Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-26
The Capitals
Short Story
A CIRCUS CUPID
IIIIlIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIlII
BY GRACE SCOTT,


Betty Harlequin uttered "a little cry
OF childish delight. A circus HAD come
to town. She stood before the big
gaudy poster for long time studying
the ludicrous features of the clowns.
Then. with lingering glance. she
went on her way TO the Office. Betty
! loved circuses. Every time they came
& to town she was sure to go. Even now
i she held her breath when the beauti-
+ full painted ladies walked the tight
rope or perched on tiptoe on the big
white stations.
When she reached home that night
she told her family, which consisted of
an older sister and her mother, the
wonderful news. The elder sister
laughed at her sisters childishness.
but the little mother only smiled know
ingly and said she might go if she were
home early. Betty promised. and was
soon seated In the car on the way TO
/ the circus. Already the tent was ablaze
I with lights, and the brass band ives
sending forth a welcome to the peo-
pie. She took her place at the end of
chatted with some small boys. Soon
she was in the big tent, watching with
eager eyes the stunts in the ring. She
laughed merrily at the clowns and
clapped wildly at the strong man. AZ
1 ter a while she walked down by the
animal cages and was enjoying herself
hugely, when suddenly the long arm of
a monkey shot out between the bars
Of his cage and grasped firmly the
crown of Betty's best hat She gave
little cry of mingled pain and ter
rOr and tried In vain to wrench herself
free. 1t was then that tall figure in
khaki came to her rescue, and with
little difficulty managed to get her
free, but the monkey had pulled the
crown from the rim of the hat, leaving
only the rim on her head.
He bounded away in his cage with
the crown and the flowers. and plucked
at them in high glee. Betty's hair had
received a vigorous pull, and clasping
her hands to her tortured head she
gazed at her rescuer, the tall soldier.
That young mans face was trying in
vain to keep sober, and at length Betty
laughed. too. "Oh, say" cried the
soldier, when his mirth had subsidized,
that was shamel"
Eyes, my poor hatl" mourned Betty,
gazing ruefully at the remains of
once pretty hat. whatever shall
wear homer" Then, just because they
were both young, they laughed merrily,
and continued to see the animals.
"Oh, dear, must hurry home. 1t is
quite late" They parted at the car sta
ton, and all the young soldier knew
about his charming companion was
lady had discovered that his name
was Stephen-Steve for short. She
boarded the car and kept her face
turned toward the window, for her
cheeks were burning with the con-
seriousness that she had no hat on her
tousled curly hair. Her mother was
awake when she reached home, and
Betty sat by her side and told her Of
the evenings adventure, and the little
mother shook her head over her daugh-
ter's escapade my dear, you had bet
ter run along to bed now" she said,
when Betty's narrative had ended.
ooh, 1 forgot to tell you, DEAR" she
added, shat Emma called up and
wants you to go down to her camp by
the seashore tomorrow afternoon and
stay Sunday. You may go If you want
to. dearie, for the change will do you
good"
"Oh, mumsie," cried the delighted
Betty, you are the dearest little
mother in the world" Then, with q
fond goodnight kiss, she went to bed.
The next morning she rose early and
packed her grip. AS she carefully laid
her pretty bathing suit in, her cheeks
glowed with pleasant anticipation of
the fun in the water. When she
reached the camp she found her dear
friend. Emma Worthington. waiting
for her. In the coy dining room over
looking the sea table was set for
four. why, Emma" asked Betty, who
else is to be here?"
"Weh," replied Emma, "my old
friends, the Burtons, are home on
AuAAOu6n anu Il AnNAtCu lAlcAu OfCT.
"Who are the BurtonsT asked Bet
ty, interestedly.
1.-Two delightful young men that
have had summer camp here for four
years. One is sailor and the other is
soldier in the training school. They
are very nice chaps and / know you
will like them"
At this news Betty FASTENED to her
room to change her dress and to
smooth her hair. When she again en-
tered the dining room the young men
had arrived. She gave little cry of
surprise, for the soldier boy was her
knight of the evening before "Oh, /
am glad to see you again." she cried,
and told her friend about the mischiev-
Gus monkey. That was the beginning
of short but very pleasant holiday,
and when Steve and Betty parted
again he had her promise to write to
him. She kept that promise, and when
he again came home for a short visit
before leaving for France he asked her
to go to the park for a walk. Betty
knew by the twinkle in his nice blue
ewes that bn had SornofhfuO mn hic