The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-04-27

the blue eyes and heard the pite-
Gus cry of "Oh, father, I Icannot! I
cannot dance tonight! My head
aches! it is so dizzy! Oh, I viii
dance all day tomorrow! Twill go
without my supper! viii do any
thing, but I am afraid to"
The child was interrupted by a
rude shake and oath by the brute
who held her.
''You shall go without your sup
per and dance too" he growled; !;
snow don't let me hear another
word from you. Ifyou fail I will
beat you until you are black and
blue"
The childs head sank upon her
breast and she was led passively
forward. Ihad been really stunned
by the terrible brutality I had over
heard, but pressed through the
crowd in time to see the child step
upon the rope, holding her balance
pole. The rope was some twenty
five or thirty feet above the ground; !;
she stepped upon it timidly, advanc-
ing slowly to the center, while the
band played a lively march. She
seemed to gain confidence as she
proceeded and I hoped all would
be well. The people were loud in
their applause, as one after another
of the daring feats was accomplish
ed upon the trapeze, which was sus-
pended from the center. Atlength
the child stood again upon the rope,
this time without her balance-pole;
she walked quickly forward, with
the evident intention of again exc
cutting some risky gymnast. When
a few PAGES from the center she
raised her hand to her head, sway
ed an instant, uttered a shrek and
fell The second she had remained
upon the rope gave some of the
more present minded opportunity
Of springing forward to save her.
1 had been on the alert and was the
first to start. I was in time; she
fell in my arms and both of US
by the concussion were brought to
the ground. In a moment 1 was
upon my feet, but she lay insensible
upon the grass. My medical skill
was now called into requisition. I
had the child conveyed to the near
est house and laid upon a sofa;
then I worked over her for half an
hour, while the father, in a rage,
paced the floor, muttering to him
self. When others were in the
room, however, he counterfeited
deep anxiety, and even forced few
tears through his hypocritieal lids.
1 could have hung him with good
relish, and more than once turned
round with the intention of knock
ing him down, but desisted for lit
tie Gretchen's sake-that is what I
had heard him call her.
At last she revived, and, ordering
my carriage, I accompanied her to
the humble house in which they
lived. Improved to be only SQUARE
from my own residence, where I
kept bachelors hall. They had but
one small room, with a bed and a
few chairs. Gretchen's mother
came forward to greet me, as 1 car
ried her child from the carriage to
the room, up two flights of rickety
stairs, and laid her on the hard bed.
The woman was very slender and
pale, with many gray hairs in the
light tresses that were neatly brush
ed and twisted at the back of her
head. She turned much paler as
she saw my burden, but her hus-
bands look sealed the bloodless
lips that had framed a cry of agony.
I did all I could, and when at last
1 turned to go 1 said that I Iwould
send some broth for the child and
come again in the morning. The
mother looked the gratitude she
dared not utter, while the man
growled out, she didn't think there
was any use in my coming ag'in."
As I passed out 1 spoke to a kind
looking woman who was at the door
and asked her to look out for the
child, also to come for me if she
grew worse, backing my request
with some money. 1 was perfectly
infatuated with the little invalid
and her mother, besides having q
most intense desire to shoot the
man.
It was half past twelve when I
threw myself upon the lounge in my
study ana fell to thinking, intend
ing to go to bed in a short time;
but the hours rolled on, and I was
chained by Morpheus to the realm
of chimerical phaRtoms, Sudden
ly / was reused by a furions ring
at the door bell. Springing to my
feet I rushed out. The servant
had already opened the door, and
before me stood the woman I bad
requested to let me know how
things went on. Gretchen had
been my first thought upon wax
ing, and 1 was prepared to hear the
words, ooh. sir. Gretchen is"
I waited for no more. Hatless,
Z Il