The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-23


pity of the inhabitants. All the week.
preceding the local fair, scores of
caravans, one more magnificent than
the other. had arrived and stopped in
the broad avenue under the big chest.
nut trees. but this last one was head
ed by wagon with single window,
the paint had ali worn off and its
roof was SO leaky that it let the rain
through everywhere. An old man
was loading the horse while his pref
~ wife was peeping through the fad
ed curtains. Behind it came another,
heavier van. containing a gaunt fero-
cious lion. The man who drove this
was a muscular youth Of unusually
handsome features and form. Every
little while the pretty woman leaned
out Of the window toward him, then
both smiled sadly and pursed their
| lips as II kissing. II the old man hap
pened to turn around at such mo-
ment. he quickly lowered his eyes and
pretended not to have seen anything.
At the end of the long avenue they
stopped and put up the tent placing
the lion inside.
The men made small fire and the
woman cooked few beans, which
they ate greedily, it being their first
neal that day. Afterwards they sat
silent and pensive, looking at the mag
nificent tents which lined both sides
Of the avenue, and listening to the
heavy steps OF the lion pacing up and
down its cage.
ale Is hungry said the old man.
With their last sous they had bought
! the day before a few pounds of meat
and bones. Since then the beast had
had nothing to eat. The thought of
this made the men turn pale and the
young woman wrung her hands in de-
spair.
III we do not announce that one of
us will enter the cage, nobody will
come said Roumain the worried
master of the show" and then we
might as well jump into the river, and
II we do announce it, We must do 1t
or -
All three hung their heads, remem-
bering scene they had witnessed
when a poor tent had been plundered
and torn to pieces by the peasants
who did not think the show worth
the price of the admission.
IF the butcher would only trust us
until tomorrow night, we might pay
him with the money we get here"
said the young man. Let Penie go
and see him. She is pretty and knows
how to talk to people.
IN Ia ho
pressed her hand passionately to
make her understand that he cared
even more for her than he dare say.
She stood up, pale and nervous and
said: Il will go. Clements idea is
good"
After fixing her hair. painting her
lips and lacing her corset a little
tighter she went, followed by the ad-
miring glances of the two men, but the
butcher who was sitting outside OF
his shop enjoying the evening air with
some OF his neighbors treated her as
II she were a beggar.
What trust people who might run
away during the night with their
horses and chatte;s? Not he.
Renie begged. She told him that
the lion was starving and it might
mean the loss of mans life. If it
were not fed before tomorrow. The
his neighbors listened intently. Per.
haps they would see something inter.
esting tomorrow. They must not
miss 1t. they said to each other. Renie
heard what they said and bit her lips
with rage as she walked back through
the silent village streets.
Who was to face the starving beast
the next day? Clement was younger.
Roman more experienced. The lat
ter was the first being who had ever
cared for Renie and spoken kindly
for her, but to the former she owed
all the happiness she had ever known
for he loved her and she returned his
feelings.
She sat down near the young man,
bore his sufferings without anger,
When she came back. she was cry
ing and no explanation was needed.
who put his arm around her waist un-
der cover of the darkness. Roman
saw 1t. and his face clouded but he
said nothing. Plying these young
people, both of whom he loved. he
well knowing that they could not help
falling in love and that it cut their
hearts to make him suffer. All three
accepted this calamity which had
come on top of many others.
Standing on the platform outside
the tent the next day. Clement loud
ly told the crowd how ferocious the
lion was and praised the courage of
the man who dared brave it. The peo-
pie listened eagerly though scores of
far more gorgeous tents offered their
attractions. At noon he sat down with
his uncle and young wife in front of
the lions cage. and the starving
beasts bloodshot eyes and restless
movements made them forget the
pangs Of hunger.
1T is l. who must so into the cage"
said Clement.
Nonsense" said the old man, l
know him better than you do
Il am younger"
But ! am the boss here
Both grew silent, as they saw the
woman's pale face. They looked at
each other without hatred but neither
| cared to be generous, each feared a
wound that would disfigure him and
make him reDuguant TO her or death