A Circus Romance

Valeska and Danilo Bedini and their daughter Rita are performers in a circus. Years of hardship and ceaseless striving to keep abreast with the demand for new and hazardous feats in the ring, have told on the woman, who before her elopement and marriage to the handsome performer, was a member of a prominent and wealthy family in Madrid. Valeska has kept this feeling of unrest hidden, striving to content herself with the lot of her husband and Rita, who know no other life; but she can stand it no longer and when temptation comes in the form of an ardent note from a persistent admirer, she throws caution to the winds and accepts his proposal to run away. In their haste to escape from the dressing-room unobserved, a candle is overturned and flames soon envelop the flimsy furnishings. Rita returns to the apartment and discovers the smoke. She calls her father and a search is made for Valeska. Danilo cannot be kept from the burning room and dashes into the flames, only to fall blackened and overcome. He is carried to a place of safety by his fellow actors, but no trace of Valeska can be found and she is mourned for dead. After months of torturing pain, the actor recovers from his hurts, a crippled and broken-hearted man. Rita becomes his mainstay and comforter, attempting bravely to support both by selling flowers in the gay cafés of Paris. One day Rita comes face to face with Valeska. Explanations follow and Valeska learns for the first time of the fire of her supposed fatal ending, and of the injuries sustained by Danilo. The maternal love is rekindled in her heart and she leads Rita to her home. Here Count Rinardo, the lover, who is really an adventurer, learning Rita's identity, shows his displeasure, fearing the undoing of his scheme to secure the fortune which had been left to Valeska by her father. Rita, thinking she is interfering with her mother's happiness, refuses to stay, and leaves for her humble home in the attic. Danilo, becoming impatient at Rita's absence, sets out to search for her. He meets her at the gate of the villa and seeing her taking leave of the fashionable woman, is told by Rita that she is a lady who has taken a great interest in her and will help them. Together they return home. With Rita gone the unhappy woman turns and denounces the supposed Count who had lured her away. He tells her of the fortune which awaits her in Madrid and begs her to flee with him and forget Rita and Danilo, but she will not listen, and sends him away. Months later Rita contracts a heavy cold, which turns into a dangerous fever, and the distressed father is forced by hunger to overcome his pride and seek charity at the hands of the woman who befriended his daughter. Valeska receives him. Danilo is dumbfounded. She tries to explain and pleads his forgiveness, but he refuses to listen. Crushed in spirit he finds his way back to the attic, but is followed a short distance by Valeska, who will not be kept from her sick child. The woman instantly perceives the serious condition of Rita and secures everything possible to restore her health. Then, worn out by her labors, Valeska falls into a weary sleep. Rita awakens early in the morning, the crisis passed, and her strength and reason returning. She sees the sleeping woman and awakens her with kisses. The happy mother pleads forgiveness of her daughter and husband, and when Danilo in his great joy takes her to his heart, the little family is once more united and happy.