The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-10

he Sprang into the .SaWduSt circle, and
bowed low to the storm Of applause,
one wild enough to have turned a less
steady head. But coolly, perfectly
collected, he cast his eyes over the vast
assembly, and bright light camc to
them, and a truer smile to his lips, as
he saw where his Annie was seated,
looking at him with not to be con.
cealed pride.
lie braced his muscles, drew up his
head, ran his fingers lightly up through
his curling chestnut hair, and thanked
all for their presence. The dress lie
wore showed his finely knit figure tC
the greatest advantage, and flashed
with every movement as if covered
with stars and diamond dust. His face
was glowing with health and hope, and
many were the eyes Of admiration that
grlhood turned toward him as he
swung lightly from bar to bar until lie
had reached the topmost one as easily
apparently, as a bird would have flown.
Feat after feat of the most dangerous
character $50 it appeared to the unin
tlatcd) was performed and then came
the browning and final one. That it
required a clear head, great precision
and calculation, cool nerves and I'M
mense strength was evident to all from
the minuteneSS and carefulneSS of the
preparation.
The king of the trapeZe stood leaning
against the centre-pOle and seemingly
watching the proceedings, while he re-
gained his somewhat Overtasked breath,
iii reality more intent upon the beaming
and anxious face of his love than any
thing else.
'The feat now about to be per-
formed" said the master of ceremonies
III explanation, and to do away with
something of the tedium of waiting,
us one that has never been attempted
by any other man, and upon this occa-
sion the leap will be greater than ever
before. But as it is perilous, beyond
all description, / must beg the most
perfect silence.'
A net was about to be stretched so as
to save the performer in case of falling;
but he moti0ned that it should not be
done, saying, so as to be heard distinctly
by all:
''There is no use of. that. will
desire to make the jump without it
make one that will be long remem-
bered."
Those who understand the matter
the best were the most thrilled by the
words, and the same groom who had
given vent to his feelings with regard
to the dashing Cuban, whispered to his
cOmrade:
81 believe they have all gone mad.
Heaven give safety, but l Wouldn't
venture (even if could do it as well as
he) for the whole concern"
us all ready?" asked Fred, as he ran
his eyes swiftly over the slender cords
and bars that were to be to him as the
spinnings of fate.
"RreadyT"
He kissed his fingers apparently to
the audience, but in reality to the girl
he loved, seized Il rope, climbed to the
first bar-then. another and another
until he reached the last, cut the others
loose and performed all the various
acts he had before gone through with
from that dizzy height, and with as
much certainty and seeming as careless
as if but foot from the ground in
place Of nearly hundred.
Then he rested, and braced himself
for the final one-the daring, thrilling,
unmatched leap in mid-air, from one
swinging trapeZe to another, and failing
to catch which at the proper instant
and cling to it was death.
Backward and forward he swung.
while breathless silence reigneG.
prepared himself for the desperate feat.
fixed his eyes upon the treacLerous bar
to which he must spring and fasten
upon, shot through the air almost like
flash of light, clutched it safely with
his hands, was struggling to gain u
seat as the wild buZZas that could no
longer be controlled burst from every
lip, and then the supporters gave way,
and, with a mighty crash, he fell back
ward to the ground!
Women shrieked and tainted in tor
ror, men were awc-Stricken and incapa-
ble of action; but even in that swift
descent was heard above all the CRY of
"AmieP'
Carried from the ring with the form
of the girl he loved wildly clinging to
him, instant aid was obtained, but
though 10 bones were broken, it was
the opinion of the physicians that his
recovery was doubtful, the jar had been
50 great and there might be internal
injuries.
The sports of the ring had ceased,
the audience been dismissed, but did
not stir. Sorrowfully they waited and
whispered with white lips, for some
final tidings, something beyond mere
uncertainty.
The company were gathered around
the injured man with fearful eyes, and
the grief Of the girl would have melted
the heart Of stone. And silently there
stood the fair Cuban, wringing her
hands, and with the muscles of her
face working tempestuously. But sho
was woman, would naturally feel
more deeply than men, and nothing
was thought of it.
Meanwhile, even as the white winged
angel of life and the black-wingcd one
OF death were battling for their prey
an investigation was being made into
the cause Of the accident by those
whose duty it was TO see that all was
safe, and upon whom the blame would
fall the most heavily.
Ropes and bars were found sto be
intact. 1t was the iron rings that had
broken, and wondering at this, they
stood with them in their hands, when
one Of the physicians, (and by chance a
chemist) who was in attendance came
along; and had his attention called to
the matter
'"This fatal fall" he said, after even
the most casual observation, ''has not
been the result of accident. but of nre-