New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-08-19
A TERRIBLE MoMDI'l.


Fuller; apprenticed like himself to old Pa
LFyef, VINO WAS wont to boast that the chill
ofen ne took to train were as well cared for in
every respect as his own, which statement 1
nave never had any reason to doubt; and
may say have more than once witnessed the
strict impartiality with which he administered
corporal punishment to his progeny and APP
prentices if they failed to come up to the mark
IN their respective duties. Many time have
seen himi his ring, his full, red face beam
ing with genial smiles as he put child through
he pad-act with
SsNow, Maudie dear, one, two, three, jump.
Oh!-cant? Want little help?" crack whips
lash around the little girls slender ankles, and
with:
ooh! please don't, I WILL" over the banner
the frightened child jumped
''Lor! bless you" would this veteran child
trainer observe; you've got to brighten some
on EN- into it. It's all for their good. Just
look at the youngsters I've turned out, a earn
ing their hundred and fifty and two hundred a
week now" after which speech Pa Dryer would
beam complacently upon his listeners But
am DEPRESSING.
Nina Walters and her fellow-performers
were trapeze artists, wonderfully clever in
their line, and consequently high in favor with
Pa Dryer. They We're down in the bills as
'The Fays'' Pa Dryer had picked Nina up
ont of the streets, 1 believe, when she was
had been legally apprenticed to him by their
respective parents.
Before many weeks Nina's dusky eyes and
pretty ways had captivated us all, and we were
her willing slaves, from Ned our colored tent
maker up 1t was evident from the first
however, that Louis and Joe we're deeply in
love with Nina, but rs far as I could see she
showed preference to neither, treating each as
frankly as sister might brother, which was
natural enough, as they had grown up togeth-
or during some ten years, having become ap-
prentlces of Pa Dryer near the same time.
Louis, who was Of an open frank disposition,
with a friendly word for 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 a
singularly jealous nature The only thing
they possessed in common was their good
looks, both being undeniably handsome.
One evening" after they had been with us
some six months. as / stood waiting behind
the curtain that shut out the ring entrance-by
the wayl 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. [
am of rather retiring disposition, although
my vocation Of clown rather bellies this trait
of mine. Outside of the ring am familiar ~
known as 'SStin Done.' earning that title, T
believe, by my fondness for 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
a
mad with jealousy to conquer that frigntful
malady, naay be to save them from committing
a crime, had little to do with it,
Well, as was saying, this evening as stood
waiting, I saw Nina coming slowly, as if in
thought, toward me. twas something so I'M
usual to see her pretty face without smile that
l exclaimed:
s:Why, Nina, child! What ails you? Has Pa
Dryer been acting ugly" Whatever old Dryer
had done in Nina's younger, days, l had
us to treat her otherwise than kind; in
fact, he rather .patted her like the rest of Us.
/ was considerably relieved when she an
swered:
t:Oh no. But don't you laugh at me. really
but it lacked the true ring.
Nervous! What about?" Iasked. You see,
she sort of looked upon me as an old fogy, and
didn't mind expressing therself freely, as it
were.
ooh, don't know, she answered, ''only
feel as if something was going to happen, don't
you know? 1t is silly of me. Why, when
was a little mite, and Pa Dryer made me hang
from my chin from the trapeze, I never felt
so" Just then, my .act being on, I had to
hurry away. When next saw Nina she was
to trapeze. After my act Ihad hastily resumed
my everyday clothes.and returned to the ring
entrance, which was not my custom, for l
generally Left the building as soon as I W as
through. This night something stronger than
myself bat1e me watch ''The Fays." l have
day, but newer any thing so graceful and neat
as ''The Fays" performance. Nina's little
form seemed to glide:through the air without
any apparent effort The applause, as usual,
was loud and frequent. Their finish, as a
rule, was done in this wise: Nina taking fly
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 platformIto take the leap, in
stead OF going through q series eff evolutions
on the middle trapoze, while Nina prepared
herself for hen daring drop. I had hardly
time to wonder gt the change beforeI saw
Joe, who had been executing Catherine wheel
On trapeze still higher up, give a 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 ment turn white like unto
death. can hear it now, and the words:
"Nina! for Gods sake keep clear Of the mid
die trapeze; the hopes are cut"
Too late came Joes warning Niha's little
hands were already dlinging to the doomed
bar, and Louis had taken his leap forlife.
A whir as of something whizzing through
the air as l closed my eyes to shut the horror
of it out, when a nuanaslrlike the hoasse roar |
of the distant sea tell upon my ears, swelling
until it burst into a Wild huzza. I looked and
saw Joe hanging head downwards from trap
eeze, while with both hands he upheld Louis. |
Nina clasped safe by the latter's arm, tue ira
peze to which she had elnng buta moment be-
fore lying in the ring some forty feet below.
,Doe's daring intrepidity had saved his compan-
ions lives. He had dropped from his perch
above to a lower trapeze and swung himself to
the rescue of Louis, thereby enabling the lat
ter to snatch Nina from horribe death
Cheer upon cheer greeted the two as they
were lowered safely to the greuud while one |
old fellow, in his excitement exclaimed. as
he caught Joe by the hand.
"a brave act we've done tlmsnight lad It
ought to wipe out a heap of sins fur ye"
That night Joe disappeared, xna s'The Fays.n
as far as the public was concerned, were known
no more.
For MANY weeks Nina Law hoyef;ne between