Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1891 — DOUBLE DICE AND JOE; The Poorhouse Waifs. [ARTICLE]

DOUBLE DICE AND JOE; The Poorhouse Waifs.

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER XVII-Contlnuad. •Now,” said Mitchell, “walk her •round twice." As the attendants obeyed him, the clown turned a somersault, lit square on the barrel, and shouted: “Ladies and gentlemen—and them babies in the corner—l have now the felicity and five dollars, salary in advance, for introducing to your notice the illustrious Princess Arabella Cinderella Anabella Sally Lum Mehitable Measles Donebrown Smith. ” v “Now!” said Mitchell

The attendants released the white mare, and moved quickly over the ring board. The white mare shook her head and —balked. Dick’s ga e was fixed on the spot where he had beheld his strange Vision. Firefly’s first bound almost unseated him., Away she flew, and around the center of the ring Mitchell walked, turning as he kept his eye on mare and rider. The clown pretended vast astonishment With uplifted hands —but the keenest pair of eyes among all there were Ben Brown’s, as he followed the ringmaster, and made faces behind his back. There were a sea of every way Dick looked. This was not like the audience ho had beheld in the city he had left in the morning. It Was almost twice as large; and ten times more enthusiastic.

For the first and on’y time in his life a mortal terror overcame Dick. The white mare made a break —or dash—to leap over the ring right where Dick had beheld the image of Joe. If Firefly shoula leap over there.it was sure death to the people she tranjpled over. He saw death before and behind him, in imagination, as he ploughed his way through the vast crowd, for the audience was so vast that the people were pressed up within a few feet of the ring. Ben Brown's eyes never moved from the boy’s. He saw there something he did not understand. A startled, wild look. And the boy did not appear to have his wits about him. He let the mare have her own sweet will—and she Indulged it Her scorn of attendants, ringmaster, and rider was superb She threw her head up and rushed—slackened her speed, held her head down and bolted. She stood still, and threw her heels up at imaginary foes. She turned and glared at Dick—and galloped on like mad.

There were spectators there who knew everything. Men who did not know the difference between a blooded horse and a sawhorse said it was all to mislead popple. The “white horse was as gentle as a milkman’s. ” “Oh, a cart-horse was just as dangerous." .- Dick grasped the reins tightly as he realized that in his abstraction he had wasted a golden opportunity. He gave the reins a jerk—the mare stood stock still He did an unparalleled thing then. He cut the beast square across the cheek with his rawhide. The blow was so hard the pretty tassel flew off—and the mare flew, too—flow like the wind round and round the ring, and still 'Dick lashed her flank. The blare of the band and the shouts of the multitude inspired him to further effort He cut her across the cheek again—and Firefly stood stock still, almost unseating her rider. Then she deliberately put her head back before he could prevent her, and bit at Dick’s leg. Biting was her habit She had torn boards to shreds, but the boy was resolved she should not make a meal off any part of him. He was now cool and collected. He whisked his right leg across the saddle as he had done with Black Bess, held his legs close to the mare’s side, leaned forward and lashed her repeatedly on the face. Firefly flew—she was well named. The crowd said she emitted sparks from her eyes. Anyway, she flew around the ring in agony of fear now—she was afraid of her rider. Still Dick lashed her; still the cheers grew louder, deafening, until the rider drew the rein tight. And he drew it the mare checked herself and trembled with fear. Suddenly she stood still—motionless as a statue The ringmaster looked at rider and horse amazed. The clown made a variety of gestures, indicating the thing mystified him completely, but he moved closer to Dick and said in a low tone, for his ear alone: “Bow—bow quick, then Jump off. ” Just then a drunken man crowded forward. Another seized him by the arm roughly, and the drunken man whipped out a revolver. Dick did the last thing he ever would have dreamed of had he not realized that he was again within a few feet of the Vision that reminded him of Joe He sprang upon the saddle, stood upon his feet on the mare’s back. He was bowing to the multitude Their cheers were ringing in his ears, when a shot startled the mare, creating consternation everywhere The mare bolted, her rider fell in the very midst of his triumph, and the mare was caught, stood shivering like one with an ague ten feet distant. When Dick recovered his consciousness and look up, he was looking into the eyes of the girl that looked like Joe’s twin sister. His head was in her lap. A crowd was bending over both. He heard the clown’s voice saying: “There, he’s all right He’ll be none the worse in an hour’s time.” Then Double Dick swooned the second time. CHAPTER XVIII. A PARADISE. When Dick opened his eyes again, he was lying in a downy bed. ■ The air was full of perfumes—the perfume of flowers. There was the sound of music in the distance; low, sweet entrancing music. A flood of sunlight poured in upon him. Dick closed his eyes, and murmured to himself, “It’s all over—l’m dead and in heaven.” He wasn't sorry—he wasn’t glad. He Just wanted to lie. There never was, in the world below, such a downy couch. There was a rustle —a movement Dick looked up. It was Mrs. Brown, the clown’s wife, bending over him She was dressed—had her best bonnet on and gloves. “Dear boy! How long you hflve slept

'How do you feel? Yott are not sore anywhere—you have no pain anywhere, have you, Dick?” Dick sat bolt upright in bed and looked about him. The room was bright—the walls were covered with warm colored paper, with such rich warm flowers. Gold predominated. “I —I—where am I?” Mrs Brown laughed merrily. “Don’t you know, Dick?" “I—l thought I '-was dead and in heaven,” said Dick. Mrs. Brown clapped her gloved hands, again and again. “O, that’s too funny for anything!" Then she called some one to her side. A fine-looking lady came and looked down at the boy and smiled sweetly. “O, the poor boy—-to think such a place as this is heaven. Why, when Monsieur Dufaur hears it he will laugh his sides sore. Heaven, indeed!” The music had ceased! “But I heard —music —such beautiful music, ” said Dick. “O!” Madame Dufaur blushed. “Child, it was only me practicing a new piece, but it is charming. I shall think more of it now it reminded you of heaven.” “What am I doing here? I must get up.” “Certainly you shall. You are -only resting. I thought it best The doctors —both great men—said you were not hurt—rest would be good, and you have > slept as sound as a babe. “I’ll leave you now and tell Ben; he’s not alarmed at all, but he may as well know, ” said Mrs. Brown. | “I was going up Broadway—now I’ll ! return and Ben will go with me. You're ' not a pin the worse. ” “Me! Why, I don't feel sick at all ” “Then we will let you dress yourself,” said Madame Dufaur. “Toll me how I came here, and where I am?” said Dick. “You are in Monsieur Dufaur's academy. Madame here was at tne circus, and when you were hurt, or fell, she made the Surgeon, whom she knows, bring you here. Ben wouldn’t let you stay in the men’s tent and it was so far to my hotel. ” “And is this where—where the young lady lives?” Mrs. Brown and madame exchanged glances. “What young lady?” “I—l was sure I fell—that some young lady—well, I thought I was lying near a young lady when I fell.” “So you were—a young lady who went to the circus with Monsieur Dufaur. Do you wish to see her? When you get' up you will see her. ” Mrs. Brown then withdrew, Madame Dufaur saw her to the door, and Dick speedily dressed himself. Then he leoked out on the street It was a very quiet, respectable street Such fine houses on all sides, and, some had spacious grounds about ’them. Dick did not know they were public institutions. They looked like palaces in ' his eyes. . | Presently a servant brought him a breakfast that was like nothing he had ’ ever dreamed of. The dishes were beautii ful. He could not help admiring them. The eggs were cooked in a way new to him. There was something that might be potatoes; he never tasted anything as good. The cakes —they melted in his mouth, and there was enough for three people. He felt ashamed of himself when lie looked at the little that was remaining. He was so hungry, and everything was so delicious, that before he thought of “how it would look” he had ate to his satisfaction. Dick never forgot that breakfast. After the servant came in and took the things away, a very handsome man, with bright, piercing, black eyes, came in. “So! I see you are yourself. Well, my brave boy, I am proud to make your acquaintance. You have the courage, the will, the determination. So, so! You are as sound as my watch, which 1 would not part with for five hundred dollars. And so you did think you were in heaven. Ha, ha! Well, I wish I cou'd show to you what place I was bred in France: then you would be in heaven, as much as man can make here on earth. ” Madame Dufaur came in while her husband was talking, and behind her stood a young lady, the side of whose head was turnbd to Dick. When Madame JDufaur came forward the young lady glanced shyly toward Dick. Dick was looking at Madame Dufaur, who spoke to him, when Monseur Dufaur heard an exclamation. He turned quickly, as did his wife. Dick looked, too. The young lady was staring with open mouth at him. “Dick!” “Joe!” Dick caught her hands quickly, his eyes dancing with joy. “It was you all the time!” “I —I was not sure it was you. Not until ” x Dick looked ashamed, and Joe held her head down and blushed. “Now, I suppose,” said Dick. Joe nodded prettily. How different she looked. Her hair was arranged so lovely; It displayed the contour of one of the prettiest heads ever placed on woman’s shoulders. And her eyes were so different. They shone with a soft light—they used to snap with fire at him. And then her dress. It was so neat—so prettily worn. Everything suited her—seemed made for her. She was part and parcel with the material, or, rather, her dress seemed part of her. As for Dick, he had a brand-new suit on—the suit the clown had bought him the day previous. He looked like a young prince. Certainly no person to look at Dick that moment would believe that boy was raised in a poorhouse “What! you know each other!” said Madame Dufaur. “We were raised together, ” said Dick. “What!” said Monsieur Dufaur, “you too come from that horrible place?" “Yes, sir,” said Dick modestly;., “So-so. So-so. And you ran away? Eh. Is that it?” “I did, sir.” “I take your hand. ” Monsieur Dufaur actually treated him like a prince. “Any boy who would fight for Joe here” —Joe was blushing furiously—“eh, little one—she has talked of you a thousand times. How you always took her to save her beatings. The lies are recorded to your favor in heaven! That beast Caper! He should be boiled in oil! Bah! Caper. I should like myself to do it ” “Why, it is quite a little romance,” said Madame Dqfaur. “Well, you two can go out in the garden and tell all that you have to telt. I give you one hour. ” The hour seemed half ’ flown only, when Joe discovered hew time had sped. “Oh, Dick! I haven't told you half, nor tenth of all Tvs to tell.” Then, seeing him smile, she cried in

•’arm: “Oh, and you’ve never said a word—only listen! I don't know a blessed thing—not a thing—that’s happened to you." “Never mind; now I know where you live, I’ll come back and tell you what a precious jolly time I’ve had!" “Youjnnst I’ll be just crazy,” Joe said, clapping her hands, “to hear it ” Then, sifter reflecting a minute: “Ain’t it upside-down, every way? I ought to be the Arabian Queen —and you—you ought to be assisting Monsieur Dufaur. ” “Yes,” said Dick, sighing; “but Den’s awful good and kind —and I want to get rich—and then the things I’ll buy you, Joe!” “Isn't it splend'd to make money, and to ride with thousands applauding you? My, but I’d like to ride that way!” “You mustn’t Joe. I’ll make lots of money for you—you'll see." And Dick meant it. When he was going away to meet Ben Brown at the circus, Monsieur Dufaur and nis wife stood at the door bowing. Joe could not trust herself; she stood at the window up-stairs and wiped her eyes. [to bb continued.]