Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-03-03
Ted braced himself up and went

through the rehearsal, but when it was
over he burst out crying and sat down
all in a tremble.
Its safe sign to be little afraid"
said Mrs. Bill. cit isn't the tricks one
is afraid of that one trips in, but those
one feels too sure of !"
They all fattered and encouraged
him, and Ted felt ashamed of his faint
heartedness. A regular salary was
promised him by the manager as soon
as he made a success OF the ring trick,
and this was what he and his mother
had been looking forward to ever since
he was ten years old.
It was odd how he disliked the ring
trick, when it was simply a matter of
swinging himself up to the top of
high, tall framework on rings which
hung on horizontal bars. The sup
ports below were twelve feet apart,
but met with another transom beam
and ring on the apex. The way was to
catch the lower ring, swing round on
it, then with the impetus gained to leap
the gap, seize the opposite ring a
little higher up, and SO on from right
and left and left and right to the top
ring and down again. 1t was a pretty
feat, and, perhaps, no harder than any
other OF the flying tricks, but it needed
a clear head, and the trouble was that
Ted had got into dreamy mood. He
was so homesick nowadays for the
farm and for the different life. He
liked better to brood over the idea of
the bees humming over the flower beds
and the doves and martens calling for
the COWS than to give his whole heart
and mind to the actual things he saw
and touched.
However, practice makes perfect,
and by the time the new season opened
in Brighttown Ted had mastered the
ring trick. There was famous pro-
gramme, and Ted had six different
parts; in the Indian act. the buffalo
hunt, the chariot race and so on finally
to the wonderful ring trick now ex-
hibited for the first time. The excite
ment was good for Ted. The dull.
weary feelings he had suffered from of
late vanished. his blood warmed to his
wish, he liked the mad gallop he felt
the joy of his own youth and strength,
and was ready to take wings and float
in air. The tent was packed with ad.
miring spectators. and all the per-
formers were in high spirits. The ring
master and clown cracked fresh jokes,
at which even the members of the COM
pany could laugh. The horses went
like the wind, the performing dogs and
elephants and bears all seemed singu-
larly intelligent, and altogether it was
one of the great days of the greatest
show in the universe, and the ring
trick" was to be the grand climax.
''All right!'' said old Benny to Ted as
the little fellow ran out of the dress
ing-tent in scarlet tights and cap.
''All right on deck" said Ted.
Nimbledy, nimbledy up go,
The sky above and the earth below"
He stood for a moment measuring
the supports and frames with a know
ing glance. then with a bound caught
the lowest ring, spun round, and light
as squirrel leaped to the opposite one
and thus zigzagging mounted the up
per ring. Here, just to rest and steady
himself, he swung round twice, then
reversed before he should begin
the descent. He liked it up
ened him. The middle flap of
the tent was open for the sake of
ventilation and light, and as he swung
he caught a glimpse of the sky, dotted
with tender, feecy little clouds, like
once said His thoughts wandered to
the farm for minute, and he suddenly
remembered what he had to do; yes,
he had to reverse. He quite forgot
that he had already reversed What
was this? Where was the ring? How
still it was! How cool! Who was it
gave a sharp cry? What was that
roar? Not of wild beasts, but of men
and women. Oh! that crash-the end
of the world must have come.
I'm not hurt said Ted, really.
I'm not!''
Then he tainted away, and was car
ried out in old Benny's arms. Word
was passed round that the boy was not
hurt, and the show went on to it's close,
although all the performers were fur
ried and everything went badly.
Ted had broken no bones, strange to
say; he had fallen on the cushion; yet
somehow he was hurt and badly hurt.
Nobody quite knew why they were
afraid it was his back Days came and
went and he lay on his little bed, hold
ing his mothers hand
Il couldn't get up to-day" he would
mutter in alarm when anybody came
near him; ''but I'm getting rested,
and perhaps by Tomorrow"
He was SO used to playing his part
that he was ashamed thus to lie and
eat the bread of idleness. But he and
old Benny used to plan the wonderful
feats he would accomplish as soon as
he got well. Yet it was soon under
stood that he would never regain his
old powers.
"YoI see,'' the doctor said, ..he is
shattered. His age is in his favor, and
if he could have a good home in the
country"
''He shall have home in the coun-
try" said old Benny, and he did not
lose an hour. He set off to Mrs
Jewellers old home. he saw her IA
Their and mother and pleaded her and
Ted's case with them, but he did not
! need to plead long. Ted got his first
glimpse of the house and the river and
the road within a week The sight of
it brought the color to his cheek and
the light to his eye.
"Why, mother" he cried, raising
himself up. 1T paid 1t paid to have
the fall. Perhaps we couldn't have
come home if I hadn't been laid up. -
Ellen Olney Kirk, in ST. Louis Re-
public.
They Had Heard film Before.
Mr.. Hoste lin a terrified whiSper)-