Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-02
THE LION OF THE FAIR.


Svbil Wollaston was a romantic young
lady Her reading when she had time
to spare for such a frivolous occupation,
was mostly concerned with the deeds OF
valiant knights of yore, especially II the
knights were good looking and had pref
ty names. Indeed she would have feit
quite hurt if you had suggested that
there was anything in common between
a mere coal miner, who goes down the
shaft every day with his life in his hand,
and one of the picturesque heroes OF
King Arthurs round table.
It was doubtless SYPHILIS taste for TO-
nance that had led her to become en-
gagged to Capt. Stanley Highclifie. 1t is
true that Stanley was only Il captain III
the veomanrv. but. then, he sang very
nicely And when he announced at the
piano with full-throated voice that he
feared no foe in shining armor, Sybil was
confident that he was combining himself
to a simple narration OF fact.
Stanley Highciffe was in private life
decorative ornament in his father
office. the elder Mr.. Highcliffe being a
shipowner of some Importance in the
city. The young mans duties were very
light, chiefly for the reason that his city
friends had discovered that any business
he might do had always to be done over
again by some more competent person.
When. therefore, he announced his inten-
tion of taking a few days holiday, the
people in the Office to whom business
was a serious vocation, felt rather in
tensely relieved at the news. Stanley
came down to his fathers place at Green
ford, where, by a happy circumstance,
Sybil and her parents also resided. The
young people were thus enabled L o ksee
each other a good deal at this time
Sybil was at the piano one afternoon
when Stanley called.
Il say. Sybil," he said, after the first
greeting, there's one of those old com-
try fairs at the end of the town. Let's
walk down and see what's going on
.'Oh, has it come at last?" asked
Sybil, clasping her hands in sort of
ecstaey. What pity it's so rough and
ready that we can scarcely go to the
performances | was looking only this
morning at poster of lion tanner who
is coming! He is shown stepping into
cage of roaring lions, and he seems so
brave and noble!"
"He must be-" commented Stanley.
with a slight vince.
II often think what duh and unro-
mantle lives we others lead said Sybil,
nursing her knee, and addressing herself
mostly to the ceiling Here is man
who walks, as you might say, into the
Jaws of death every day, and thinks no
more of it than you and ! would Of
crossing Oxford street
n bit of Y,1rrl- To GROSS
ford street in these days OF motor traf-
of his head, as if to emphasize the fact
that he was quite aware that he had
said something rather smart.
I'm a few minutes the young people
were ready TO set out. A brisk walk of
a quarter of an hour brought them to
the end of the town, where the fair was
being arranged with feverish haste, for
it was to open on the following day,
Sybil stopped before the poster that had
already fascinated her, and, pressing
Stanley's arm gently, said;
Would you go into cage like that
for meg"
Yves. certainly, of course" Stanley
assured her in u tone which, however
scarcely carried conviction.
Get gun, quick! There's a lion
broken loose!"
Sybil chung to Stanley's arm and
turned pale Stanley had not very much
color in his own cheeks, and an unpreju-
diced spectator might with justice have
alleged that he in his turn was clinginq
to Sybil, in the paralyzing helplessness
of the moment.
..t 4 4.
whose appearance did not lend much
support to her claim. Il know you viii
protect me. won't you dear"
Stanley nodded viSorously--his teeth
were chattering rather too freely tC
make a sustained conversation possible
But he gripped his umbrella firmly. and
managed to convey to Sybil the idea
that, if the lion attempted to interfere
with them in any way, he would go tc
the length of striking it with that not
very terrible weapon He recalled in
that anxious moment the story of the
hunter who had thrust his umbrella into
the lions Jaws. and had then opened il
SO that the hon died of disloeation and
surprise. and he was vaguely wondering
if the method were to be relied on.
Then a cheer broke out as Prot Wat
tie was seen emerging from his mcnagerie
with no other weapon than a cowhide
whip, 1t seemed incredible that he in
tended to face such grave danger so
iradequately armed. Sybil chung trem-
bling 10 Stauiey's sleeve and cried:
Il knew he was brave man. After
all, it's not the appearance that counts
its the great heart underneath
Stanley said that Syhil was right. and
for tbe moment the thought came TO
him thai it hardly seemed fair to let
the man so out on such an undertaking