Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-12-10

unsteadily. "In the superlative? l
don't see how you can, after that exhi-
bition behind the bars. Anyway, l
want you to talk about yourself. What
made you go away from town? But
that's not the worst; what made you
stay away? And what were you doing
off there wherever it was, while poor
little girls were wondering themselves
sick about you? But wait!-the
wheels going down-down-down
Good thing / have you to hold
to-poor Miss Sapphire, she cant
come now! Listen at all the street
criers, getting closer, and the whistle
sounds wish we had whistles; the
squawky kind See my element, Alb
bott, the air I've breathed all my life
the carnival. Here we are, just above
the clouds of confetti. Now
we're riding through pretty
damp, these clouds are, don't you
think! Those ribbons of electric
Abbott-they were home. No,
Bill, we don't want to get out. We in
tend to ride until you take this wheel
to pieces. And oh, by the way, Bill
just stop this wheel. every once in a
while, will you?-when we're up at the
very tiptop. All right-good-by.
And Abbott called gaily, "Good-by,
Mr.. Smookins!"
'I'm glad you did that, Abbott. You
think you're somebody, when some
body else thinks SO, too. Now we're
rising in the world" Fran was so eK-
cited that she could not keep her body
from quivering. In spite of this, she
fastened her eyes upon Abbott to
ask, suddenly: 'Most'-what?"
Most adorable" Abbott answered.
as If he had been waiting for the
prompting. Most precious. Most be-
witchingly sweet. Most unanswerably
and eternally-Fran!"
'And you" she whispered
and l." he told her, fam nothing
but most wanting-to-b e-loved.
ITS SO queer" Fran said, plaintive-
ly. "You know, Abbott, how long
you've fought against me. You know
it, and l don't blame you, not in the
least. There's nothing about me to
make people. But even now,
how can you think you understand me,
when don't understand myself?"
II DON'T" be said, promptly. I've
given up trying to understand you
Since then. I've just loved. That's
easy"
What will people think of super
intendent of public schools caring for
a show-girl even If she Is Fran Non
pareil. How would it affect your Ca
reer?"
But you have promised never again
to engage in show, SO you are not
show-girl."
What about my mother who lived
and died as a lion-tamer? What will
you do about my life-history? I'd new
or speak to a man who could feel
ashamed Of my mother. What about
my father who has never publicly
acknowledged me? I'd not want to
have anything to do with man who
who could be proud of him.
"As to the past, Fran, have only
this to say: Whatever hardships it
contained, whatever wrongs or wretch
edness-it evolved you, you. the Fran
| of today-the Fran of this living
hour. And it's the Fran of this living
hour that I want to maFry?"
Fran covered her face with her
hands. For while there was silence.
! then she said:
Father was there, tonight"
cat the lion-show? Impossible! Mr.
Gregory go to a-a-to-a-
Eyes, it is possible for him even to
| go to a show But to do him justice.
he was forced under the tent, he had
no intention of doing anything SO
i wicked as that, he only meant to do
soma little thing like running away
But no, | can't speak of him with bit
terness. now. Abbott, ne seems all
| changed.
/: Abbott murmured, as if stupefed
MIR. Gregory at show!"
Eyes, and lion-show. When 1t was
over he came to me-he was so ex-
| cited
! 80 was l." spoke up the other
"rather!"
"You didn't show it. | thought
maybe you wouldn't care if had been
eaten up. No, no, listen. He
wanted to claim me-he called mo
I.daughter' right there before the peo-
pie. but they thought it was just a sort
Off church name. But he was won
dertully moved. | left the tent with
tiA,, and we had long talk came
from him to you. l never saw any
body so changed.
But why?"
you see, he thought l was going TO
be killed right there before his eyes,
and seeing it with his very own eyes
made him feel responsible He told
me, afterwards, that when he found
out who it was in thu cage, he thought
of mother in a di6srent wayne saw
how his desertioz had driven her to
earning her living with showmen, 80 /