Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-13
! she'd have starved il it hadn't been for

Dear Franz" whispered Abbott
tenderly.
Mother had gone to Chicago, hop
ing for position In some respectable
Office, but they didn't want a type
writer who wasn't stenographer. 1t
was winter-and mother had mel
was so little and bad! +. B. In a
cheap lodging house, mother got to
know La Goinzetti. and she persuaded
mother to wait with her for the season
to open up, then go with Bounder
Brothers; they were wintering In Chi.
cago. It was such a kind of life as
mother had never dreamed Of, but 1t
was more convenient than starving,
and she thought it would give her
chance to find father-that travelling,
all over the country. La Confetti
was lion-tamer, and that's what
mother learned, and those two were
the only ones who could 60 inside Sam
sons cage. The life was awfully hard.
but she got to like 1t, and everybody
was kind to US. and money came
pouring in, and she was always hoping
to run across clue to my father-and
never did"
She paused, but at the pressure of
on with renewed courage:
when was big enough, l 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. Abbott, you
cant imagine how little l was! We
had about 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 bunch. so
the free exhibition could work on their
nerves. And I'd beat away, in my red
coat and there were always the
strange faces, staring, staring-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!" Abbott shiv-
cred. Then he laughed. and so did
Fran. They had entered Littleburg.
He added wickedly. land how dread
fully near we are getting to your
home
Fran gurgled. Wouldn't Grace Noir
just die if she could see u.s."
That sobered Abbott; considering
his official position, it seemed high
time for reflection.
Fran resumed abruptly. But
never really liked it because what
wanted was a home-to belong to
somebody. Living that way in a
traveling-car. going to sleep in the
rattle of pulling down tent-seats and
the roar Of wild animals, and waking
up with the hot sun glazing into your
eyes, and the smell Of weeds coming in
through your berth-window , . 1t
made me want to be fastened to the
ground, like tree. Then l got to
hating the bold stare of peoples eyes.
and their foolish gaping mouths,
hated being always on exhibition with
every gesture watched, as IL I'd been
one of the trained dogs. l hated the
public. wanted to get away from
the world-clear away from every
body like l am now . with
you. Isn't 1t great -aer.. .az
Mammoth" Abbott declared, wa.
tering her words with liberal imagina-
tion.s
81 must talk fast, or the Gregory
house will be looming up at us.
Mother didn't want me to like that
life, maybe that was another reason
7-she was always talking about how
we'd settle down, some day, In place
Of our own where we'd know the peo-
pie on the other side Of the fence
and quit being wonders. But looks
like can't manage it,
Some people are born wonders"
remarked Abbott.
Yes Fran acquiesced modestly 81
guess I was. Mother. taught me all
she knew, though she hated books;
she made herself think she was only
in the show life till she could make
little more-always just a little more
she really loved it, you see. But
loved the s-study-anything
that wasn't the show. 1t was kind OF
friendly when began feeding Sam
SON." ..
Poor little Nonpareil!" murmured
Abbott Wistfully. ....
And often when the show was be-
ing unloaded, I'd be stretched out in
our sleeper, with schoolbook pressed
close 10 the cinder-specked window,
catching the first light. When the
mauls were pounding away at the tent
pins, maybe I'd hunt seat on some
cage. If it had been drawn up under a
tree, or maybe it'd be the ticket-wagon,
or even the stake.pile-there you'd see
me studying away for dear life, dress
ed in a plain little dress, trying to look
like ordinary folks. Such queer
little chap, was-and always trying
to pretend that l wasn't! You'd have
laughed to see me-"
Laughed at you!" cried Abbott in
dignantly. Indeed shouldn't
MOP" exclaimed Fran, patting his
arm impulsively.
Dear little wonder" he returned
conclusively.
81 must tell you about one time"
she continued gaily. 1--WE were In
New Orleans at the Mardi Gras, and
was expected to come into the ring
riding Samson-not the vicious old
lion, but cub-that was long after my
days of the drum and the red coat,
bless you! I was lion-tamer, now,
nearly thirteen years old, if you'll be.
lieve me. Well! And what was
saying-you keep looking so friendly,
you make me forget myself. Good