Year: 1874

| will abandon it forever, and get mar
ried and settle down


The young girl blushed deeply at the
words of her lover, but she did not re-
sist the arm that was thrown around her
waist and drew her closer to him or the
kiss that followed. In fact she was very
proud of his handsome face and manly
form, but his dangerous professionalism
of a trapezist-made her tremble for
fear of accident and she continued TO
plead that it should be given up.


'You have nOw come money, Fred-l
little-am an orphan as we'll as your
self, and we are all in the world to each
other


Indeed We are, Annie; but hard for
tune threw me into the life l am lead
ing. Ii was hard school l was trained
in. | know little else, and after so many
years of toll it would be almost foolish
if neglected the golden opportunity
before l renounced it altogether.


Il believe you love it almost as well
as you do me- she replied with smile.


Not one-th6usandth part as we'll!
And vet | must own there is something
attractive to me in the breathless swing
the hanging from the dizzy height-the
daring leap in mid-air that makes the
hair of every loolzer-on stand still


And mine among the number with
heavy sigh.


Have no fear darling. Practice has
made me so perfect that there is not the
slightest danger


Danger there always is Fred


Il can STE none


you have to depend very much upon
others, do you no;?'


Certainly


And failure upon their part, careless
ness-the breaking of rope, might be
fatal


He could not deny this, though he
made light of it, quieted her fears as
best he could, and turned the converse
ton into another channel--the one that
is nearest and dearest 10 young hearts


For year they had been aclsnowl
edged lovers; and there was no one to
say them nay. He had striven to edu-
cate himself and rise superior to iron
fortune-had succeeded, az men of res
olution will ever do, had been frugal
| and saving, with the determination of
some day turning his back upon tent,
spangIes and sawdust, and taking the
place in society to which he felt he had
right.


And so it was in n great measure with
the girl, who had become very dear TO
him and done much to strengthen his
good intentions, TO keep him from wan
dering into the paths that have been the
ruin of so many whom the world ap-
plauded to the echo for time only to
forget as new faces came, who fioated
upon the topmost waves of success, to
he the more certainly wrecked upon the
dangerous rocks and dragged TO the bot
| tom.


She, like himself had been early or
| phaned and knew something of the hard
! lot of being brought up by distant rela-
| tives-begrudged the little food she ate,
and made to toll beyond her strength.
| But this was over now, and her slender
/ fingers made her needle fly as she thought
of the future.


And that future they talked of long
and earnestly, laid their plans and made
themselves supremely happy in what
was to be- There was no single clond
save that of her lovers danger and again
and again it forced itself upon her mind
and found utterance from her lips.


1T is but few short months he re-
piled, before the tenting season will be
at an end, and am free. Now l am


bound by contract the most lucrative


have ever made, and to break it would


be ruinons. There is little to be feared


my darling; all will go we'll; winter will


soon come, and then good-by to thi:
wandering life


But only think of how much time


will elapse before see you again. If


could only be with you it would not bC
so bad. But l fear-fear that I shall


never see you again


1t was the old story of tears and com


forting and promises to be faithful; anc
months indeed passed before they again
|, saw each others faces. But, as he had
predicted, all had gone we'll. Fame a
|, we'll as money had been gained by tn
/, yonng and daring trapezist. He stoot


at the very head of his desperate profes
sion, and the hearts of women stood still


and strong men held their breath whel


he hung in mid-air, and leaped a won


derful distance from one swinging bar t
another. Had it been in the olden day
! of Rome they would have crowned hir


with the victor's laurels, borne him NJ


on their shoulders, made him rich i
gold, and hailed him as king of the att
letes.


e And now the last night came that h
It was to appear before the public-th
n very last night of the season, and tha
Is of his benefit. Well might he be prou
: of it. Well might he look longingl
n for it, for the substantial reward it woul
!, bring. A favorite with all, volunteer
is had been more numerous than usua
e and the management more liberal.
IS whisper had reached them that i
a thought of leaving, and they were doir
is their utmost to bind him so az to secul
It him for another season.


k He had left Annie early to make IL
10 necessary preparations-bu met h
Of again as soon az he dressed-dressed
CT the most magnificent garments he hs
m ever worn, and-heF gift, the work of b.
Of own hands, and drawing aside as mut
lc as possible they talked gayly, mus
to more than was customary for her to 4
at for she appeared to have forgotten ;
at fear for his safety.


rs 4 feel, darling she whispered, 9Th
ne tonight is to. be the grandest triuml