The Washington herald., 1913-12-29
Daily Short Story
A SLENDER PATHWAY.
BY ALICE NORTH.
lCopyriaht. lal3l

4
luxury. To be sure the change was onl!
to little room. Just big enough to turr
around in in a moderate hotel, but thu
bed was stationary and clean.
In spite OF her strenuous profession
she did a tight-rope act in a circus
Madge had a strong sense Of the home
maker, and even this room showed thu
womanly touch. A clean dresser scar
lay over the pine bureau and on 1t in nea
array the celluloid toilet set which Louis
the clown, had given her on her las
birthday, a pin cushion Of red and a rec
leather frame. From the frame a picture
OF a clean-cut Irish lad looked out. He
was dressed in a flannel shirt and loose
flowing tie.
| On one corner of the bureau stood
Madge's workbox, also of red "a
stitch in time" she observed musingIy
as she picked out a spool of red silk
from the box and critically matched II
against a dainty pair of red silk tights
she held in her hand. Then drawing q
chair she sat down beside the window
the sill OF which was on a level with her
shoulder, and commenced her darning
Her vagrant thoughts flew hither and
thither. to Louis and the time when they
should both leave the circus and buy a
farm among her beloved OnOndaga hills.
and to the past
Only last evening she and Louis had
figured that this would be their last sum-
mer season with the show, and that next
spring they could marry and buy their
hearts desire. Madge wondered IL either
one would ever feel longing to return
TO the sawdust again. She thought not
for her coming into il had not been Of
her own selection.
"reminiscences Of her early childhood
fitted across her mind like moving pic
lures before the eyes. She was a little
girl OF eight at home with three brothers.
Even then she had been noted for her
nimbleness and wonderful balancing pow
ers. Her brothers, older than herself,
had always been her playmates and she
had followed them in all their games.
In spite of the May sunshine fitting
into the room. Madge shivered as she
thought OF that awful Sunday when for
the first time in the county's history a
tornado had swept over the vicinity of
her fathers farm. II struck houses at
random, destroying one. sparing, perhaps,
the one next TO It. When it had gone,
for IL lasted only a possible three min
utes. Madge remembered the awful de-
struction.
Their home suffered little. but on look
ing for the father of the family he was
found in the demolished stable. where he
had gone to fasten the COW.
Her mother died shortly afterward from
the shock. the boys were placed in an
orphan asylum and the aunt, who did
bareback acts in a circus, came and took
her away. When she found that the
child had acquired very strong little
figure. combined with grace from her
French mother, and steady nerves from
her English father. she soon had her do
ing acts in the show ring until now, as
Mile. Zella, she had made a name for
herself
Madge was recalled to the present by
her little nose, involuntarily smiling the
air. Hearing people moving around, and
the opening and the shutting of doors, she
realized it meant fire. For an instant
she was terror stricken and could not
move: then, bounding to the door. she |
opened it, and as quickly shut it again. |
The hall was black with smoke. Rushing |
70 the window she climbed onto a chair |
md looked out. A straight, perpendicu- |
ar brick wall, the side of the hotel, was |
what her eye travelled down upon Her
-oOm was too high for any ladder to |
each. and across to the nearest roof il |
Vas about a hundred feet
Was she to leave life now, when the |
arm and Louis love seemed so near?
The telephone bell rang violently, and |
With trembling hands she took down the |
eceiver.
''Madge! Madgel are you there?" 1t
vas Louis's voice. Il cannot get TO you.
There is only one chance. have been
m the roof opposite your room. There
5 deadwire leading from your window
o it. Walk IT! I'll be on the other
ide''
I'll try" she called back. Then the
Ire broke the connection.
How glad now she was that her suit
ad needed mending and she had brought
to her room, wearing IT there under
cath her long cloak after last nights
erformance. Quickly now she threw of
er red cotton kimona and her night robe
nd drew on the red silk tights. and the
runks and velvet jacket with the silver
pangles.
Her golden hair. which had been hang
lg loosely down her back. she made
Ito a hasty knot, sticking a long shell
airpin into it. Into her bosom she
lrust Louis's picture and her purse.
hen climbing onto the chair. she again
'oked out of the window and for the
rst time saw the wire.
Until then Louis's command Ito walk
- had cast no doubt in her mind. but {
ow a sudden fear seized her Could she
D it? Could she, who had thousands OF '
mes thrilled spectators under the big
anvas tent by her daring, do this thing
ow which meant life or death?
Below her. the people looked like
ass of solid black, and opposite her was
le roof Louis had spoken of. but he :
as not there. Then. looking along the ! !
rect. she saw men hurrying with long
'les and she intuitively knew that Louis
ad told the people, and had sent for the ,
rcus net. Even in the midst OF her :
anger his quickness and forethought y
'uched her and she determined for his =
Ike she must do II. )
The cracking of the flames outside :
sr door warned Madge that she must :
It wait for the net. =
Again Madge looked at the mass OF I
'ople: one mistake and she would be I
ION them. The old quotation, Took q
} and down." flashed across her con-
iousness. causing her to turn her eyes I
the blue canopy above her as she stood a
raight as an arrow on the narrow sill 4
tn a fan for balance clasped in one
nd. Her rowing life had not tended to