Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/335

Rh trembles. I am afraid of him—afraid of all the eyes."

"If you are afraid to go on you will be more afraid to stay away," her husband said cruelly, his eyes on her. "Do you think I will stand being ruined by you? Here, enough of this fuss!" he shouted; "get yourself ready! The trapeze is up, and everybody will soon be waiting."

She drew herself together and clenched her teeth. "I will go," she said hoarsely. "After all, what does it matter?"

When she came into the ring she was smiling as usual. No one noticed that the beautiful Nora had rouged to simulate the natural roses that had left her cheeks, or that a dark scar was hidden beneath the powder on her face.

No one noticed she was troubled but Malachy O'Dermod, who loved her; and he said nothing, but clenched his teeth so that the blood came upon his lip.

"Hold my hand tight, Nora," he said, as they went through one of their performances together. "You are not as fit as usual."

The sound of his gentle, strong voice soothed her. She smiled, feeling braver. "Imagine I,