The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-20


Then he had kissed her, Marvellous,
perhaps, but II was the girls FIRST kiss
OF love. Her whole being thrilled TO
f. She did not know what she had
answered. But afterward she had not
slept. She thought OF the motherly
woman who had befriended her, OF
the rank and base ingratltude OF such
a course; and yet she loved him.
Suddenly a wild desire came 10 her
TO leave everything and go home.
Her parents we're hard country folks,
but they would welcome her with her
little money, and give her such az
fection as they had TO bestow. They
would even be proud OF her In a way,
There was none OF that PurItanism IN
Shawnee county which prevails In the
New England states. II was a hard
land where money alone counted.
The following afternoon her mind
was not yet made up. II must be one
course or the other, she knew. Either
go of with her lover or go home,
She could not endure the delay Of q
decision longer.
She stepped into the cage and al
once Rita began TO act strangely. Per
haps she knew; or perhaps the unrest
in the girls soul communicated itself
to hers. The lioness lashed her tail
and retreated, growing, to the oppo
site end OF the cage. The other three
lions began TO growl in sympathy, and
crouched beside her snarllng at each
dick Of the girls whip and utterly ig
noring the stands on which they were
supposed to stand in a pyramid.
Nero was uneasy, too. Nero, at
his mistress heels, growled back at
Rita, and crouched also, motionless,
watching her. The girl kept her eyes
on Rita; she knew that the other lions
would follow her example.
She saw, dimly, the crowd Of sight.
seers outside the cage, seated upon
their wooden benches. But she saw
them askance, for her mind was set
on dominating the lioness, and, though
1t was easy to escape. she knew that
she would never be able TO do any.
thing with Rita again.
She advanced, flicking her whip
and Rita, growing. poised herself to
spring. This was the crucial moment.
Suddenly the girl heard Goldini's
voice.
Come QUIT" he screamed, half open.
ing the cage. ut is no good! Comet"
At that moment Just as the girls
attention was distracted, though II
was but a momentary wavering of an
eyelid, Rita leaped. At the same in.
stant the other lions sprang into the
air.
Rita's tawny body flew across the
cage. But at the same moment Nero
sprang to meet her He could not
stop the momentum of that bulk, but
he turned It. Lioness and dog rolled
in a tussle upon the floor.
At the same instant Goldlni
screamed and slammed the door Of
the cage.
The girl heard shrieks of panic
among the audience. She was con
scious of the circus employees pulling
frantically at the door Of the cage
Before her she saw the dead body OF
the faithful hound, and the lioness
and lions worrying it. She retreated
toward the door Rita sprang for her
again, but the lash of the whip caught
her across the nose, and, swerving
she flung herself against the bars
They quivered, but stood fast, and
before she could turn again the girl
had stepped backward to safety
through the open door.
She found herself lying in the cen.
ter of crowd of strangers. Her first |
thought was of Nero. Then, remem
bering, she began to weep Historically |
Her second was Of Goldini. He had |
slammed the door and left her to die! |
Goldini's ancient malady had broken |
out once more. And it was at the |
turning point of the girls career. Fol
suddenly she realized that this thing
had effectively answered the question
that had tormented her.
She rose to her feet and staggered
through the crowd. She meant to 20
away, right away, she could not see
Goldini again. all her love was dead.
A gray-haired woman was clasping
her to her breast. The girl looked
into her face a full minute before she
realized who this was.
20, mother!" she sobbed. 20, take
me away take me away"
Through the silent crowd the gray
haired, black-bonneted woman led the
girl in the short skirt with the span.
giles.
Copyright. 1914. by ". G. Chapman)