-
biles and airships, and as many forms
OF enlightenment as there are taps on
soda-fountain, but we are made to
live squalid lives and to die tawdry
of the spheres is ta-ra-ra-boom- de.
aye!
THAT poor girl of the circus-she
might at least have died under the can
vas, with her head on the athlete
knee, with the scent of the sawdust in
her nostrils and the turned sod and
the sweating horses, hearing the rat.
tie of the band. But she didn't. She
will die early tomorrow in some mis-.
cradle little lodging down by the
tracks-alone-with woolly-headed
old woman-in the gray dawn. And
there will be smell OF frying."
Very early, before IL was yet light.
Tenny WIS awakened by a heavy rum.
bic of many wheels. The tent-wagons,
with a long cavalcade of cages and
chariots, were passing up Main street
on the way to Reading. He watched
tHtIi, lylHB OH TIE WlHuOWStdl Ills
study. He saw the CLEAN of the
furnished gildings and the glare of
the moon In savage eyes. Aloft, in
the smoky glow of the wild torches,
sat a man and woman. She was
asleep. with her feet on the big drum.
Her head rested on his breast and his
arms were about her. A little wind
blew cool from beyond the dawn's
brink, and the signor was watching
lest 1t bring rain and wet her
majesty's beautiful face.
Long after the last painted car had
swayed over the edge of the hill and
into the plain beyond, Tenny heard
the cry of wild beast, distant, shrill
unholy.
THAT came very OPPORTUNITY" said
Tenny, blowing a cloud of smoke
across the face of the moon.
"She must be dying now-poor Mile.
Ginger!"
Pinned Under BowIder Three Days.
Cresbard, s. D.-Pinned by his legs
hooaotb n houldar waighipU throa