San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-13

she should fall"
Dora doesn't fall She startled Vienna
all last summer with the same performance.
She has been doing it in Paris for a month.
When you see her it looks as If nothing were
easier than to dance in the middle of space
without the breadth of an inch to support
you, and you never think of the danger, she
appears to accomplish it all so easily. All,
there she Isl"
With bound, Mile. Dora has just appeared
in the middle of the ring, light and quick as
a bird, her strong, slender body incased in
ieshings the color of rose.
Through the lorgnettes the vast audience
converges its interested gaze upon her, and
from every mouth comes a cry of admiration.
She bows to the right and left, bending
gracefully, her beautiful lips half parted in a
SMILE which displays double row of pearls.
Then. she turns, steps back a dozen PAGES
seizing cord which hangs before the per-
formers entrance. and pulls herself up to the
wire, hand over hand, with an easy, confident
strength. There she is, away up at the end
of wire, her form supported on the two
cords that lead to the side of the building
She stops here an instant, looking down at
the sea of faces fixed motonless with inter
est. She extends one silk clad limb, and with
the sole Of her foot gently taps the narrow
thread of steel on which she is about to cora
mence her perilous journey. A second later
and Won will see her start, run along the
wire. stop. turn around, and balance on one
foot as gracefully as bird.
In the middle of the ring three clowns are
going through a series of contortions and
tumhlin4 In exact time they fall upon their
feet altogether Two of them, doubling up
their bodies until their grimacing faces are
to be seen peeping from behind their knees
side OF the scene The third has stayed be-
hind, his neck craned up toward Dora, who
is about to take her first step into danger
What is he going to do' Some browning alb
surdltv. no doubt You will have your pains
for your trouble. my good fellow; no one is
looking at you now
A conscientious fellow. this Mario Not a
glance is for him now, but what of it, He
will act his part there he is, in the middle of
the ring trembling violently in all his limbs.
q rather good bit of comedy this. 1t is she,
up there, who walks along to death, it might
be, but it is he down below who is frightened
But it is an old trick, that sort of farce
From a clown of his standing one would eX-
pect something better, especially as there is
no variation to it. Come, that will do
What do you think you are doing, you great
BOBBY, following the movements of the
aerial walker step by step, and holding out
your arms as if she were going to fall9 Nile
Dora is not in the habit of falling, you know
well enough. And for mirth provoker
really your appearance is not very funny
Where in the world did you pick up that
undertaken faces One would even think you
were pale underneath ali that white paint
and that it is from real fear you tremblel
What is thatT
simultaneous cry of horror has broken
from a thousand threats. Under Mile
Dora's feet the wire has just snapped in
twain Whirling over and over through the
air she falls
The audience has risen to its feet with di-
lated eyes and blanched faces. On the saw
dust the clown and the unfortunate girl have
rolled together; for, by remarkable feat of
agility, Mario has caught her in his arms.
They are lifted and borne away. Mile Dora
has received no injury; she has onlyfainted
But the man who by miracle has saved her
has not come off so easily. A shoulder dis
located, broken arm, and internal injuries.
the surgeons say.
Another man finished for the circus bust
ness, muttered the ring master, as he left his
stand
Two days afterwards Mile Dora, in rich
street dress was seated at the bed side Of her
former lover There were the four white
walls of the hospital chamber, the bare floor,
u small table with bottle on it, chair, and
that was all
We'll, my poor Mario, how do you feelp'
she asked III a voice that tried to be sympa-
thetic.
"As you see," replied the clown with a wo-
full smile, pointing to the bandages wound
round his arm and shoulder.
ut is to you that owe my life, Mario
shall never forget it."
"AhI" said the young man with a ray of
hope in his eyes; ''you will love me again9"
YES, but not as you mean. Come, Mario,
do not commence that sort of thing again
Pray let us talk of something else Do you
know what they discoveredF
NO" he replied, absently.
The wire was cut"
"Cut!"
And they have the culprit."
"They havel And who is it?"
THE property man. You know that fool
who hates me so much because | put him out
of my dressing room"
"But it is not possible that he could have
done it."
why not' He is arrested, and the thing
Is proved against him."
There was short silence The tight rope
walker was thinking how much time decency
required her to prolong her visit to the man
who had saved her life. The face OF the
clown betrayed a series of changing emotions.
His brow was contracted, and he seemed to
be suffering great mental ANGUISH.