Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-14
ARoaringL
BY NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1910. By Associated Lie
erary Press.
BY NJ. QUAD


barns all along tho highways. and on
certain dae the affair was TO open
at Dyersville for an afternoon aud
evening performance. on the evening
OF the day that Zcb Scott first saw the
pictures he laid out his program. Hc
was farmers hired man He was I'm
love with and engaged to Nancy Smith.
the daughter OF another farmer lie
called TO tell her the news and invited
her TO so 10 the circus.
He expected Nancy 10 enthuse. but
she didn't. On the contrary, she look.
cd very sober. 1t so happened that
this was the first circus TO come along
since they had been engaged. Zeb
knew her for rather serious minded
girl. but just how serious no was about
TO find out. When he had stopped for
breath no was amazed 10 hear her say:
Il can't go TO the circus with YOU,
Zeb. 1t would DO encouraging wick
edness to DO It."
They argued tho matter for two
hours. and then Zeb went home I'm tho
sulks. Nanny utterly refused TO 20 TO
the circus All other people for 1--WE
miles around might go. but It was
home for her. The father and mother
stood neutral. The mother said:
"Mebbe some folks can see n woman
in spangles and not want TO come home
and set a neigbbor's barn aGrc. but
what's the use I'm gittin' I'm the way OF
temptation"
In two days Zeb was bnck TO talk
matters over again, but he had no bet
ter luck He even came the third time.
and he was armed with long list OF
good people who were going 10 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 n circus was too
good for him.
The circus was a great success In
addition TO the regular perAortDdnce a
lion escaped from his cagc md got out
into the country. and az 14o sas not
recapturcd the excitement ~ great.
Zeb had good time. but he tfas con
science stricken. lie had been mean.
and he realized IL ana wanted TO mike
up How was he to do Il? This qucs.
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 MS he could ascertain
! Nanny Smith wasn't going into n de-
! cline an his account. He wax lying ON
/ his back in bed one night when the
| thought suddenly came to hm-that
/ lion, As matter OF fact. the beast
had been recaptured but the farmers
! hadn't heard OF II 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 son OF his employer. There
was bit OF lake on Farmer Smiths
| land, and at one point he had built
summer house. 1t was Nanny's favor
| ite spot to sit and watch the sun go
down and the cleaning come OIL The
| roaming. roaring lion had kept hcr
| away for few evenings. but MS he
| had not appeared and devoured her
her courage gradually returned. Zeb
| had builded OF that summer house.
| He had his eagle eye that way MS he
evening. He saw the pink dress as 1t
crossed the meadow. The Hoaming
came the robin sang his last notes be-
foro going 90 bed, and then Zeb and
his fellow conspirator moved.
In pcnsive silence MlS Nanny Smith
sat In the summer house fighting mos
Qultoes and wondering how wicked the
circus had made Zeb when there came
a sudden alarm. From lot Of bushes
not far away came bloodcurdling
growls and q mans shouts. and she
was hardly on her feet before Zeb
dashed mp. club In hand, and called
out:
Back into the hoUse! 'Tls the lion,
Back. and Will die here 20 save you"
"Oh, Zeb-Zeb"-
Back, glrl--he is coming"
And the lion came That X, he seem.
cd to come. His growllngs and roar
ings were something dreadful TO hear.
He moved this way and that; he ad-
vhnced and retrcated no rolled over
and over on the grass. But the brave
Zeb could not be blufred lie stood
in front Of the house and swung his
club and cried TO that lion TO come on
II nc dared Finally. ut the end OF
about ten minutes. nc suddenly rushed
into the darkness. pounded with his
club and returned 10 Nanny to say:
"Ie has fed. and you arc saved
Good night, Miss Smith"
"Oh. Zeb you can't go" shOsppcalcd.
But ! must ] ask no thanks for
the triGe have been able 10 render
you"
"But 7 can't let you go. You must
come to The house. Say. dear. really
wish ] hnh gone 10 the circma With