Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-08-22

from his mouth. WRs little child
then, and I dreamed Of him every night
for two or three years. I dreamed OF
him again last night tor the first time in
a great while. thought went to pick
him up. and could feel his broken bones
grating against each other, and his
bloodshot eyes stared wide and cold at
me-"
"You are not we'll tonight, Zoe, y
said the man of science, examining her
pulse attentlvely. He became thought.
full. Il don't think you ought to risk
it, he said.
"Oh, lam not afraid now you are
here" she said in her charming way.
{" I think you had better watt
"Now don't get naughty. Unjust 60.
want to 60. Why there's two hun
dred dollars in that crowd, anyhow; my
manager would be crazy if did not
walk. Besides, 1 contracted to do one
street walk every two weeks in addition
to the lofty center-pole act every day.
Why, I've done the lofty five hundred
times and never lost my head, and why
is there danger now?"
"But it is more difficult to see the
rope at night" he persisted.
II never look at my feet when I
walk"
"You are feverish and nervous
1t will make me all the more care
full"
"Well, walk then," said Golson, with
shrug of his shoulders.
CHOW, Goldy, don't look that way. "
He became cheerful and beaming in a
moment. The manager appeared on the
opposite roof and signalled the girl to
proceed. The attendants at both ends
examined the fastenings of the rope to
see that they were properly secured.
They produced trays in which to burn
colored fires, and heaped Jumps of the
combustible material upon the parapet.
Zoe mounted the parapet with an elastic
step, and threw kisses at the shouting
crowd below as the red fires brought out
her frail form. She looked very charm
ing and pretty, standing smiling in the
intense glare Of the light.
"Give me the pole," she demanded
smilinely Of Golson, holding out small,
pretty hand and dimpled arm.
He picked up the cumbersome bal
ancing pole and placed it in he1 hands.
She found the center, shook hands with
Golson, threw kisses at the crowd, and
stepped firmly upon the rope. She soon
found safe pose, took few steps and
halted. She glanced back at the attend
ants, md anxiouely regarded the pile of
fire.
"You are burning it too FAST" she
said. "Good-bye, Goldy," and she
picked her way over the narrow bridge
that spanned the yawning chasm be-
meath. She was graceful, and walked
with considerable ease, apparently,
stopping occasionally to shift the pole
and steady herself.
"She is walking slowly and shaky to-
night" said one OF the men.
rs she not walking as we'll as usual o.
asked Golson, hurriedly, as he looked at
her steadily. His glance never left her a
moment.
"No; she can beat that. I think she
must be in the sulks''
Golson paid no attention to the insult.
and watched her with fascinated gaze.
His face was somewhat paler than usual,
in spite of the red glare. He did not
move a single muscle. Zoe had passed
the middle of the street.-The most dan
gerous place-and continued her walk
toward the other end. She climbed up
the incline, the rope depressing under
her tiny, nimble feet, and at last she
jumped safe and sound upon the opposite
roof.
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 anxiety had
passed. His chest was broader and his
eyes brighter. He simply smiled at Zoe,
and did not even applaud her perform
ance.
The shouting below continued. The
men made no preparation to remove the
rope, but Golson started for the ladder.
"Hold on; she's coming back" said
one of the attendants.
Golson stopped as if he had been shot
through the brain. The hard, anxious
look returned, and the deadly pallor
came back.
81 did not know that, ;" he said calmly
and 1esignedly.
He resumed his old position, and
watched the girl with intense interest
with gaze in which were concentrated
his soul and heart and strength and mind
"a look in which was expressed. the pro.
foundest feeling of strong nature.
Zoe rested q moment and again STEP
ped upon the rope. She had proceeded
about ten feet, when some one of the
men remarked:
"She's scared"
Ho1oo,, ,,o<;ood -. MN oi1 oo.r - IT..
teeth were SO tightly compressed that in
the dazzling light we could see ridges
in her cheeks. Her nostrils were ex-
banded. Her breathing was short, and
tremor appeared in her hands and
knees. Instead of her usual erect car
rage, there was perceptible leaning
forward.
When she. had made but dozen steps
she stopped and appeared in doubt; she
then apparently made an effort to walk
backward, but was evidently afraid to
undertake it. She stopped again, mus
tered her courage, threw quick glance
at Golson, and recommended her dan.
gerous journey. The rope trembled and
swayed under her feet, and in this way
caught swinging motion that tries the
nerves of tho most experienced bal
ancers. III
When she had reached the middle it
was impossible to proceed. She might
have crossed safely, but the fire on the
other side was exhausted. She had
walked moro slowly than usual, and the
fire was consumed too soon: and she
could not see the rope distinctly enough,
She stood for several seconds. The