Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-30
NUMBER a..
except through breaks and openings in the

except through breaks and openings in the
clouds.
esCome john" says I, ''our share Of this
business is done. Don't you think we might
as we'll be getting into the car p
He was hanging below just then holding
on by nv two hands and had been hanging
SO quiet for some minutes. He did not seem
to hear me and no wonder for the clouds
were gathering about us so thickly that even
the voices Of the gentlemen up above grew
muhied and could hardly see for yard
before me in any direction. So called to
him again and repeated the question.
He made no answer but shifted his grasp
from my hand to my rist and then up to the
middle Of my arm so raising himself by de-
grees till our faces came nearly on a level.
There he paused and I felt his hot breath on
my cheek.
.sWilliam Waldur," said he hoarsely,
"was not tomorrow to be your wedding
dayY'
Something in the tone of his voice in the
question, in the dusk and dreadful solitude,
struck me with horror. I tried to shake off
his hands but be held too fast for that.
"Well what if it VAST" said I after mo-
ment s'You needn't grip so hard Catch
hold Of the pole will you? and let 60 my
arms" e''7
He gave short hard laugh but never
stirred. "a, -,,.sNa.4
II suppose we'rc about two thousand feet
high" said he; and it seemed to me that be
had something between his teeth. if either
of us was to fall he'd be dead man before
he touched the ground" -sl asn+
would have given the world at that mo-
ment to be able to see his face; but what
with my own head being downward and all
bis weight hanging on my arms, had no
more power than an infant.
"John," exclaimed .'what do you mean
Catch hold Of the pole and let me do the same
NV heads on fre'' ..f
5s'Do you see this?" said he catching my
arm few inches higher up and looking
right into my face. 7aG'l H' rats
''Do you see this?'
It was large op0n clasp knife and he
was holding it with his teeth. His breath
seemed to hiss over the cold blade. .r
II bought it this evening" had it in my
lbelt-I waited till the clouds came round.
and there was nc soul to see. Presently
shall cut you away from the balloon. l
took an oath that you should never have
her and mean to keep it."
! A dimness came over my eyes and every
thing grew red. I felt that another minute
/ should be insensible. He thought / was
so already and letting my arm free made $
spring at the pole over my head.
That spring saved me. Our wrists were
drawn together and as he rose he drew me
along with him, for was SO faint and gid
dy that could make no effort for myself.
saw him hold by the pole with his left
hand saw him take the knife in the right
1 felt the cold steel pass between his wrist
and mine and then E@
And then the horror of the moment gave
me back my strength, and | chung to the
frame work just as the strap gave way.
we were separated now and was still Sc
cured to the trapeze by one ankle. He had
only his arm to trust to aud-the knife
Oh the deadly strife that followed | It
lsickens me to think oft. His only hope
now lay in the cursed weapon; and SO.
elineing to the woodwork with one hand he
strove to stab me with the other.
It was life OF death now and grew des-
|perate: !.
II 10 feel his murderous clutch upon my
throat and in the silence Of that hideous
struggle to hear the report of a champagne
cork followed by peal Of careless laughter
Overhead Oh, it was worse than death, q
hundred times over!
/ I cannot tell how long we chung thus each
with hand upon the others throat. It
may have been onlya few seconds but
seemed like hours to me- The question
was simply who should be strangled first.
! Presently his grip relaxed, his lips be-
came dead white and shudder ran through
every fibre in his body. He had turned
giddy. ,
Then d cry burst from him-a cry like
nothing human. He made false clutch at
the trapeze and reeled over. I caught him
just in time by the belt around his waist.
1T Is all over with me, y" he groaned be-:
tween his teeth. '.It's all-over with me |!
Take your revengep" Then his head fell
heavily back and he hung dead weight ON
my arm;
I did take my revenge but it was hard
work and was already half exhausted.
How / conttived to hold him UP to unbind
nv foot and to crawl so laden up the ropes
is more than / can tell bit thy presence Of
mind never failed me for an instant and
suppose the excitement gave me sort Of
false strength while it lasted. Atall events
/ did it though I now only remember climb
ing over the basket work and seeing the ia
ces Of the gentlemen all turned upon ME as
sank in the bottom of the car scarcely more
alive than the burthen in my arms.
He is penitent man now-ai Australian
settler-ard as am told we'll to do in those
parts.
This is my story, and have no more to
tell.
ET When Jeremy Taylor was introdu-
ced to the Archbishop Of Canterbury he was
told by Che prelate that his extreme youth
was a bar TO his present empfoyment eff