Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-12

pletely round three times in the air before
you light upon your feet. need not say
II is o very difficult thing TO do.
"I said to Cobbie, It's odd that man who
drinks SO hard should be capable Of such
feat
Engagement depends upon it, was the
reply, we're full in every other line. The
governor told him that he'd sign articles
for that, but not for any thing else. Ehl
he sees you
u turned, and saw Ranford walking
quickly from us. l entered the circus, and
was accommodated with O seatli in the orches-
ira. 1 could not help thinking of my old
partner, and had strange nervousness
upon me, as if something was about to hap
pen; but the feeling wore off when Ranford
came into the ring. The audience applauded
loudly, for he had thrown treble somer-
sauh twice before, and he was favorite
in consequence.
~ saw that he was not sober, and no.
ticed that he had the same little star upon
his forehead that he wore the last time we
made an ascent together. While the giooms
were altering the position of the spring
board he walked up to the orchestra, and
with the old devilish smile upon his face,
said to me-
".You can't keep away, then, can't you =?
You will come
Ranford,' whispered, you're not your
self tonight; take my advice-don't throw
the treble
He swore an oath, and then burst into q
loud laugh.
"'You want me to fail, do you ? he said.
Fail when you're here Hi youp-lap
"He ran up on the spring board, bowed
and kissed his hands. The music began.
He threw several single somersaults, then
double one; then he stopped, and crossed
his arms, and looked at me- The audi
ence were very enthusiastic, and he
began again, repeated the performance,
and stopped again. There was more ap-
plause Then he turned toward me,
smiling as if he said 'Nowr and went to
work third time. He made some little
reparation-turned over once or twice.
The house was so silent that you might
have heard q pin drop. He got the spring,
and over he went-once, twice. My
heart rose in my mouth for 1 saw that he
had not room to run the third time. His
head came down with terrible thud among
the tan and sawdust and he lay in the ring,
| doubled up and dead.
"a surgeon came out of the boxes who
| said that his neck was broken, and that
death must have been instantaneous. L
tainted away. When 1 came to, saw his
body being carried out of the ring.
"Well, sir, was pitched upon to be The
bearer of the sad news to the widow. I'll
pass over that. was surprised to find that,
in spite of his cruel usage, she was still very
fond of him. kissed the child, who was a
fine little girl, and returned to Manchester
the next day. attended the funeral, Of
course. Ranford hardly left pound behind
him. 1 gave the widow an address that
would always find me- and told her to write
whenever-when-if she wanted-that is,
whenever she required assistance.
"First the poor thing tried to set up a
school for children, but that failed; and,
knowing that she must be sometimes pressed,
l often sent to her. l don't know how it
came about, but, after long correspondence
and q courtship, married her; and here
she comes with my beef-tea; and here
comes Evelina-for that's the very woman,
sir, and that's the very little girl, and a
real beauty she is p'