Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-27
W. ID. wALLACH:
UP IN THE AIR .
ICoSTINUED.J /

Next day the nurse-girl told me that Ran
ford was jealous, and that he and his wife had |
auarrsled about me. We assembled that night, |
he never spoke TO me, nor to him We both |
twirled and tumbled up in the air without ex- |
changing a word
when we got down I felt Inclined to give |
him a good thrashing for his unjust suspicious
but kept my temper for the sake of the poor
woman, and 80 We went on for eight or ten
days.
"Our next ascent teok place on the gala
night Of the United Order Of Ancient Toxo-
phOlites. 1t was q still summer night with
out breath Of wind. We ascsnded till the
gardens, and the streets, and the churches
looked like Dutch toys, and then got out upon
the rope.
cas- took my seat beside Ranford, noticed
that he had been drinking more that usual.
He had lately taken to an odd way Of shutting
his eyes, and smiling with his lips tight press
ed together; and what with his knit brows,
white tights, spaRgled trunks, and the bit of
ribbon round his head, with paste star in the
centre, he looked, as he sat swinging backward
and forward in the air, more like an evil being
than q man.
I'VE went through our performance, all but
the last trick. As was swinging from his two
hands, the thought came into my head, If he
should not hold on
Gas I left 90 my left hand, and swung only
by my right, heard his voice above me.
Kerr, said he, are you guilty or not"
'I asked him what he meant.
"'You know he answered. Confess that
you have Wronged me; speak the truth They
are your last words! i have but to loose my
grip, and down you 90.
II tried to seize his disengaged arm, but he
held it above my reach, and put his other in
such position that could not catch at il, but
swung entirely at his mercy.
'I leaped to reach the rope with my feet
and 80 hang by my heels, but / failed. shut
my eyes and prayed Heaven to forgive me-
arf of NV AZ rr1ah rfno unv
brain at the same time was perfectly con-
scious Of every thing about me-the blue sky,
the quiet evening, the rope, the bottom Of the
car, and Rsnford's head inverted over me. /
thought what time 1 should be falling, fall
ing. 1 knew how slowly the sand sunk from
the car, and what long, long time l sksuld
be dying ere reached the earth.
''I found strength to speak.
"'Ranford,' /" l said, you are mistaken.
"'You lie" he answered.
"'If you let 60 my hand you are q murder
er There will be an inquest
"tI don't care
".It is known that there was iIl-blood be-
tween u.s. continued. .'You may be hanged
Your wife will say how jsalous--
"a '0tfS cannot sfUs srIds'ses against
Il knew the next moment should be fall
ing through the air. A spasm shot to my
heart. fancied l saw the bottom of the car
rising from me. I felt the grasp Of his fingers
IOOsou- VIII Inc energy anu etronSt0 OF Qe5-
peration, / leaped up and caught his.wrist
with my diseHgaged hand. I climbed up his
body, know not how, till reached the perch
and thence into the car, where lay painting
for breath, and trembling like hare.
"He soon followed me.
al frig ghtered you didn't p he said. You
don't suppose 1 meant it, do you?' ..
II made no answer, bat prepared for the de-
soent. While arranging the cordsge, eur hands
met. could nst bear bis touch. I struck him,
and knocked him into the bottom of the car,
where he lay growing and swearing till we
came to the ground.
Next morning called on the proprietor of
the gardens, and told him all. To my intense
astonishment, he fatty refused to cancel our
engagement, and said that our quarrels were
nothing to him; that an agreement was an
agreement, and business Was business; that the
performance drew crowds Of visitors, and he
insisted on its continuance. / told him that
would not risk my life again, and he threaten
ed me with an action for breach of contract
Shortly after got an engagement at Glasgow,
and left London without seeing Ranford or his
unfortunate wife and child.
Two years passed away, during which
heard but little of my late partner. While
was performing at Manchester 1 heard of an
old friend OF mine, Of the name of Coobie be
ing at a circus in a neighboring town. 1 tool
the train and went over to see him. We dined
and at seven o'clock we went together to tn,
circus. Lounging near the entrance l saw
Ranford. He was considerably altered-thin
ner, and, if possible, more evileyed than ever
"'I know that man. / said to Coobie.
"'I know you do, my friend replied. n,
calls himself the excelsior, or champion soner
sault throWer to the world. be is In the bill
for treble somersault tonight
''You know, sir, that a treble somersauI
means standing on a spring board, throwinl
your heels up, and turning completely round
three times in the air before you light upol
your feet. / need not say that 1t is very diff
hcult thing to do.
II said to COobie, IT'S odd that man VIII,
drinks SO hard should be capable of such
feat
".His engagement depends on it, was tn
reply; we're full In every other line. The 60
vernon told him that he d Eign articles will
him for that, but not for anything else. Eh
he sees you
"I turned round and saw Ranford waIkin
quickly from US. / entered the circus, an
was Accommodated with a seat in the orchestra
could not help thinking Of my old partner
and had a strange nervousness upon me as
something was about TO happen; but tho feel
ing wore of when Ranferd came into the ring
The audience spplsuded loudly, for he ha
thrown a treble sOmersault twice before, an
was q favorite in consequence. .-.
81 saw that he was not sober, and noticed
that be had the came little star upon his fore
head that he wore the last time we made a
ascent together. While the grooms were alter
ing the position Of the spring board, he wslh
ed up 70 the orchestra, and, with the old devi
ish smile upon his face, said to me:
'.,YOu can't keep away, can't you2 70
SCIH come" r.EF .-
'''Rsnferd, 1 whispered, you're not your
self tonight; take my adyice-don' throw Ii
treblsv @
He swOre an oath, and then burst into
lOut laugh. -s.
"'You want me to fail, do youl he saiG
Fail when you're here Hi,-youp-lan
'He ran up on the spring board, bowed, an
kissed his hARds. The music began. He thre
several single somersaults, then double on,
then he stopped, and crossed his arms, an
looked at me. The audience were enthusiast
and he began again, repeating the perfo
nance, and stopped again. There was moi
applause. Then he turned toward me, ami
ing, as if he said. 'HOB'-and went 10 work