Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-02-25

reis were nothing to him that an engage
ment was an agreement, and business was
business; that the performance drew crowds
OF visitors, and he insisted on its continu
ance. | told him that would not risk my
life again, and he threatened me with an
actlnn Tor breach of contract Shortly af
ter got an engagement at Glasgow and
left London without either seeing Ranford
or his unfortunate wife and child.
Two years passed away, during which |
hoard but little of my partner. While !
was perfarming at Manchester heard an
old friend of mine, of the name of Coobie,
being at a circus in neighboring town. /
took the train aud went over to see him.-
We dined, and at seven o'clock we went to
the circus. Longing near the entrance /
saw Ranford. He was considerably altered
thinner, and, if possible, more evil-eyed
than ever.
81 know that man." said to Coobie.
~ know you do" replied my friend
He calls himself the excelsior, or cham
pion somersault thrower to the world. lie
is in the bills for a treble somersault To-
night"
lyon know. sir, that trebeI somerssuIt
means standing on spring board, throw
ing your heels up, and turning completely
light on your feet / need not say that it
is very difficult thing 10 do"
said to Coobie:
It's odd that man who drinks so hard
should be capable Of such feat"
His engagement depends on it." was
the reply; we're full in every other line.
The governor told him that he'd sgn arti-
cles with him for that, but not for anything
else Eh ! he sees you."
turned round and saw Ranford walking
quickly from US. entered the circus, and
was accommodated with seat in the or
chestra. could not help thinking of nv
old partner. and had strange nervousness
upon me as if something was about to hap
pen but the feeling wore off when Ran
ford came into the ring. The audience a2
plauded loudly, for he had thrown a trebel
somersault twice before, and was fayorite
in consequence.
saw that he was not sober, and | mott
ced that he had the same little star upon
his forehead that he wore the last time we
made an ascent together While the
grooms were altering the position of the
spring board, he walked up to the orches-
ira, and with the old deVlish smile " CON his
face, said to me:
You can't keep away, then, can you p
You will come %
"Ranford," l whispered, you're net
yourself Tonight; take my advice--don't
throw the treble.
He swore an oath, and then burst into a
loud laugh"
You want me to fall do you ?' be said
Fall when you are here! Hi !-youp-
Ia ~
lie ran up On the spring board, bowed
and kissed his hands. The music began
He threw several sIDgle somersaults, then
double one; then he stopped and crossed
his arms. and looked at me. The audience
was very enthusiastic, and he again re,
peated the performance and stopped again.
There was more applause. Then he turned
to me, smiling, as if he said. 'Now'-and
went to work third time. lie made some
little preparation-turned o-er cnce or
twice. The house was so silent that you
might have heard pin drop. He got the
spring and over he went-once, twice
My heart rose in my mouth, for he saw that
he had tot room to turn third time His
head came down with horrible tbub
among the tan and saw dust; 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. /
tainted Whom | came to, saw his body
| being carried out of the ring.
Well, sir, l 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 still
was very fond Of him. | kissed the child,
who had grown fine little girl, and re-
turned to Manchester the next day. | at
tended the funeral. of course. Ranford
/ hardly left pound behind him. / 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
school for children, but that failed, and
! knowing that che must sometimes be press
ed, often sent to her. | don't know how
/ it came about. hut, after long correspon-
dence and courtship, married her ard
here she comes with my beef iea-and
/ here comes Evelina for that's the very wo-
man. sir, and that's the very little girl and
/ q real beauty she is %