Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-08

A HIGH CALLING.
[coNrIxUED rRox rxsrERpAf.1

then the balloon rose and went away swift
ly and lightly over the trees, while
watched it thoughtfully, for had got an
idea into my head. ..--r4
The next morning talked i. over
with Tom, who agreed to 1t In a min
ute aud we shook hands over it slowly,
ior our minds were made up.
when the manager engaged us first, he
SAID our names wouldn't do bit. The
1aantlpalpitis' name he said. was by rights
Bodge. The consequence was, (as have
said.) we went in for French; So the an
nouncement Of the "Grand Trapeze Act"
or Lies Feres Proveneau'' was adyer.
tised all over London.
How well remember that bright June
day, when, going forward in our grand
dresses, all tights, satin, ruff, and spangles,
we were greeted with roar of applause,
and saw that the garden was crammed
with people. in the middle of whom was
the great balloon ready filed, and swing
ing about as it tugged at its ropes.
How do you feel. Tom ?" said, look
ing at him.
"Brave as lion, my boy" he says
stoutly. ''It's no more than doing it
twenty feet high"
True" said; land it is as easy 10 be
drowned in sixty rs in six hundred feet of
water"
The next minute we were holding the
trapeze bars close to the balloon, waiting
the signal for it to rise and now. for the
hrst time, felt sensation of fear, and I'll
tell you what it gave to me-the people,
instead Of cheering US as soon as we be-
gan to rise. kept perfectly silent. and that
seemed to 60 right through me; for you
must know that what we had been adver-
tised to do was to perform our rope and
bar tricks right under the balloon, twenty
feet below the car, and that without any.
thing to save us If we should make slip.
There was no time for fear though; and
the next minute we were doing Il all as
cooiiy as could be, as we rose to fifty,
hundred, thousand feet in the air. and
floated out Of sight
don't recall that was 80 very glad to
get up into the car, for the excitement
kept me from being afraid I remember
thinking though, that Tom looked rather
pale; then we wrapped up well, and en-
ljoyed our first hours ride till we came
down right away in Kent.
We kept that on, time after time, and
people came to see us in mobs. The man
ager said il was the greatest take he had
ever had and 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, and / thought
ought not to have exposed poor Tom to
danger likewise; but all the same-I
dared not say word, for if had, knew
how jealous he would have turned direct.
ly.
should think we had done this about
a month and all through that month there
was ringing in my ears the words of q
woman who said out loud on the second
time we went up: "Ah they'll do that
once too Often" Suppose, thought to
myself, we do it once too often! But then
there came the thought of the money, and
that drove away great deal of timidity,
as told myself that a man might play
such antics for his whole life and never
fall. Well, as said. we had been doing
it about q month, when one evening We
took our places as usual. 1t was an extra
night, and the largest balloon was to As.
cend our rope, too, was to be heightened
to thirty feet, and at that distance below
the car. we were to swing about as usual.
You may say we ought TO have been used
to it by this time there are things though
which you never get used TO. try how you
will: and this was one Of them.
The bands were playing away their
best; the people were eagerly looking ut
the half a dozen @ronauts who were to
ascend; the manager Of the balloon was
there; the signal was given and the peo-
pie got in. Then the balloon was allowed
to rise SO high that our trapeze swung
clear, when l hung from it by my legs,
holding a cross-bar in my hands over
which Tom threw his legs, and hung head
downwards; and then away we went. up
through the soft evening air, SO slowly
that Toms hands touched the top of ono
Of the elm-trees asrhe waved about q cOu-
pie of flags.
Our custom was to hang quite still till
we were up 400 or 500 feet, and then
to begin our twining and twisting; and
we did so now. when Tom pitched away
the flags, and we went through our tricks,
rising higher and higher, with the faces
of the dense crowd getting mixed into \
confused mass, and the strains Of the band
growing fainter and fainter, till all below
was quiet mingled in hum.
We had only one more trick to do, and
that was to cast loose the bar. and each
man swing by his own rope. had loos.
ened my end, the perspiration streaming
down the while, and Tom had done the
same. when. swinging round towards me
with horrible white face. he exclaimed.
ben, old man, I'm going to fall"
It's no use; l couldn't tell you what
felt then. ii had tried ever SO hard, only
that in half second saw Tom lying
horrible crushed corpse far below; and l
felt so paralyzed that thought should
have to let go my own and fall myself. !
could act, though, and did. for in fash /!
had given myself jerk forward and
thrown myself against Tom. einging my
legs round him and holding him ngntiy;
and then, tired. as was, felt that had
double weight to sustain, for Toms rope
was swinging to and fro, and A. my legs
clung around his body. his head hung
down. and i knew he must have tainted
How managed to hold on can't tell
now, for though weak with all had done.
/ managed to give hoarse cry for help.
and the next moment ! heard cry Of hor.
ror from the basket work car. Then l
| falt tho roma ho Oin IN lark a fhav hA1an