Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-30

SOhS NA3 OiAAIi o"SNNNN DN'>'
'They are impatient
Billy with a whispered Good by!
GJd keep you safe = left hi wife. His
bosom throbbed with wild emotion he
thought Of the terrible strait in which
they were placed, and wondered If he
would ever see the dearly Lowell partner
of his Joys and SORROWS, or ever again
fondle the second edition of himself.
1t was a curious sight, certainly,
the like of which the mammoth trees
about them never before witnessed.
The dozen Of hideously painted Iu-
dians were gathered about the frs,
whose red flames lined the dark shad-
ows of the night with crimson glow,
and transmitted over.hanging foliage
seemingly into the cunning work of the
silver or goldsmith.
Towering over the trees and glisten-
ing III the moonlight, one might have
seen
"a few baby-specks that were peep
ing
From under their clothes OF
snow.
The Balsamo Brother, had perform.
ed before many an audience iu The
East, hut never were they so anxious
to excel as on this occasion. Pride in
there skill, the wish to astonish the
blood-thirsty audience, and the thought
Of the woman and child they would
save consplred to stimulate them.
AS they sprang from the bushes be-
fore the crowd. murmur of surprise
aud admiration came from the braves.
For moment the acrObatS stood like
ma 5le statues, saving alone the em-
broidered skirt about their waist and
the little bracelets which ornamented
the wrist.
In the red mans eye they looked
like igods-lIke beings from another
world.-Both men were models of ply
sical beauty and the light from the
blazing flame wreaths added to the
glamour. The hall-audible expression
Of wondering appreciation reached their
ears and nerved them TO the task.
Billy cast fond look in the direction
Of his vile and child. A shiver ran
through his heart as he asked:
Shall ever see them again =
He looked again, resolving to make
it the last. He feared 10 repeat 1t.
for the sight aud his thoughts might
unman hlm at some critical moment.
He turned away, choking down bis
agony.
Hand in hand the brothers advanced
until directly beneath The trapcze. With
bow as graceful aud profound as they
would have bestowed on a Fifth avenue
audience, they took their places on The
bar.
Lucy and the child were seated in the
shadow, not far distant, aud IN full
view Of the trapeze. The .avages re-
clined on the ground between her and
the fire. She was tortured between
the salvation OF her child and the de-
sertion o: her dearly-loved husband.
She could not decide the question; strive
as she would she could not summon
resolution enough to leave Billy TO his
fate. When she thought Of that, which
was more cruel than death she dared
not stay. If she could but Yield her
own life and save her husband and her
child, how willingly, she thought, she
would go to her death.
The performance began. AS the
brothers passed from the simpler feats
to those more astonishing, the applause
grew more aud more vehement among
the savages. 4 sensation the like of
this they had never known. Feats Of
activity and strength appeal with irre-
slslible force to the wild men, and Gre
ate respect aud Yeneration where the
higher qualities Of mind would fail en-
tirely.
Most eagerly they devoured the
swift contortions OF the agile acrObats,
as their shapely white limbs flashed in
and out the ropes, nov hanging from
the bar or swinging through the air.
1t was wonderful amazing |! The
vocabulary of Indian gutterals was e1-
haus ted in the vain effort 10 do jus tice
TO the performance.
Conscious Of the sensation they crea-
ted the brothers, during brief intervals
of rest, were busily employed in devils
ing some plan 10 take advantage OF
It.
Billy hoped that Lucy and the boy,
ere this, had found propitious moment
to steal unobserved from the camp,
but it was impossible to be sure of it.
He expected every minute to hear the
shout which would follow the announce
ment of her escape. He knew they
could not continue their exertlons much
longer. Already they felt the STRAIN
and fatigue which must soon be follow
ed by utter exhaustion.
Shall We cut and run for it, Billy |!
cannot keep the mill going much lon
ger, whispered Dave.
There was no answer 10 The question
for the next instant the Indians were
upon their feet, scrambling like mad
men towards their ponies, and giving
vent to exclamati Ins OF fear,
Heaven. it seemed, interposed to res
cue the prisoners. Lurld balls OF green
and of red fire fell flying among the re-
tr eating host.
Was it some curious electrical phen'
omenon, with special vengeance for
their cruel foes 4? for the flaming balls