Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-11-21

Confetti. and she persuaded mother
to wait with her for the season to open
up then 20 with Bounder Brothers:
they were wintering in Chicago 1t
was such a kind OF life as mother had
never dreamed of, but it was more
convenient than starving, and she
thought it would give her a chance to
find father-that travelling, all over the
country La Confetti was a lion
tanner, and that's what mother learned
and those two were the ones who
could go inside Samson's cage. The
life was awfully hard, but she got to
like it, and everybody was kind to us,
and money came pouring in, ana she
was always hoping to run across clue
to my father-and never did"
She paused, but at the pressure OF
Abbott's sympathetic hand. she went
on with renewed courage:
when | was big enough, ! wore a
tiny black skirt, and a red coat with
shiny buttons, and / beat the drum
In the carnival band. You ought to
have seen me-so little. Alb
bolt, you can't imagine how little
wasl We had about a dozen small
shows in our company, fortune-tellers
minstrels, magic wonders. and all that
and the band had to march from one
tent to the next, and stand out in front
and play, to get the crowd in q bunch
SC the free exhibition could work or
their nerves. And I'd beat away, in
my red coat and there were
always the strange faces, staring. star
ing--but / was so little! Sometimes
they would smile at me, but mother
had taught me never to speak to any
one, but to wear a glazed look like
| this"
How frightfully cold!" Abbot
shivered. Then he laughed, and 60 die
Fran. They had entered Littleburg
He added wickedly: And how dread
fully near we are getting to you
home"
Fran gurgled. Wouldn't Grace Moi
Just die II she could see us!"
That sobered Abbott; considering
his official position. 1t seemed higl
time for reflection.
Fran resumed abruptly. But I new
er really liked 1t because what | want
ed was a home-to belong to some
body. Then / got to hating the boil
stare Of peoples eyes, and their fool
ish gaping mouths, I hated being al
ways on exhibition with every gestur
watched, as II I'd been one of tn
trained dogs. l hated the public
wanted to get away from the world
clear away from everybody.
like l am now with you. Ism
1t great!"
Mammoth" Abbott declared, wa
tering her words with liberal imagins
ton.
Il must talk fast, or the Gregor.
house will be looming up at us
Mother taught me all she knew, thougl
she hated books; she made hersel
think she was only in the show lif
till she could make a little more-sl
ways just a little more-she reall
loved it, you see. But / loved tn
s-study-anything that WASH
the show. 1t was kind of friendl
when began feeding Samson"
Poor little Nonpareil!" murmure
Abbott wistfully.
"And often when the show was bt
ing unloaded, I'd be stretched out 4
our sleeper, with a school book presse
close to the cinder-specked window
catching the first light When tn
mauls were pounding away at the ten
pins, maybe I'd hunt a seat on som
cage, II II had been drawn up under
tree. or maybe it'd be the ticket wa,
on, or even the stake pile-there you
see me studying away for dear LII,
dressed in plain little dress, tryin
to look like ordinary folks. Such
queer little chap, was-and Away
trying to pretend that wasn't
You'd have laughed to see me-"
Laughed at you'll" cried Abbott il
dignantly. Indeed l shouldn't"
Nor" exclaimed Fran, patting hi
arm impulsively.
Dear little wonder!" he returne
conclusively.
Il must tell you about one time" sh
continued gaily. I'VE were in Ne
Orleans at the Mardi Gras, and wa
expected to come into the ring ridin
Samson-not the vicious old lion, bu
cub-that was long after my days
the drum and the red coat, bless you
III was lion-tamer, now, nearly thi