Year: 1872




to the great horror of the manager
Of the large and magnificent Cirqu
Imperial, was always crowded snt
more especially by the elite Of tn
fashionable young men in Paris
while their side boxes were Occupi
ed only by country pumpkins, ricl
bourgeoise and young collegians.
/ The cause of this migration from
the Imperial Circus to the circul
on which the Imperial Circus look
ed down as being a mere booth, wa
the beauty and attraction, you'll
and wild grace Of Nile. MorsDitl
and her horse ''Disvolo."


Moranito was a wonder, for al
the bills said she was, and a little
more than the bills knew any.
thing about, for she was g girl ol
immaculate conduct, and actually
knew how to read and write.


Moranita was French-a poor lit
tie orphan, whom the clown Of the
establishment had picked up half
starved In a garret from which the
public authorities had just taken
the body of her mother, q beggar,
in q coarse deal box.


The clown was an extremely fun
ny fellow, because nature had
twisted his form and given him 8
hump, which was of course, exceed
ing funny, and q cause of great
mirth to the multitude. He had q
fine face. which was a pity for it
had efects-one that it gave him
great trouble to paint himself,
and because the handsome face
had inspired him with q bitter
hatred for his distorted person, and
for the mocking world that laughed
at it.


He had never known home OF
family; he had sometimes been
near starvation, and had endured
it with defiant spirit. He had
lived among the deprayed and the
dissipated, and had despised their
vices even while enjoying with the
public the reputation of shar-
ing ;them. He had been court
eddy managers and applauded by
crowds, but as soon as the conven-
tional grin had faded from his face
the habitual expression of morose
bitterness was sufused over his
handsome features.


He was almost ashamed Of the
feeling of compassion that stirred
his breast when the poor, thin, cold,
dark-eyed, frightened creature held
up It's thin arms to him and asked
for its mother. and bread.


The feeling was strange one,
coming like glow over his frozen
nature, and he buried his head in
the child's tangled locks and wept-
wept until the unusual emotion
shook his frame, making him weak
and helpless as the child who chung
to him.


The sight of those appealing
black eyes, the clutch of those little
fingers, the helpless cry had reused
from the depth of his heart feelings
which he did not know existed-a
new state of existence. seemed to
have dawned on him-visions of calm
happiness, of devotion, of affection,
floated before him; the bitterness
OF his life seemed suddenly to pass
away. Such a sensation was the
only one of happiness he had ever
known. He felt as if it had emana-
ted from the magnetic touch of the
child, and clasping her to him he
vowed never again to leave her.


Marie, now Moranita, carried
down in his arms into warmth and
light, looked on him as q god. TO
her he was beautiful-he was divine
and from that hour he was the idol
of her soul.


He took her to the circus. TO
him there was no degradation in the
profession, and he was as proud of
seeing the little creature dash round
on her pony as any duke might be to
see his daughter dancing q court
minuet. She grew into strength
and beauty-bright, loving, full Of
skill and courage-she was the Joy
of his heart. They lived together,
this young girl and the deformed
clown, whose hair was getting gray
and in all Paris there was not &
happier pair.


At seventeen Moranita, with heT
father, as she called the clown, had
come to Paris.


She was in the height of her beau
ty, her youth and her talent. The
admiration and applause which she
received intoxicated her, and as the
| martial trumpet incites the soldier
led her to deeds of daring. One eV'
ening, by strange chance, ont ot
which destinies are made, the young
Due de Croisy's cOachman made &
mistake, and instead of stopping hi
horses at the door of the circus
stopped st the door of the booth intC
which the crowd was going.
The Due began by getting into {
rage, but ali st once he bethough
himself Of a paragraph he had READ
that morning in the paper abou
some extraordinary young eques
trienne, and turning TO the Vicomt'
de Yilliers he proposed they should
have a lark and turn into the circu
instead of turning into the Cirqui
Imperial


| The Vicomte consented with som,
zest for a new sensation, and he witt
the Due walked into the booth will
the enthusiastic and not over Per
fumed crowd that was pressing for
ward. .


Itso happened that just as th,
Due and the Vicomte took thei
seats in the best places the boot
afforded, Moranita, In her dazzlnl
dress of no particular country q
all on her mannifcant Arabian