Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-18

dies cloak room and made her drink a
little brandy.
Meanwhile the strains Of the Myosytis
waltz were already floating through
the building and Ssladin, all ignorant
of the little woman's fears for him. had
grasped the balancing pole and walked
out upon the tight rope.
1t stretched from end to end OF the
hall, soma eighty feet or so above the
floor, and Saladin walked along it am
bled along it aud tripped along it, as
easily and safely as man who crosses
a plank bridge over tiny brook. he
stood on it on one foot; he knelt on ii;
be sat astride of il. He even crossed IL
6lindfolded, with sack drawn over his
head. The multitude gazed at him,
open eyed and open mouthed, and every
time he got back to his little platform
in mid air roared tumultuons applause.
Then came the feature Of the even
ing, for which every one had been walt
ing with anxious curiosity. The man
ager OF the hall stepped out on the
stage and made a speech.
Ladies and gentlemen" he shouted,
I'VE have now arrived at the hnal Item
in Saladin's entertainment. Saladln
asks me TO say that il any member OF
the audience will intrust himself to MS
care he is willing TO carry him across
the tight rope on his back"
There was great silence, broken
presently by the voices Of those who
pressed the offer on their neighbors.
Again there was silence, growing
gradually TO 4 murmur; and then a long
temp pest of vcciferous cheers as man
In evening dress was seen 10 rise In his
place in the stalls and climb the light
OF steps which gave access to the
stage.
WHO is hep"
The question passe rapidly from
mouth to mouth and at first none could
answer II. But presently man 10 the
front seat whispered to mis- neigh
Dors:-
by Jove! That's the man whose
wife ran away with Salsdin!"
To which the neighbor replied
"Ugly little brute; I'm not surprised.
And then after a pause:-"But what's
mis- name, 1 wonderP He means mis-
chief OF some sort. I'll warrant.
So they whispered 10 each other,
while the woman's husband was hoisted
amid ringing rounds Of cheers TO the
platform where stood the man who had
robbed him of his wife.
There was nothing heroic, nothing
inspiring about his presence. Looking
at him, one hardly knew whether TO say
that he was too ugly to be insignificant
or too insignificant to be ugly. He
was, in short, a miserable scarecroW OF
a man. Beside the athlete he looked
more miserable than ever. To any one
who knew the story il would have
seemed no wonder that the athlete had
been preferred TO him, even by the
woman who wore his wedding ring. He
saw and knew all this himself; he had
seen and known II ever since his rival
had come across his path; and the
knowledge added both to his bitterness
and 10 his hate.
The eyes OF the two men met. 1t was
the first time since the little woman
had left her home that Saladin had
seen the man whom he had wrOnged;
aud they looked at each other long and
steadfastly. There were two attend
ants with him on the platform and, in
their presence, neither cared TO speak
the thoughts that were uppermost In
mis- mind. But Saladin's eyes fell at
once before the others gaze and fear
was visible in his face and he began to
stammer out refusal to go farther
with this last item Of his entertain
ment.
"If you are afraid" the other whis-
pered beneath his breath, "lf you are
afraid, IL does not matter"
Still Saladin hesitated.
Very well" the man said. NOW |
see that you are coward"
The word stung Saladin to the quick.
He was not used TO having his courage
questioned; perhaps there were few men
whose courage was less questionable.
He turned TO him and said simply
Il am no coward. Come!"
And the attendant helped the man on
to his back and handed him the balanc-
Ing pole and they passed out together
upon the tight rope.
Saladin had no decisions, no false
hopes. BE knew, though the other had
whispered no word OF his intentions,
that he was walking the tight rope for
the last time in his life. 1t surprised
him little that no brutal recrinations
were Kissed in his ear; he did not IN
derstand this silent vengeance. 1t sur
prised him not little, too, that he was
allowed to traverse the hall once In
safety; but even that did not buoy him
with any expectations Of safe return.
He regretted nothing. II be could
have had his life again ho would have
done the same thing with 1t. What he
had done still seemed worth while, even
though this was what the doing OF IL
brought him 10. And yet II was an
awful end! Already the man upon his
back had knotted his fingers firmly
firmly around bic throat In readiness 70
Jerk him from mis- precarious roothold.
A thought struck him. Since the end
was inevitable. why walt for It? Since
both must die better to be the murderer
than the murdered! II was the one
triumph left for him.
The idea tickled him and be chuekled
TO himself.
Then, of 8 sudden, he dropped the
balance pole ana threw himself into the
air Just as the band was playing the
frsi notes Of "See, the Conquering Herd
Comes. "-ChicdgO NelCs.