Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-02-15
...NEARLY ! Az TRAGEDY.

was virtually, II not actually, engaged
to the. girl. It IL certain that she did
not say anything about It, and she, t,
all appearances, reclprocated Jim's
feelings. At last got wrought up to a
pitch Of desperation, md resolved b,
put an end to the matter.
"Will you be my wife or not, FLOP"
I asked her one night when we happen.
ed to be alone.
She still temporisetl, and I fully be.
lieve now that she thoroughly enjoyed
torturing me.
"weli, Jack, I like you well enough"
she answered, "but cannot shy l love
you yet. Besides, there are"
"Others," lntcrposed. "Oh, yes,
know you hnve dozens Of admirers a.
we'll as me. and ono Of the principal
Of them Isis"
"JimT" she suggested, promptly.
"YOu may as well say It a. think u. or
course he likes me and like him. But,"
she added, coaxinsly, 81 like you. too,
Jack; still, you must walt"
"And supposing you had never seen
Jim!" I suggested.
"Oh, goodness knows" she Uttered.
"rerhaps I should have accepted you
by this time. But there goes y o'clock;
you'll be late for your turn. rs you call
II, II you don't hurry"
I turned and walked slowly away.
having plenty Of time before mo and
no inclination for work. The way TO
the circus, which was canvas one, In
an open space on the outskirts Of tho
town, was through shady lane. A.
ramblcd modify along noticed rs ]
nearcd a bend a man who drew behind
a clump Of bushes rs l passed. Ono
glance was sufficient. 1t was Jim! In
a dash It came to me that he was there
to meet Flo. Restraining my passion,
with grim determination, I pissed on.
then crcpt through gap In the hedge
and stealthily returned to the spot to
listen, like the coward I was. to tho
forthcoming Interview. In q few mill.
utcs she came tripping along; the next
she was In his arms, while he showcred
kisses upon her upturned face. Tho
sight maddened me, and only by tire.
mendOus efforts did restrain myself
from rushing upon them. At last she
/ u,
."Therc. thatll 20. Jim. want to
tell you something" Then, III her pref.
ty, artless fashion, she related our last
conversation. Jim listened patiently To
the end, and then said. very gravely:
"Po0r old Jack: lin truly sorry tn
hear this. ! wish I'd known It before"
"That wouldn't have prevented You
failing In love with me. though, Jim."
klle reasoned.
mo-" he retorted, still moro gravcly.
perhaps not, but II would havc pro.
vented me contrasting II. Good heav.
ems! what will Jack think Of tho friend
and partner who steals his sweetheart
from him?'
Don't be a baby" shc cried, "you
haven't stolen his sweetheart I like
old Jack very mucli-no one could help
doing that-but don't love him. lin,
like I do-wcll, someone who 10 not a
hundred miles away"
1t was dusk, 20 It was impossible to
see her face. but could well Imagine
how she looked at him 40 she said this.
I'm sure no man on earth could have re.
sisted the temptation, and Jim didn't
He embraced her again. could stand
II no more and rushed frantically away,
reaching the circus In state Of ayltx.
ton that was noticed by everyone.
"For 'cavin's sake. Jack. what's the
matter?" asked old Morritx. "Ave you
bin a.driukin'3"
"N0w almost shouted. "I'm 40 20.
Der no q Judge. Leave mo alone"
He shrank away with positive look
Of fear on his greasy, Jewish features.
Having dressed myself saw to tho
fixing Of our apparatus. taking more
than usual care to make sure that all
the gear was sound and In good order,
why. I knew not. but shall be thank.
full for that extra bit Of pvccaution to
, my dying day. At tho very last mo-
ment Jim arrived and has just time Ia
get his war paint 0n--that Is. don bis
theatrical finery-when the bell rang
for our appearance. A We prepared ia
60 on he looked at me earnestly and
whispered: Nv hats wrong. Jacky"
II know ALL" Kissed. "I.ct us gel
through this nights business aud theu
part before worse comes Of It,"
, He flushed CRIMSON through his
. "make.up." but said nothing. ana w
. . went on together as usual. meeting
. with a splendid reception. That cvca
Ing Jim fairly surpassed himself Ii
skill, grace and daring. ] could pex
ceive among the sen of faces below tina
OF Flora Denblgh. with her eyes fixed
admlringly upon him. My blood boiled
l felt sick and giddy, half mad wit.
, jealousy aud desire for revenge.
|, We had now reached ono Of oul
. fnal acts. was hanging from the bal
I, by my feet, Jim was ut the other trN
peze preparing for q flying leap to my
hands, whence he was to take coupl,
Of somersaults Into tho net beneath VIZ
> He gave the signal. and the next In
slant was shooting toward me like ~
arrow. We gripped and took the us,ia
> swing to and fro' a. prepared to IL
I 20 felt his clasp on my wrists tighte,
q spasmodically.
knew that something was wrong.
looked down; his eyes met mine witt.
|, out sign OF intelligence; they wer
rolling horribly, flmy and bl0Odshot-
his features were purple, aud locke,
\ swollen, while his form was stiffenc'
/ like that Of corpse. Then tho awfu
|. truth came to me with q shock; he wa
n IN ut Of some kind. ! was 30 startln'
v that nearly let go my hold; We swayc'
l to and fro moro slowly, and stoppc'