The Lincoln County herald., 1872-05-02
NO.. 1S.
.It was Door vasn'tit?" | said.

ouuWCtuts
We walked homo that night 10 silence,
but no sooner were we in our SOON than
Mr.. Tom whips off bis coat and wistcoat
and whips away bis boots, and then COOS
through half dozen Of our tricks rather
stiffly, but better than any one VIC had
seen.
"Havoa try, old boy" he said and I had
a try and the next DAY VIC nearly fright.
ened our landIady to death and sent her
off searching for help to cut Tom down,
because he had hung himself from hook
in the ceiling. They got used to our
antics at last, and took no notice of US,
as We tried hard to get of that stiffness,
for the same idea had struck US both
that we had better take to tumbling than
to paint and starve.
at strikes me-" said Tom, ",hat if We
get rope or two and some cross bars
fixed, VIC can astonish some of them !;
.nybow. we'll sea "
quite agreed with Tom and snort
time after, as bold as brass, we applied to
the manager Of the gardens for an engage
ment. OF course he wanted to SEQ what
We could do; so a couple of ropes we're
fitted up over the stage of the little hall,
bar was tied across like a swing and
on it we set to, turning over, hanging by
hands and toes, and the backs Of our
heads, and playing such daring pranks,
that We brought down the house-that is
to say, the lessee and his friends ap.
plauded loudly, and believe never
felt SO happy in my life as when he en.
gagged us on the spot at salary.
For the whole of that season we we're
as successful as could be, and through
constant practice we got to be very
handy, ard did our tricks in a way which
the newspapers called graceful but, as
matter CT course, there was soon a host
Of imitators and at the beginning oe
next season, people wanted something
new, and the manager asked US if we
couldn't introduce something. alt must
be wonderfully exciting, you know" he
said, cor else it wouldn't take. You'd
think that was strong enough for them,"
he continued, pointing to balloon
"but, Lord bless you they don't care now
for balloons. Go and think it over. For
my part | thought Of proposing q ira
pezs at the top of the two highest scaf
fold poles we can get"
l started bit as he said that; and
just then the balloon rose and went away
swiftly and lightly over the trees, while l
watched it thoughtfully, for had got an
idea into my head.
The next morning I talked it over with
Tom, who agreed to it in minute and
We shook hands over it slowly, for our
minds we're made up.
When the manager engaged US first he
said our name wouldn't do bit. The
Tantipalpitis' name he said was, by rights,
Bodge: The consequence was, as l have
said, we went in for French; SO the an
nounccment of the Grand Trapaze Act
of Les Freres Proveneaux" was adver.
tised all over London.
How we'll / remember that bright June
day, when, going forward in our grand
new dresses, all tights, satin, ruff and
spangles, We were greeted with q roar of
applause, aud saw that the gardens were
crammed with people, in the middle Of
whom was tho great balloon ready filed,
and swinging about as it tuggsd at its
ropes.
"How do you feel, Tom?" said, look.
ing at him.
"Bravs as lion, my boy" hs says,
stoutly. cts no more than doing it
twenty feet high"
"True," said, "and it is as easy to be
drowned in sixty as a hundred feet Of
water"
The next minute We were holding the
trapeze bars, close to the balloon, waiting
tho signal for it to rise. And now, for
the first time l felt q sensation Of fear,
and I'll tell you what gave it to me. The
people instead Of cheering us as soon as
We began to rise, kept perfectly silent,
and that seemed to 60 right through me !;
for you must know that what we had ad
vertised to do was to perform our rope
and bar tricks right under tho balloon,
twenty feet below the car, and that with.
out anything to save us five could make
. slip.
There was no time for fear, though
and the next minute We were dong it all
as coolly as could be, as We rose fifty, q
hundred, . thousand feet into the air,
and Aoatsd away out Of sight.
I don't recall that was so very glad
to get up into the car, for the excitement
kept me from feeling afraid. l remem
Der thinking, though, that Tom looked
rather pale. Then we wrapped up we'll,
and enjoyed our frst hours ride till we
came down right away 10 Kent.
We kept that on time after time, and
the people came to see us in mobs. The
manager said il was the greatest take he
had ever had; and I must say he behaved
to us handsomely, what with raising our
wages and making us presents. But |
did not feel easy in my own mind, for the
idea was my own invention, aud l thought
I ought not to have exposed poor Tom
to danger likewise but all the same, !
dared not say a word, for if had knew
how jealous he would have turned
directly.
IshouId think We had done lhis about