The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-03

natural enough, rs they had grown np togetli-
or during some ten years, hivihg become APP
prentices Of Pa Dryer near tho same time.
Louis. who WAS Of ali open frank disposition
with friendly word for every one, had JUS
turncd twenty when they joined us, making
him three months tho senior of Joa, his very
opposite, being quick to take oiicnsc, and of i
singuiarly jealous nature. The only thing
they possessed i'll common was their goot
looks. both being undeniably handsome.
One evening, after they had been with u;
the curtain that shut ont the ring entrance-by
the way have not yet introduced myself
Not that it il at all necessary, only perhaps
somo OF my readers might like To know wlai
manner of person is relating these facts.
am OF q rather retiring disposition, although
my vocatiol Of clown rather bellies this trait
of mine. Outside Of tho ring am familiar "
known as 'Still Done" earning that title,
believe, by my fOntlness for quiet life the
moment have shaken tho saw-li:st from OF
my heels. How ever came to write off this
bit OF terrible reality that crossed my path
am not quite clear Perhaps the desire to see
my name in print in different form from its
llabitial ono Influenced INC; or perhaps the
hope that it might help out some poor souls
mad with jealousy to conquer that frishtful
malady, may be to save them from committing
crime, had little to do with it
Well. as was SAYING this evening as stood
waiting, Isaw Nina coming slowly, as if IN
thought, toward me. 1t was something 80 I'M
usual to soc her pretty face without smile that
exclaimed:
ssWhy, Nina, child! What ails yous Has Pa
Dryer been acting ugly:" Whatever old Dryo,
never known him since she had been with
us to treat her otherwise than kind: III
fact, he rather pettel her like tho rest Of US.
was considerably relieved when shc an
swercd:
"Ol, no. But don't you laugh at me really
but itlacked the true ring.
"Ncrvous! What abont:" Iasketl You see,
she sort of looked upon me as an old f0Sy, and
didn't mind expressing lhersclf freely, as il
were.
"Oh, / don't know" she answered, 'only I
feel as if something was going to lappcn, don't
you know! II is silly of mo. Why, when I
was little mite, and Pa Dryer made mo hang
from my chin from the trapeZe, never felt
co" just then, my act being OH, had to
hurry away. When next saw Nina she was
flying gracefully through tho air from trapeze,
my every day clothes and returned to the ring
entrance, which was not my custom, for I
generally left tho building as soon as was
through. This night something stronger than
myself babe me watch ''The Fays.' have
seen good deal Of trapeze business in my
day, hut never any thing so graceful and neat
form seemed to glide through the air without
WIS iepal and frequent Tiair fiais 81 as q
rule, was done in this wise: Nina taking fly
ing leap from o small! platform near tho
roof, would be caught by Louis, who
hung suspended head downward from one of
the trapeze. This night the order OF things
appeared to be reversed for it was Louis who
mounted to the platform to take tho leap, in
stead of going through series Of cvolutions
on the middle trapeze, while Nina prepared
herself for her daring drop. l lad hardly
time to wonder at tho change before saw
Joe, who had been executing Catherine wheel
on q trapeze still higher up, givo violent
start He too. l 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:
sNina! for Gods sake keep clear of the mid
die trapeze; the ropes are cut"
Too late came Joes 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
of it out, when mulmur like tho hoarso roar
Of the distant sea fell upon my ears, swelling
until it burst into wild huzza. looked and
saw Joe hanging head downwards from trap
eze, while with both hands he upheld Louis,
Nina claspcd safe by the latter's arm, tho ira
fore lying in the ring some forty feet below
Joe's daring intrepidity had saved his compan-
ions lives. He lad dropped from his perch
above to lower trapcze 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 tho ground, while one
old fellow. in his excitement, exclaimed, as
lie caught Joe by the hand
"a brave act we've done tins night lad. It
ought to wipe out heap Of sins fur ye"
That night Joe disappeared, and "The Fays"
no more.
For many weeks Nina lay lowering between
life and death, but at last youth CONC 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 We'll, it was eight years before
Louis and Nina, telling him how happy they
were and how they had named their first born
for him
'Shc did that, Nina?" he murmurcd, adding.
,ssand she must have guessed all; saw it In
her reproachful eyes that night was mad
Will JcsSlOusy. kUcW ttlut BIG lOvcu LOUIS.
but thought il he were out of her way she
would forget him, and then l coull win her,
aud 3d. mailman as l was, cut the ropes at
tached to the middle trapeze-tlic one on
which Louis always did his fiusll'' An ex-
clamation of mortified surprise ESCAPED me rs
he finished With
"You know how my iendish attempt was
frustrated How the girl loved took the
place OF tho man would have murdered |
learned afterward that, feeling nervous, slic
ad persuaded Louis to take tic leap instead
ofherself Only for that l should have been
branded az murderer"
"But you nobly redeemed yourself in saving
both their lives, here spoke.
MY God! can ever shut out the horror OF
it all:" he cried bitterly. Rising, said:
eyes, think you can, then he bent his hag
gard eyes questioningly upon me, added:
"Wait here few moments"
y = Il
A little dark-eyed fellow stood shyly ewing
the man had left but few mOincnts before,
then laying his hand upon the mans arm nc
asked:
care you my big, brave Uncle Joe. Cause
If you are mamma sent me to fetch yon"
"Child! what is your name:" exclaimed tho
man eagerly.
+ "Joe Mason" answered the little one, add
ing: "but mamma calls me Little Joc:'" then
CHANGING up he continued naively: "Uncle Joe,
mamma sud you'd be glad to soc mo; are yon?'
"Glad!" and as Joe Fuller uttered that one
word, like unto sob, he clasped the little fell
low In his arms, while /, closing tho door,