Connecticut western news., 1871-11-10


 turn your face to me. 1 am so helpless here, and shall 50 soon lose the face I love Come to me for these few precious moments Very gently she came up to me, and laid her cool hand on my forehead. She bent her head, and as Ilaid my weak fingers on the soft, curls, one deer sob. shook the little kneelng figure, but when she rose her eyes were very bright behind their glistening lashes. She die not say a word of farewell to me. Witt a strange, brave, struggling smile, whicf would have vanished with word, she hes itated moment; her cheeks flushing, anC her lips wistful. :, Then quite suddenly with just the slight gesture with which she acknowledged the plaudits of the crowd she left me. " T'o' ''a'' ""tr'as+" .'..H II lay and listened as the carriages rolled past the infirmary gates; and presently across the river, could hear our own banc strike up merrily. I could follow in fancy the wh ole performance as I lay with the programme before me, and the well-knowr airs to guide me. At last, with a quicken ed beating of my heart, felt that the time was come for Ninette's appearance knew the very tune with which the band would greet her. An there it was but drowned almost in loud prolonged applause Then-knowing she was performing-I lay there quivering in every limb.
 It was just as one of the hospital physi- clans and nurse came into my room; that great shout rose on the other side of the river, and rolled joyously across to me My blood burned in my veins,
 "That is to greet her after her leap," said, speaking aloud and rapidly in my in tense relief " Thank God; it is over."
 q, too, am glad it is over," said the physician gravely; "such feat should never have been attempted"
 "And yet every one has gone to see it, ; I answered, passionately, as the nurse turn ed my pillow. ''Why did they encourage her ?" l- -.....-... -- s.....s :.
 "Such things would be done in any case," he answered. "at least we judge so though perhaps we do not try it; for cer- tainly every ons has gone to see this leap to night; all our own household, like every one else's. Yet how can we help disap. proving such dangerous act, performed too by young and beautiful girl, whose life must be one long temptation to display if to nothing worse ?"
 Listen ," cried, in sudden terror, pushing away the nurse, and starting up with painting breath, "Did the band stop then-suddenly Hark it is all silent.' J
 remember. faltering incoherect appeals to be taken to the circus; and~I remem- Der how they tried to soothe me, laying me back upon the bed, and drawing down the blind before my wild and staring eyes But in that hush across the river knew that had had my death blow. a7a
 They brought me no tidings for days They kept me in darkness within and without. But when at last my brain was calm again, and my eyes had lost their rest less fever, they told me some few particu- lars of that fearful night. a.t ,a..
 Ninette had performed her dauntless feat with dauntless success. While she stood daintily upon his neck, Black Hawk took his leap smoothly and safely. But the astonished crowd had not been satis- fled with this; with persistent cry they had summoned her again; and summoned her in my name. >s.aae saft e4 r .....
 . C As the seats for tonight have beer taken at double price," she had said laugh ingly, to Monsieur, "I owe the audience a double appearance" ''
 Ana so SDe 0aO FlOuen III aSaln CF1' umphantly, and springing lightly upon the neck of her horse, had prepared again fol her wonderful leap. t,.s....+ ;a1 D..
 Then came the hush-though no one ever could tell me exactly how it had oc cured; some saying Ninette was unusu ally excited by her brilliant feat anc some that she was tired. She fell-fel with light, sudden fall, which would not have hurt her, perhaps, but that her tenn pie struck the boards which separated the front row of spectators from the ring
 Thank God that there had been no strug gle! There was one deep red stain upor the soft, fair curls; but no anguish on the young dead face when they lifted it SC gently. '...-. ..t....
 In the rare, sweet dreams which visit me as lie here, always see Nlnette just as saw her first-just as I saw her last And when awake, am almost glad tc see, in the faces round me, that the time is drawing very near when shall see hel once again.-Lo,adoas Society.