The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-02

showed preference to neither, treating each as
frankly as sister might brother. which was
natural enough, as they hal grown up togeth-
er during some ten years, having become ap
prentices of Pa Dryer near the same time
Louis, who was of all open frank disposition,
with friendly word fol every one, had just
turned twenty when they joined us, making
him three months the senior Of Joe, his very
opposite, being quick to take offense, and of q
singularly jealous nature. The only thing
they possessed in common was their good
looks, both being undeniably handsome
some six months, as stood waiting behind
the curtain that shut out the ring entrance-by
the way have not yet introduced myself.
Not that it is at all necessary, only perhaps,
some of my readers might like to know what
manner of person is relating these facts. Il
am of a rather retiring disposition, although
my vocation Of clown rather bellies this trait
of mine. Outside of the ring am familiar ly
known as 'Still Done,' earning that title, [
believe, by my foadness for a quiet life the
moment have shaken the saw-dust from off
my heels. How ever came to write off this
bit Of terrible reality that crossed my path I
am not quite clear Perhaps the desire to see
my name in print in a different form from its
habitual one Influenced me; or perhaps the
hope that it might help out some poor souls
mad with jealousy to conquer that frightful
malady, may be to save them from committing
Well, as I was saying, this evening as stood
waiting, saw Nina coming slowly, as if in
thought, toward mo. 1t was something so I'M
usual to see her pretty face without smile that
exclaimed
Dryer been acting ugly?' Whatever old Dryer
had done in Nina's younger days, l had
never known him since she had been with
us to treat her otherwise than kind; in
fact, he rather pctted her like the rest of us.
was considerably relieved when she an
swered:
"Oh, no. But don't you laugh at me- really
believe I'm nervous" Here she laughed herself,
but it lacked the ue'r1rg
sNervous! What about?" Iasked. You SEQ,
she sort of looked upon me as an old foSy, and
didn't mind expressing iherself freely, as it
were.
"Oh, don't know she answered, "only I
feel as if something was going to happen, don't
you know? It is silly of me- Why, when l
was little mite, and Pa Dryer made me hang
from my chin from tho trapezc, l never felt
go" Just then, my act being on, l had to
flying gracefully through the Dir from trapeze
to trapeze. After my act ! had hastily resumed
my every day clothes and returned to the ring
entrance, which Was not my custom, for
generally left the building as soon as l was
%ysef bade s ms n %ateh he fsyS have
seen good deal of trapcze business in my
day, but never any thing so graceful and neat
as 1.-THE Fays'" performance. Ninas little
form seemed to glide through the air without
emit effort The R %Rar
rule, was done in this wise: Nina taking fly
ing leap from a small platform near the
roof, would be caught by Louis, who
hung suspended head downward from one of
the trapeze. This night the order of things
appeared to DO reversed for it was Louis who
l.. >1nkc b. %oC,1 %Io
stead of going through series eff evolutions
on the middle trapeze, while Nina prepared
herself for her daring drop. I had hardly
time to wonder at the change before saw
Joe, who had been executing Catherine wheel
on a trapeze still higher up, give violent
start He too. think, was surprised
Shall ever forget the cry that rang through
the building that night, causing women to
faint and strong men to turn white like unto
death. can hear it now, and the words:
"Nina! for Gods sake keep clear of the mid
die trapeze; the ropes are cut"
Too late came JOe's warning Nina's little
hands were already clinging to the doomed
bar, and Louis had taken his leap for life.
A whir as of something whizzing through
the air as closed my eyes to shut the horror
Of it out, when murmur like the hoarse roar
of the distant sea fell upon my ears, swelling
saw Joe hanging head downwards from trap
exc, while with both hands he upheld Louis,
Nina clasped safe by the latter's arm, the ira
peze to which she had chung buta moment be-
fore lying in the ring some forty feet below.
Joe's daring intrepidity had oaved his compan-
IONS lives. He had dropped from his porch
above to lower trapeze and swung himself to
the rescue of Louis, thereby enabling the lat
ter to snatch Nina from horrible death.
Cheer upon cheer greeted the two as they
were lowered safely to the ground, while one
old fellow. in his excitement, exclaimed, as
he cauoht Joe ()y the hand,
"a brave act yeve done this night lad. It
ought to wipe out a heap of sins fur ye."
That night Joe disappeared, and ''The Fays."
as far as the public was concerned, were known
no more.
For many weeks Nina lay lowering between
life and death, but at last youth conquered. She
is now the happy wife of Louis, for that terrible
moment in which her fellow performer and
herself had hung as it were between heaven
and earth had revealed to her who had won her
heart Louis and his wife have long since left
the profession and are prospecting we'll in their
new line of life. Two children have been
vouchsafed them. Joe and Nina they are
named And what about the other Joe you
think perhaps. Well, it was eight years before
| again met t.: joe OF course L spoke about
were and how they had named their first born
for him
'sShe did that Nina?" he murmurcd, adding,
land she must have guessed all; I saw it in
her reproachful eyes that night. I was mad
with jealousy. knew that she loved Louis,
but thought if he were out of her way she
would forget him, and then I could win her,
and &c. mailman as was, cut the ropes at
tached to the middle trapeze-the one on
which Louis always did bis finish" An ex-
clamation of Mortified surprise escaped me, as
he finished with:
'sYou know how my 6endish attempt was
frustrated How tho girl loved took the
place of the man would have murdered l
learned afterward that, feeling nervous, sho
} ad persuaded Louis to take the leap instead
of herself. Only for that should have been
branded as murderer.
But you nobly redeemed yourself in saving
both their lives" here spoke.
my God! can I ever shut out tho horror of
it all?" he cried bitterly. Rising, said
''Yes, think You can, then he bent his bag
gard eyes questioningly upon me, added:
"wait here few moments"
A little dark-eyed fellow stood shyly eying
the man l had left but a few moments before,
then laying his hand upon the mans arm he
asked:
care you my big, brave Uncle Joe? Cause
if you are mamma sent me to fetch you i"
"Child! what is your name?" exclaimed the
man eagerly.
ssJoe Mason" answered the little one, add
ing: "but mamma calls me Little Joe:'" then
glancing up he continued naively: ''Uncle Joe,
mamma said you d be glad to see me; are you:"
'Glad!" and as Joe Fuller uttered that one
word, like unto q sob, he clasped the little fell
low in his arms, while I, closing the door,
crept softly away, convinced the child had won
the day.