Omaha daily bee., 1882-10-07

usual erect carriage, there was a per
ceptible leaning forward.
When she had made but a dozeI
steps she stopped and appeared il
doubt, she then apparently made al
effort to walk backward, but was evi
IDENTITY afraid to undertake il. Sh,
stopped again, mustered her courage
threw aquick glance at Golson, ant
recommended her dangerous journey.
The rope trembled and swayed unde,
her feet, and this way caught a swing
ing motion that tries the nerves of Ia,
most experienced balancers.
When she had reached the middle
t. was impossible TO proceed. Sh,
might have crossed safely, but the fir,
on our side vas exhausted. She haC
walked moro slowly than usual, anc
the ire was consumed to soon, and sh,
could not see the rope distinctly
enough, She stood still for severa
seconds The light behind her con.
t,nued to burn, but it was of no aosis
lance to her, and Immediately after
ward it was also exhausted.
We could distinctly see the poor.
frightened girl by the light from be
low, but her face was obscured. The
crowd SEM up Kisses and groans. III,
rope.walker attempted to take another
step; she succeeded; she trieda second
and failed, He foot suddenly slipped.
but che was active and alert, ant
caught upon her keee. He fright in
creased, and Ia the terrible excitement
of the moment she dropped the pole.
1t struck the rope, balanced a mo.
ment, and slipped Oft upon the Grove
below. There was a great scattering
and the crowd realized that the young
girl was falling. Every sound wa,
hushed. The poor child steadiedhe lei
self wildly and instinctively a moment
with her arms as she knelt upon The
rope, and then fell
Golson's appearance was painful and
pitiable to see. Great cords stood on
upon his face, which was overspreac
by an agony of CHASTITY pallor. Hi.
muscles swelled with ridges and knots
and his hands assumed the appearance,
of an eagles claws. He gazed at tn,
rope where the girl had stood momen'
ago. She had caught by the righ'
hand, and hung suspended over the
cobbles. In another moment sh,
grasped the rope with the other hanc
and hung perfectly qu:,t.
Golson waited but q few seconds
when he saw that fright had taken tn,
strength from her arms, so that sh,
could not climb upon the rope. II,
dashed off his hat and grasphed tn,
rope with both hands and threw ont
leg across it. He crawled along care
fully, that the shaking might no
cause the girl to lose her hold. TIL,
crowd watched him in breathlesI
silence. The rope swuna lower undei
the doubled weight, and the fasten
ings creaked and groaned.
"Hold tight, my child" we coulc
hear him say to the fainting girl
"Hold on, for Gods sake, and l viii
ave you"
She raised her head and looked a
him for a moment, and then dropped
it again between her arms. He ap
preached her slowly and painfully
for ne was a stranger to the situa
ton, and was afraid of shaking he,
off. At length he reached her. HI
whispered something to her, and SHIT
looked him full in the face. He al
lowed his right knee to remain acros
the rope, and threw his right hant
around underneath to secure a firm
hold, and passed his left arm rount
the girls waist. The strength of si1
men WAS in the supple limbs and clear
cut muscles. He drew her TOWARD
him. She released her hold, her heac
dropped, and she tainted.
"Pay out at the college end" he
shouted.
His feet were in that direction. Il
required four of us to let it out. Il
slipped over the parapet slowly, anG
the suspended pair began to be low
cred.
"Pay it out!' he shouted again.
We let it 90 more rapidly, and h
and his swooning charge were agains
the building across the street. He le'
himself slide gradually do"n until h,
reached the sidewalk, where he wal
met by the manager. This latter tool
the girl to his home.
The crowd gathered around hin
with wild shouts, but heslipped away
and met us at the door of the college
"Where is that scoundrel who sale
she was sulking2" no demanded.
We pointed him out.
Golson walked up to him, explained
his business, and gave him a stinginl
blow across the face that sent hin
Keeling Into the gutter.
/ met the dear old fellow on Caron
delet street the other day, and hi
wife was with him, charming anC
pretty az ever. She iaughingly re
marked that she liked to see the cir
Gus as much as ever, bnt that she al
ways Jelt a horror for rope-walking.
almost believe that her dimples are a
pretty as on the night she thre'
kisses to a great crowd In the street