The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-23
A TIGHT ROPE ROMANCE
TWashington Post.1

= L
/ Bravo. Bravo" shouted the vast
assembly as Saladin. the king of the
tight rope, appeared, graceful and
smiling.
Saladin looked down from his giddy
; height through the hay space upon
the mass of upturned faces and drank
in the delicious incense of their APP
plause. Then, as the band began to
play the prelude to a popular waltz.
he ostentatiously blew a kiss toward
a box where a little woman, with
J scared look in her eyes. sat watching
him. She had forebodings-vague
forebodings born of ominous dreams
that something terrible would befall
that night. So she had told him, and
now he blew her a kiss before that
great multitude to reassure her.
And yet She was not treasured. Not
that she doubted for an instant her
lovers sureness of foot or steadiness
of head. Only she had seen a face in
the stalls and a. pair of eyes that had
met hers and frightened her. She
clutched suddenly at the sleeve of her
COMPANION.
LOOK she cried Historically.
Yes, dear, what is it?''
My husband. He is sitting below
there
Your husband?''
. les leIC Hill 10 Iufl away Will
! Saladin. Didn't you know? He'll do
something dreadful, know he will. 1
must run and tell Saladin. Let me
go, Kitty
The other tried to calm her
''Bnt 1 can't bear to look at 1T,
Kitty"
Then come outside, dear. There's
no danger, really; but if you stay here
you may scream and brighten him."
And so saying, she took her by the
arm and led her gently into the ladies'
cloak room, and made her drink a lit
tie brandy.
Meanwhile the strains of the Myos-
otis waltz were already floating
through the building. and Saladin, 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, some eighty feet or so above the
floor, and Saladin walked along it, am
bled along it and trfpped along it as
easily and safely ss man who
crosses a plank bridge over tiny
brook. He stood on it on one foot, he
knelt on it, he sat astride of it. He
even crossed it blindfolded, with a
sack drawn over his head. The multi
tude gazed at him open-eyed and open
mouthed, and every time he got back
tumultuous applause.
Then came the feature of the even
ing, for which everyone had been wait
Ing with anxious curiosity. The man
ager of the hall stepped out on the
stage and made a speech.
| Ladies and gentlemen" he shouted
1--WE have now arrived at the finaLitem
in Saladin's entertainment. Saladin
asks me to say that if any member of
the audience will entrust himself to
MS care he is willing to carry MIN
across the tight rope on his back"
I There was a great silence. broken
presently by the voices of those who
pressed the offer on their neignbors.
The manager repeated his proposal.
Il can assure you, ladies and gentle
men," he said, that there is not the
slightest danger. If any gentleman
will cross the tight rope on Saladin'S
back. Saladin will absolutely guaran-
tee his safe return"
| Again there was a silence, growing
! gradually to a murmur; and then a
! long tempest of vociferouS applause
as a man in evening dress was seen
to rise in his place in the stalls and
climb the flight of steps which gave
access to the stage.
"Who is he?"
The question passed rapidly from
mouth to mouth, and at first none
NOulQ answer ~ LUZ PACSCllN4y d HAL
in the front seats whispered to his
neighbors:
by Jove! that's the man whose wife
ran away with Saladin.''
To which the neighbor replied:
ugly little brute. I'm not sur
prised." And then, after a pause: But
what's his game, / wonder? He means
mischief of some sort. I'll warrant.
What do you think? Oughtn't we tell
the manager to stop it?''
whats the use? It's not our bust
ness. Saladin can stop it himself if
he wants to-
True; so he can"
So they whispered to each other,
while the woman's husband was hoist
ed, amid ringing rounds of cheers to
the platform where stood the man who
had robbed him of his wife