Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-23
W TET
4A.Aa-A4Ls

ever 1t CHANGED to be. She was nine
teen, and an acrobat who had grown up
IN the ring, and who. for all She either
knew or expected, might die there on
its tan and sawdust any night.
Lately she had often dreamed such a
thing. One moment she saw herself
TRANQUILITY poised upon the vast expect
ant sea of upturned faces, the roar Of
applause still echoing from the roof; the
air went whistling shrilly past her ears,
the circus lights and the sea of faces be-
low seemed rising up to meet her with
the ground, and with groan and stfled
shrek she lay upon the tan in the ring,
sickening sensation Of pain shooting
through her in every part great cry
from the multitude going up rs from
single throat, the hurrying, feet Of strong
men rushing forward to lift her poor
maimedbody that had just life enough
left in it TO be conscious yet. followed by
frantic appeals for surgeon in the
front, the snuiling uneasiness Of the hor-
sesas she was carried past, the lamenta-
tions of heI comrades, and then mer-
clful blank that ended all.
Tonight she thought Of it again as
she stood in the little dressing room she
shared with Mrs Bridgeman, the wife
of the trained goat man, and made her
face up with red and white. How lus-
trious her eyes shOne out above the
rouge! How hideous and how staring
they would lOOk out through all the
mask Of paint if the life behind them
should suddenly 90 out "Well, there's
nobody but old Tom to care much, she
said, with a half sob, staring at her re-
Election in the little glass.
Here, Hazel, hurry up. What the
matter with YOU? You'll be late again.
and Spear will make a devil of a row, -
said the deep voice of :. middle aged
man who had entered lne room without
the ceremony of knock. He was Tom
Scully, the man who had brought her
up.and trained her to her perilous pro-
feSsion. He had evidently only Just
quilted the ring, for he wore tights and
spangled trunks, and his face was red
and glistening with an oily perspiration
he was hopping with a handkerchief
whose grayish hue proclaimed that il
was not over clean.
"Can Bridgeman 90 on with his train
ed goats after Clyde?" asked the girl,
with a sort of tremor in her voice.
"You amt flukc again tonight, !
hope?" said Scully, closer and speaking
in a low voice, rs he did not wish to be
overheard.
Hazel met his glance and half nodded
Scully puckercd up his lips and whist
led. That's bad, he said in the same
low key. You il come cropper, some
time, sure enough, Hazel. if you keep
going on in this way. Where's your
nerve? A yea ago I'd have backed
you against all the world for square
nerve. Don't civ in. Hear the shout
ing crowd in front. Let the noise put
spirit in You. Pluck up and 90 on.
Il can't, said Hazel, deiectedly. 81
wish | could cut the whole biz"
"Cut it and be id said Scully.
"You ain t sick hope?"
"Sick! Oh, Lord cried Hazel, I'm
sick of life that all She raised her
arm up to the level of her face and kept
itthere awhile, screening her eyes.
Seully eyed her narrowly, and step
ping back closed the door. Look here
Hazel he said anXi0usly ..you haven
been up to any shines don't know Of,
have YOU, my dear? You amt been
fair to keep dark I'D never stand in
Your way, as YOU know. If you were
lily OWL fiiliNl 1 tOtiNlH III ttiiN - III
with you; now say
NO, said Hazel, Tn alright, Tom
but for those dreams
dreaming again p said Soul.
Come, now, my dear. no fooling;
dreams 60 by contrarieS. don't YOU
know? Iark you're called. And
they re bowling out there in the front
like mad. That's for Clyde
Hazel" called voice from the
depths On the way She passed a tall, |
handsome young fellow, who had just |
left the ring, Ii was Clyde, the bare |
back rider of the troupe, 4 Texan, and |
this was his first season with them all. |
He was very reserved and quiet in his |
manners, and 50 distant to the other |
members of the troupe rs to be little |
liked. Apparently he didnot see Hazel |
as She passed She saw him clearly I
enough, and her eyes flashed, finding
herself nnnoticed. The next moment
she sprang forward in the ring. and was
greeted with deafening burst of APP
plause.
At the side Of the ring a ladder was
strongly braced, that led to a little plat |
form near the roof Hazel cleared the
space between almost ut single bound |
put her foot on the first rmg of the lad
der, and scrambled up like a cat, amid
the cheers and braves of the house
Scully. who was watching from below,
applaudcd with the rest Clear grit
she is, through and through" he cried
Suddenly he saw that she was standing
lingering the ropes with an uncertain,
hesitating air He shouted something
that sounded like Stretch the net"
and dashed after her across the RING and
up the ladder and to her side. where
she had not yet done lingering the ropes.
an look ont foryou, he painted in her
ear.
Down below it was only noticed that
another performance was to be Substi- |
tuted for the Great Leap for Life by
Hazel, without the net. Nobody but /
the man beside her saw the awful gray
ness of the girls face growing under
meath its mockery of rcd checks.
s,We'll rive 'em the Brothers" said
Scullv. You can do that-its safe
Take the leap aiterward, if you feel up
to It then. Now, then, stand back Up
She goes. Steady ready, let go.
"Tm SO cold muttcred Hazel; but
the man had swung himself already far
out upon the ropes.
He saw her wayer before she sprang
to him, and her hands. when he caught
them, were damp and chilly. Alive to
the danger. he sworc ut her, and while
they rocked together suspended in tho
mir he managed d get his handkerchief,
which was plentifully chalked. and dab
bed her hands Mind what You re at.V
he told her. in a hoarse voice that was
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