The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-02-12


A tremendous deafening shout arose
from the mob, and the plucky girl threw
a bunch of kisses at Golson. The color
had returned to his face with unnatural
intensity, and the look OF absorbing
anxiety had passed away. His chest
was broader and his eyes brighter. lie
simply smiled at Zoe, and did not even
applaud her. r
men made no preparations to remove
the rope, but Golson started TOR the
ladder. -,
"She's comm back" said one Of the
men.
Golson stopped as if he had been shot
through the brain. The hard, anxious
look returned, and the deathly pallor
came back all in an instant.
81 didn't know that" he said, calmly
and resignedly. He resumed his old
DO ition, and watched the girl with
intense interest-with gaze in which
were concentrated his soul and heart
and mind and strength-a look in which
was expressed the profoundest feelings
of n strong nature.
Zoe rested a moment, and again
s,epped upon the rope. She had pro-
ceeded about ten feet, when one OF lhe
men remarked:
"Shes scared"
Golson noticed it; we all saw it. Hei
teeth were so tightly compressed that
in the dazzling light we could see
ridges in her cheeks. Her nostrils were
expanded, and she stared 6xedly ahead
at the rope. Her breathing was short,
and a tremor appeared in her srms and
knees. Instead of her usually erect
carriage, there was a perceptible lean
ing forward. When she had made but
a dozen steps she stopped and appeared
to be in doubt. She then apparently
made an effort to walk backward but
was evidently afraid to undertake 1T.
She stopped again, mustered her c0ur-
age threw quick glance at Golson,
and recommended her dangerous jour.
new, The rope trembled and swayed
under her feet, and in this way caught
swinging motion that tries the nerve OF
the most experienced balancers. when
she had reached the middle it was i'm
possible to proceed. She might have
crossed safely. but the fire on our side
was exhausted. She had walked more
slowly than usually, and the fire was
consumed too soon. She could not see
the rope distinctly enough. She stood
still for several seconds. The light be-
hind her continued to burn, but it was
of no assistance to her, and Immediately
afterward it was also exhausted. We,
could distinctly see the poor frightened
girl by the light from below, but her
face was obscured. The crowd sent up
Kisses and groans. The rope-walker at
tempted to take another step. Sne sue
ceeded. She tried second and failed.
Her foot suddenly slipped, but she was
active and alert, and caught upon her
knee, Her fright increased, and in the
terrible excitement of the moment she
dropped the pole. 1t struck the rope,
balanced a moment, and sllpped OF
unon the crowd below. There was a
great scattering, and the crowd realized
that the young girl was falling. Every
sound was hushed The child steadiet
herself wildly and instinctively mo
! ment with her arm, as she knelt on th'
rope, and then fell.
Golson's appearance was painful an'
!. pitiable. Great cords stood out upo'
his face, which was overspread by a
agony of CHASTITY pallor. His muscle
sWelled with ridges and knots, and hi
hands assumed the appearance OF a.
eagles claws. He gazed at the rop
where the girl had moment ago stood
She had caught by the right hand, an
hung suspended over the cobbles. L
another moment she grasped the rop
with the other hand, and hung pei
fectly still. Golson waited but fe'
, seconds, when he saw that fright ha
taken the strength from her arms, an
that she could not climb upon the ropt
He dashed off his hat, and grasped tn
! rope with both hand, and threw one lie
across it. He crawled along carefully
a that the shaking might not cause tn
girl to lose hold. The crowd watche
, him in breathless silence. The ror
swung lower under the double weigh
and the fastenings creaked and groanet
= "Hold tight, my child" We coul
hear him say to the fainting gir
b "Hold on, for Gods sake, and l wi
save you" ,,..
!, She raised her head and looked at MI
a for moment, and then droPPeu
a again between her arms. tie az
y preached her slowly and painfully, fc
/, he was a stranger to the situation, an
- was afraid of shaking her off. 4
i length he reached her. He whispere
n something to her, and she looked hi
"a full in the face. He allowed his rigl
= knee to remain across the rope, thre
il his right arm over it at the elbow, al
10 twisted the right hand around unde
z meath 70 secure firm hold, and pass
y. his left arm around the girls wal
70 The strength of Fix men was in tho
~ supple limbs and clean-cut muscle
4 He drew her toward him. She releas
= her hold, her head dropped, and 8
tainted.
&c. "Pay out at the college end"
he shouted.
,l- His feet were in that direction. IL
er ouired four of us to let it out. 1t sli
ed ped over the parapet slowly, and
nd suspended pair began to be lowered.
ID. "Pay it out~ he shouted again.
nd We let it 90 more rapidly, and he a
/. his swooning charge were against. t
10 building across the street. He let hi
st st self slide gradually down until
AZ a. reached the sidewalk, where be was n
Il. H. by the manager. The latter tooS
y. ~ girl to her home.
!. ~ The crowd gathered around him vi
~ wild shouts, but he slipped away, a
+o met us at the door of the college.
!" Where is that scoundrel who 81
~ she was sulking~ he demanded, W
at an angry look.
q, We pointed him out.
" Golson walked up to him, explain
-. lis business and gave him sting
o. blow in the face that sent him rolling
=. %ho Uutfar