The Ringmaster's Wife Read Online Free Page A

dusk.”
    How could it possibly be any different from last year? Or the year before that?
    Dulcey looked down at the brightly colored box in Armilda’s lap. “You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you? About the tearoom. And the piano.”
    “Nonsense.” Armilda tossed the idea off with a wave of her hand. “You were snoring again and it woke me up. You really should do something about that.”
    “Admit it,” Dulcey said. “You only get your box out when you dream. I couldn’t begin to guess how many catalog clippings of Steinway pianos are buried in there.”
    “Shhh!” Armilda leaned forward. “Papa’s probably already up and Momma’s heating water for coffee, but I’d like a few moments of peace before we have to head for the shoe factory.”
    “Uh-uh. Not until you admit the truth.” Dulcey crossed her arms over her chest.
    “Fine.” Armilda kicked out, connecting a light tap to her sister’s shin. “But we’re all allowed our secret dreams. I was merely visiting mine again. You shouldn’t tease me for it.”
    “But we have to work today. How can you focus on your job if your mind is always flitting about in that cigar box? You’re so distracted, it’s a wonder you don’t make shoes for a person who has two left feet.”
    “Oh, Dulce. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life thinking about shoes—not when there’s so much more out there.”
    “Maybe. Here there’s nothing but sleepy cows and dew-covered fields as far as the eye can see.” Dulcey gestured to the span of misty fields. “And when the factory moves to Chicago next year, you won’t even have shoes to think about! Which is why you need to see this.”
    Dulcey leaned forward with a loud creak of her rocker and extended a folded newspaper clipping to her sister. “It’s from the Chicago Daily Tribune .”
    Armilda opened it and glanced at the headline: WORLD ’ S FAIR COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION: GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 21.
    “So?”
    “Just read it,” Dulcey said.
    Armilda scanned the article. Though the fair wouldn’t open for another seven months after that, plans for the grand spectacle were well under way. The city of Chicago would show that it could rise from the ashes of the great fire that had felled it in 1871. And the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first landing on the continent would be celebrated the world over, with a grand showcase of technology, science, industry, and culture from forty-six different nations.
    In short, it sounded amazing.
    Amazing, but miles away from Moons. And a lifetime away from where she’d ever be.
    “Did you read about the electricity exhibit? And there’s actually a moving walkway. A travellator , it says. It will carry a person down to the pier without lifting a foot.” Dulcey laughed. “How do you like that? With moving walkways, shoes might become a thing of the past.”
    “We’ve read exciting news stories before. Why is this one any different?”
    “Think about it. It’s the World’s Fair , Mim. As close as it’s ever going to be to us. It’s coming to Chicago along with millions of people from all over the globe. You’ve always wanted to see the world. Well, it looks like the world is coming to see you.”
    Fashion. Art. Music. All the things she loved.
    “How about that zoopraxiscope thing—a giant picture on the wall that moves like a photograph’s come to life! Wouldn’t you love to see that? And Sissieretta Jones is going to sing! Can you imagine?”
    “Sounds wonderful,” Armilda said, handing the clipping back. “Maybe you should go.”
    “Be serious.” Dulcey shook her head at the folded clipping. “ You should go, Armilda. I’m not joking. Go to Chicago. The shoe factory is moving there and you’re guaranteed a job in it. And then who knows? Maybe you can go on to New York after that. Or some-place even more exciting. What else do you have in that box of yours? Maybe you could find a way onto a ship sailing for