Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-11-04
ARoaring Lion
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD


at Dyersville for an afternoon and
evening performance. On the evening
of the day that Zeb Scott first saw the
pictures he laid out his program. He
was a farmers hired man. He was in
love with and engaged to Nancy Smith,
the daughter of another farmer. He
called to tell her the news and invited
her to go to the circus.
He expected Nancy to enthuse, but
she didn't On the contrary. she look
ed very sober. 1t so happened that
this was the first circus to come along
since they had been engaged ZeD
knew her for a rather serious minded
girl. but just how serious he was about
to find out. When he had stopped for
breath he was amazed to hear her say:
Il can't go to the circus with you,
Zeb. 1t would be encouraging wick
edness to do it."
They argued the matter for two
hours, and then Zeb went home in the
sulks Nanny utterly refused to go to
the circus All other people for five
miles around might go, but it was
III htl. nt ldlltl anu DlOlutl
stood neutral The mother said:
"Mebbe some folks can see woman
in spangles and not want to come home
and set a neighbours barn afire. but
what's the use in gttin in the way of
temptation?'
In two days Zeb was back to talk
matters over again, but he had no bet
ter luck He even came the third time.
and he was armed with a long list of
good" people who were going to at
tend the show. but he met with the
same objections. Then he lost his tenn
per and reached for his hat with the
remark that any girl who was too all
fired good to go to a circus was too
good for him.
The circus was a great success. In
addition to the regular performance a
lion escaped from his cage and got out
into the country. and as he was not
recaptured the excitement was great
Zeb had a good time. but he was con-
science stricken. He had been mean,
and he realized it and wanted to make
up. How was he to do it? This ques.
ton bothered him for the next fort
night. He could not go over and beg
forgiveness and trail his pride in the
dust. and as far as he could ascertain
Nanny Smith wasn't going into a de-
cline on his account He was lying on
his back in bed one night when the
thought suddenly came to him-that
lion. AS a matter of fact. the beast
had been recaptured. but the farmers
hadn't heard of it and were anxious
by day and sitting tight after sun
down.
Before morning came Zeb had his
plan. Before noon he had shared it
with a son of his employer. There
was a bit of lake on Farmer Smiths
land. and at one point he had built a
summer house 1t was Nanny's favor.
ite spot to sit and watch the sun go
down and the cleaning come on. The
roaming. roaring lion had kept hel
away for a few evenings. but as he
had not appeared and devoured hel
her courage gradually returned. ZeE
had builded Oh that summer house
He had his eagle eye that way as he
MIXED the COWS on this particular
CNtIluS. ilt 81 W TIC pun ditoo 90 ~
crossed the meadow. The cleaning
came, the robin sang his last notes be
fore going TO bed, and then Zeb and
his fellow conspirator moved.
In pensive silence Miss Nanny Smith
sat in the summer house fighting mos
quitoes and wondering how wicked the
circus had made Zeb when there came
a sudden alarm. From a lot of bushes
not far away came blOodcurdling
growls and a mans shouts, and she
was hardly on her feet before Eel
dashed up. club in hand. and called
out:
Back into the house. Ills the lion
Back. and will die here to save you"
"Oh. Zeb-Zcb"-
Back, girl-he is comng,'
And the lion came. That is. he seem
ed to come. His growlings and roar
ings were something dreadful to hear
He moved This way and that; he ad
vanced and retreated: he rolled Ovel
and over on the grass. But the brave
Zeb could not be bufed He stooC
in front of the house and swung hi.
club and cried TO that lion to come OF
if he dared Finally, ut the end o
about ten minutes. he suddenly rushed
into the darkness. pounded with hi
club and returned to Nanny to say:
He has fed. and you are saved
Good night, Miss Smith,
''Oh, Zeb. you can't CO." she appealed
But ! must. | ask no thanks TO
the trife ] have been able to rende
you"
"But ! can't let you go. You mus
come to the house. Say. dear. | reall,
wish had gone to the circus wit
you"
But you wouldn't go. You kept talk
ing about spangles all the time. Will
I never intended to see spangles.
just went TO study the lion and tn
best place to hit him with club II