Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-03-13
HEY, RUDE!
Who was he?

| Hoo W Tedu Tie secrets tnere nel0, OF
life that had passed, but to observe how
coma affected them, and interpret the
value of bromides and morphine. This
hospital doctor would have done the
same thing but for one of those strange
links in the chain of life which demand
conservation of interests whether we
will or no. He had gone one day last
summer to the circus and taken his two
little boys; they had been delighted
with the double treat, that of being with
papa and of seeing the glory of wonder
land. One little fellow had gone wild
over the gymnast and leaper, the man
who shot into the air, came down on his
feet, turned somersault, kissed his
finger-tips to the spectators and sped on
feet of air from the ring.
Now, there Was something strange in
the fact that when 6iie Of the little fel-
lows died-as he did suddenly and unexs
pectedly as children go-he in dying
talked only of this man. And it was
strange that the doctor saw nothing of
interest in his patient until his other
boy going the rounds with him pulled at
his coat and whispered
It's Bertie's circus man, papa; the
one that jumped over all the horses and
into the air, and went over and over
oh, papal wont you mend him up?'
But the poor fellow was past mend
ing, and the doctor knew it. He had
made a tnisstep, and falling, struck on
his head and shoulders, and they had
picked him up and carried him out and
he had lain here ever since. His com
rades had left him, with many hand
shake and sympathic tear, and gone on
their way without him, and he did not
care. What was there of life left for him
anyway?
When the doctor knew who the man
was he thought of his dead boy, and at
once began the task of making death
easy to him. That was all he could do,
just smooth with kindness that sure de-
scent which we must all tread.
The day which would have no to-
morrow came at last to the sick man,
and all the morning he lay sleeping and
doing, and at night he was dying; his
cheeks were red with fever heat; he was
in delirium and imagined himself in
the circus, listening to the plaudits of
the crowd The doctors anasthetics
were as powerless as water. The last
fitful fashings of escaping life were
superhumanly bright. Over and over
again he repeated the name of Lulu.
Who is Lulu?' asked the doctor. with
hope of releasing the troubled spirit
from dwelling on the past
AN angel, said the dying man family
and brokenly; AN angel in heaven now.
But she was my good angel on earth
mine-mine-mine! Do you hear, doc
tor? | defy you to part us there-you
cannotl You dare notp
The doctor gave him a soothing
draught, but he grew wilder and raved
of Lulu, only Lulu
Listen, he cried, do you hear that
call? 1t means trouble in the circus!
Not among the animals, the wild savage
beasts, but among men, aye, and women,
too Oh, doctor, she was all / had! just
my little Lulu. We had thought it so
cruel--not to have known and loved
each other all our lives-but she was
wife before [ knew her Great God
how he abused her. and when they told
her he was dead, the poor child went
out into the world for herself, and |
found her-quick, doctor, give me water
i am strangling.
The doctor lifted his head and the
water gurgled in the throat of the dy-
ing man. He could no longer swallow
but it cooled his parched lipsl
| taught her to do the trapeze bust
ness. She was small, and light, and
quick. She was beautiful and innocent.
How / loved her! And after we had
been together a year she married me,
and we were so happy-so happy And
she played so we'll Her eyes shown
with her new happiness. Her heart
was so light that she attracted crowds;
and one night in the season here-oh
doctor, it is hard for dying man to
talk!-she-she just took the house by
storm. There was an ovation. She
was recalled again and agaln The
manager doubled her salary on the spot
but we didn't care for that. 1t was
just the triumph in her art-we loved
each other, and the life, too
The leaper who was never again to hea,
the applause he once coveted, lifted the
portrait in his hand to his lips and kissed
it reverently. He looked so strong and
bright that neophyte in matters of life
and death would have mistaken him for
a well man. But the doctor knew.
The next night Lulu was to give them
a new and dangerous feat, and the house
was. full, crowded, and she never looked
so lovely. | made my great leap and
ran out of the ring, and found Lulu
waiting to go on. She looked so small
and sweet, so like lovely, affectionate
child, she was so innocent and altogeth-
err lovely that / took her in my arms and
kissed her. Oh, my God, that was the
last timer
'Teddie, said she, laying her soft
cheek against mine; Teddie, we've beer
happy, haven't we?'
And will be as long as we i've
said. Then / saw that she had beer
crying, and / was going to say sh.
should not go on, when the call for he
came and she was gone She turned
and looked at me as she went in-yes
yes, Lulu, I'm coming.
| The doctor did not move; there wa
no irregularity in the mans breathin,
now, and he spoke distinctly and fas
but the medical man was not deceived
1t was the beginning of the end. Evel
then his thoughts wandered and he hell
imaginary conversations with that Luli
he loved
i said she went on; she did her par
splendidly and wor round after roun
Of applause and came of, but / did nc