The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-05-08
A CIRCUS CUPID
BY GRACE SCOTT.
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Copyright. l5lS. by McCiuie ->e~spAper
Syndicate.)

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Copyright. l9lS. by McCiule Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Betty Harlequin uttered n little cry
Of childish delight. \ c:rc':> 'i:ii fr"ne
to town. She stood before The big.
gaudy poster for a long time studying
the ludicrOus features Of the clowns.
Then, with a lingering glance, she
went on her way to the office. Betty
loved circuses. Every time they came
to town she was sure to 20. Even now
she held her breath when the beauti-
full painted ladies walked the tight
rope or perched OIL 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, tho
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
with lights, and the brass band was
sending forth a welcome to the peo-
pie. She took her place at the end OF
the long line at the ticket booth ana
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
ter q while she walked down by the
animal cages and was enjoying herself
hugely, when suddenly the long arm Of
q monkey shot out between the bars
Of his cage and grasped firmly the
crown Of Betty's best hat. She gave
q little cry of mingled pain and ter
ror and tried in vain to wrench herself
free. It was then that n tall figure IN
khaki came to her rescue, and with q
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 pluckea
at them in high glee. Betty's hair had
received q vigorous pull, and claspinS
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 subsided,
"that was shame"
"Yes, my poor hat!" mourned Betty,
gazing ruefully at the remains OF
once pretty hat. Whatever shall
wear home" Then, just because they
were both young, they laughed merrily,
and continued to see the animals.
"Oh, dear, must hurry home. 1t La
quite late" They parted at the car sta
ton, and all the young soldier knew
about his charming companion was
that her name was Betty. That young
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-
sciousness 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 Or
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.
"Oh, 1 forgot to tell you. dear" she
added, "that Emma called up and
wants you to 90 down to her camp By
the seashore tomorrow afternoon and
stay Sunday. You may 90 II 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 .
fond goodnight kiss, she went to bed.
The next morning she rose early ana
packed her grip. AS she carefully Laid
her pretty bathing suit in,. her cheeks
glowed with pleasant anticipation or
the fun in the water. When she
reached the camp she found her dear
friend, Emma Worthington, waiting
for her. In the cozy dining room over
looking the sea table was set TOR
four. "Why, Emma" asked Betty, who
else is to be here?"
"Well," replied Emma. my OLD
friends, the Burtons. are home on q
furlough and I invited them over"
"Who are the Burt0nsT asked Bet
ty, interestedly.
1.-TWO delightful young men that
have had a summer camp here for four
years. One is a sailor and the other II
q 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
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