The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-22

Sybil Wollaston was a romantic young
lady. Her reading, when she had time
to spare for such frivolous occupation
was mostly concerned with the deeds OF
valiant knights of yore, especially II the
knights were good looking and had pref
tv names. Indeed, she would have telt
quite hurt if you had suggested that
there was anything in common between
q mere coal miner, who goes down tne
shaft every day with his life in his hand.
and one of the picturesque heroes OF
King Arthur's round table.
Tt was doubtless SYPHILIS taste for ro-
nance that had led her to become en-
gagged to Capt. Stanley Highcliffe. 1t Is
true that Stanley was only captain In
the yeomanry, 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 simple narration of fact.
Stanley Highcliffe was in private life
decorative ornament in his fathers
office. the elder Mr.. Vighcliffe 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-
ton of taking 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 to see
each other 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 coun-
try fairs at the end If the town. Let's
walk down and see what's going on
ooh, has it come at last?" asked
Sybil, clasping her hands in a sort of
ecstacy ''What pity it's so rough and
ready that we can scarcely go to the
performances. l was looking only this
morning at poster of a lion-tamer who
is coming! He is shown stepping into
a cage of roaring lions, and he seems so
brave and nobel"
"He must be- commented Stanley,
with slight vince.
81 often think what dull and unro-
mantle lives we others lead" said Sybll,
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 I would of
crossing Oxford street"
at wants a bit of pluck to cross Ok
ford street in these days of motor trail
fic,o said Stanley, with a playful wag
of his head, as if to emphasize the fact
that he was quite aware that he had
said something rather smart.
In q 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 me?"
"Y-Yes. certainly, of course" Stanley
assured her in tone which, however,
scarcely carried conviction.
sect gun, quick! There's a lion
broken loose!"
Sybil chung to Stanleys 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 clinging
to Sybil, in the paralyzing helplessness
of the moment.
"I-I'm not afraid gasped Sybil,
whose appearance did not lend much
support to her claim. II know you will
protect me, won't you dear?"
Stanley nodded vigorously-his teeth
were chattering rather too freely to
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 60 to
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 it
surprise, and he was vaguely wondering
if the method were to be relied on.
Then cheer broke out as Prof. Wat
tie was seen emerging from his menagerie
with no other weapon than a cowhide
whip. 1t seemed incredible that he in
tended to face such grave danger so
inadequately armed. Sybil chung trem-
bling to Stanley's sleeve, and cried:
81 knew he was a brave man. After
all, it's not the appearance that counts
it's the great heart underneath"
Stanley said that Sybil was right, and
for the moment the thought came to
him that it hardly seemed fair to let
the man 60 out on such an undertaking
without help. On the other hand, the
professor was, no doubt, used to lions,
especially this one, and Stanley had real
ly no previous experience of lion hunting.
AS the professor strobe along, crack
ing his whip and shouting to the fugi-
tive lion, the door of Mrs. Chickletons
booth was opened, and that lady herself
"a smiling, buxom widow of so or So
came out to see what all the noise was
about. the thinking public, sheltered