The Democratic advocate., 1909-05-28
The Lure Of
the Tents.
BY $. 3. HAcKLRY.
1903. by Associated
Literary Press.


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nette. Tell me-you absolutely refuse
to give 1t up even for--even for meT'
Forsythe's voice trembled and re-
pressed light burned in his black eyes
as he laid his hands, slender, but brown
and strong with the strength that three
years of cowboy riding had given, on
the shoulders of a girl standing on
this April afternoon just outside the
women's dressing tent Of the new
Wild West show.
The girl, who wore dark green cor
duroy divided skirt, short white coat
with fringed sleeves, dark handker-
chief knotted about her soft throat and
a cowboys hat on her red-gold hair,
thrust of his hands with her gaunt-
leted ones and gave him a merry look,
underneath which were defiance and
determination.
Bobby Forsythe," she cried, ''its
me for the show foreverl'
The young mans dark face turned
crimson.
my ring, please, AnnetteT
The girls glowing cheeks paled
slightly, but she slipped or her glove
and laid the solitaire in his outstreach-
ed palm. Then. with a gurgling laugh
that might have passed for a sob, she
bowed mockingly before him and, lift
ing the tent flap, disappeared within.
1t was Buffalo Bill's show TO which
these two belonged, but 1t was a pret-
ty good Wild West show, and Annette
Lucille Blossom was the best Cowgirl"
rider Of the twenty that dashed twice
day fearlessly around the arena.
How she could ride-even better than
the daring young wife OF one Of the
shows owners who rode with him now
and then for the benefit of the public.
Robert Forsythe, the most daring
rider Of the cowboys, the pride OF the
troop, always had hated TO see the
Blossom riding. When he glanced over
the ropes and saw some woman spec
tator looking on calm and dignifled
and then glanced toward Annette
ostride Western Wind, the bay pony
with the black spot on his left shout
der, her cheeks brilliant, crying in
mad merriment with the other girl
riders. his heart boiled within him.
Forsythe. OF a fine old South Carroll
ma family. had become known for his
horsemanship on every western ranch.
Reckless Of nature and ready for a
frolic. he had not said mo" when be-
sought by the managers OF the new
Wild West show TO Join IT.
On the day that he Joined the troupe
IA spring day In oklahoma-he FIRST
saw Annette dlsentangiing her skirt
from Cherokee rosebush With the
courtesy to a woman that IL the south.
erner's birthright Forsythe offered to
assist her.
When the thorns were conquered
Annette was no longer heart free, and
Forsythe went back to his quarters
feeling like one who has looked into
paradise and received a blow In the
fnce
That life might be all right for a
man, but at his home 1t was like a
crime for girl of his station to ride
thus for exhibition.
Was this GIRL with the glorious beau
ty, with the eyes of heaven, as public
a thing as the armless woman In the
sideshowf
Forsythe clinched his hands In art
er weeks he cllnched his hands many
times. He scorned himself for tho
flame OF admiration that the guiieless
young girl had kindled In his heart
and for the fact that he could not hold
aloof from her.
II was ir Winnipeg, when midsum-
mer and the show entered Canada to-
gether, that he threw aside pride and
tradition aad told Annette that he
loved her. Then for the girl, for whom
since the April day In Oklahoma all
commonplace things had been bathed
in glory, begun life Of torment.
Forsythe began the moment his ring
shone on her finger TO beseech her TO
leave the show as no ft place for a
refined woman
Her sinsmen, the shows owners,
would have released her, but the spell
Of the circus held her. and, secure, as
she though. in Torsythe's love, she
laughed at his entreaties.
Forsythe grew sick with loathing of
the tent life. Every part OF the per
formance disgusted him.
Forsythe overlook her Just outside
the dressing tent wild with humiliation
and besought her 10 marry him that
evening and let him take her home 70
South Carolina.
She refused laughingly. but when he
demanded that she stop riding imme-
diately, even though she did not marry
him, his arbitrary tones angered her.
and 1t ended in broken engagement
For two months Forsythe gave no
sign Of wishing to renew his friend
ship with Annette, but treated her with
a formal politeness that rendered her
miserable.
II wish he would leave the show
she thought daily, but be remained,
held as by Z magnet
In the quadrille on horseback she
never was his chosen partner again.
and when be had to touch her fingers
In an interchange Of movements his
face was stern and inscrutabIe and
his hands were like ice.
Annette's friends were not told OF
ner broken engagement. but they no
ticed that aer blue eyes were often
dark circIed and that in the riding sbs
rode fastest and most wildly Of all.
At last trey arrived in south Texas
Hurying toward Mexico. the show
stopped at the small towns only. There
came night Of terrific rain that soak
ed the ground until It was dangerous
for riding, but an exhibition was held
whatever the weather, SO o'clock In
the afternoon saw the performance Al