Part 10 (2/2)
”SUSAN PENROSE.”
After making a good flourish under her name, Sue felt a little better; still, her heart was heavy enough as she put on her pretty hat with the brown ostrich-feathers, which went so well with her pongee dress.
At least, she looked nice, she thought; that was some comfort.
The circus was a good one, and for a time Sue forgot everything else in the joy of looking on. The tumbling! She had never dreamed of such tumbling. And the jumping over three, four, six elephants standing together! Each time it seemed impossible, out of the question, that the thing could be done. Each time her heart stood still for an instant, and then bounded furiously as the lithe, elastic form pa.s.sed like an arrow over the broad brown backs, and lighted on its feet surely, gracefully, with a smile and a courtly gesture of triumph.
That one in the pale blue silk tights--could he really be human, and go about on other days clad like other men?
Then, the wonderful jokes of the clown! Never was anything so funny, Sue thought. But the great, the unspeakable part, was when the Signora Fiorenza, the Queen of Flame, rode lightly into the arena on her milk-white Arabian charger. Such beauty Sue had never dreamed of; and, indeed, the Signora (whose name was Betsy Hankerson) was a handsome young woman enough, and her riding-habit of crimson velvet, if a little worn and rubbed, was still effective and becoming. To Sue's eyes it seemed an imperial robe, fit for coronations and great state banquets, or for scenes of glory like this.
Round and round the Signora rode, bending graciously from the saddle, receiving with smiling composure the compliments of the clown.
”Well, madam! how did you manage to escape the police?”
”The police, sir?”
”Yes, madam! All the police in Chester--and a fine-looking set of men they are--are on your track.”
”Why, what have I done, sir, that the police should be after me?”
”What have you done, madam? Why, you have stolen all the roses in town and put them in your cheeks, and you've stolen all the diamonds and put them in your eyes; and worse than that!”
”Worse than that, sir?”
”Yes, madam. You've stolen all the young fellows' hearts and put them in your pocket.” Whack! ”Get up there, Sultan!”
And he smacked the white horse with his hand, and the Signora cantered gaily on. This was delightful; and it was all true, Sue thought, every word of it. Oh, if she could only look like that, what would she not give?
But now, a new wonder! The Signora had leaped lightly to her feet, and was standing on the back of the fiery steed, always galloping, galloping. She was unfastening the gold b.u.t.tons of her riding-habit; it fell off, and she stood transformed, a wonderful fairy in gold-spangled gauze, with gold slippers, and a sparkling crown--had she had it on all the time under her tall hat?--set in her beautiful black hair. The clown shouted with glee, and Sue could have shouted with him:
”Glory hallelujah! See the fireworks! Oh, my! somebody get my smoked gla.s.ses; she puts my eyes clean out. Smoked gla.s.s, ladies and gentlemen, five cents a piece! You'll all go stone-blind if you try to look at her without it.”
The music quickened its time, the snow-white steed quickened his pace.
The Signora called to him and shook the reins, and the good beast sprang forward in response. Faster and faster, louder and louder, till the air was palpitating with sound, and that glittering figure flashed by like a fiery star. And now two men in livery came running out, holding a great ring of living flame. They sprang up on two stools.
They held the ring steady while the flames leaped and danced, and Sue fancied she could actually hear them hiss. The clown shouted and waved his hat; the ring-master cracked his whip; the music crashed into a maddening peal; and with a flash and a cry, horse and girl dashed through the circle of fire.
[Ill.u.s.tration: AT THE CIRCUS.]
It was over. The flames were gone. The Signora was once more seated, cantering easily round the ring, bending again to the clown's remarks.
But Sue still sat breathless, her hands clasped together, her eyes s.h.i.+ning. For a time she could not speak. At last she turned to Clarice with burning cheeks and fluttering breath.
”Clarice, from this moment that is what I live for! I can do that, Clarice, I know; I feel that I can. Do you suppose she would take me as a pupil? Do you think she would? If I can do that just once, then I can die happy!”
”How you talk, Sue Penrose!” said Clarice. ”The idea! Who ever heard of a young lady going into a circus? Say, don't look over opposite.
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