Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-02-06


nerves Of the most experienced balancers.
When she 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
more slowly than usual, and the fire was
consumed too soon /: and she could not
see the rope distinctly enough. She
stood still for several seconds. The light
behind her continued to burn, but it was
of no assistance to her and Immediately
afterward it also was exhausted.
We could distinctly see the poor fright
end 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; she 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 moment, and slipped Oft from
the crowd below. There was great
scattering and the crowd realized that
the young girl was falling. Every sound
was hushed. The poor child steadied
herself wildly and instinctively mo-
ment with her arms as knelt upon the
rope, and then fell.
Golson's appearance was painful and
pitiable to see. Great cords stood out
upon his face which was overspread by
an agony of CHASTITY pallor. His muscles
swelled with ridges and knots, and his
hands assumed the appearance OF an
eagles claws. He gazed at the rope
where the girl had stood moment ago.
She had caught by the right hand, and
hung suspended over the cobbles. In
another moment she grasped the rope
with the other hand and hung perfectly
quiet.
Golson waited but few seconds, when
he saw that fright had taken the strength
from her arms, so that she could not
climb upon the rope. He dashed OF
his hat, and grasped the rope with ooth
hands, and threw one leg across it. he
crawled along carefully, that the shak-
ing might not cause the girl to lose her
hold. The crowd watched him IN ST.
lence. The rope swung lower under the
double weight, and the fasteningS creak-
ed and groaned.
Hold tight, my child we could hear
him say to the fainting girl. Hold on
for Gods sake, and will save you.'
She raised her head and looked at him
for a moment, and then dropped 1t
again between her arms. He approach
her slowly and painfully, for he was
stranger to the situation, and was afraid
of shaking her off. At length he reach
ed her. He whispered something to her,
and she looked him full in the face. he
allowed his right knee to remain across
the rope, and threw his right hand round
underneath to secure a firm hold, and
passed his left arm around the girls
waist. The strength Of six men was in
the supple limbs and clean cut muscles.
He drew her toward him. She released
her hold, her head dropped, and then she
tainted.
"Pay out at the college end = he
shouted.
His feet were in that direction. II
required four of US to let it out. 1t slip
ped over the parapet slowly, and the
suspended pair began to be lowered.
"Pay it out" ne shouted again.
We let it go more rapidly, and he and
his swooning charge were against the
building across the street. He let HIM
self slide gradually down until he reach
ed the sidewalk, where he was met by
the manager. The latter took the girl
to his home.
The crowd gathered around him with
wild shouts, but he slipped away, and
met us at the door of the college.
"Where is that scoundrel who said
she was sulking?" he demanded.
We pointed him out.
Golson walked up to him, explained
his business, and gave him stinging
blow across the face and serit him reel
ing into the gutter.
met the dear old fellow on Caronde-
let street the other day, ard his wife was
with him, charming and pretty as ever.
She laughingly remarked that she liked
to see the circus as mu ch as ever, but
that she always felt horror for rope
walking. l almost believed that her
dimples are as pretty as on the night
she threw kisses to great crowd in the
street.
"A little three.y ear old had fallen