The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
NEARLY A TRAGEDY.
From the Boston Traveller.

falling in love with me, though. Jim."
No" he retorted, still more gravely.
perhaps not, but it would have pre-
vented me confessing il. Good heavensi
what will Jack think OF the friend and
him2''
Don't be a gaby," she cried; you
haven't stolen his sweetheart. 1 like
Jacksvery much, no one could help doing
that, but don't love him, Jim, like do
well, some one who is not a hundred miles
1t was dusk, so it was impossible to see
hef lace but / could well imagine how
she looked at him as she said this. I'm
sure no man on earth could have resisted
the temptation, and Jim didn't He en-
Dfaceu ner again. / could stand 1t no
more; and rushed frantcally away, reach
ing the circus in a state of agitation that
was noticed by every one.
For ,eavin's sake. Jack, what's the
matter?" asked old Morritz. lave you
Nor l almost shouted. I'm as sober
as a Judge. Leave me alone"
lie shrank away with a positive look
OF lear on ms greasy, Jewish features.
Having dressed myself, 1 saw to the fixing
or 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 l shall be thankful for that extra bit
OF precaution to my dying day. At the
very last moment Jim arrived. and had
just time to get his war-paint on-that
is, don his theatrical finery-when the bell
rang for our appearance AS we prepared
to go on, he looked at me earnestly and
whispered: What's wrong, Jack2"
Il know all" l Kissed LET us get
through. this nights business and then
part before worse comes of it,"
He flushed crimson through his make
up" but said nothing, and we went on
together as usual meeting with a SPLEEN
did reception. That evening Jim fairly sur
passed himself in skill, grace and daring,
| could perceive along the sea of faces
below that of Flora Denbigh, with her
eyes fixed aamiringly upon him. My blood
boiled, / felt sick and giddy, half mad
with jealousy, and a desire for revenge.
We had now reached one of our final
acts. ! was hanging from the bar 10y
my feet. Jim was at the other trapeze
preparing for flying leap to my hands,
whence he was to take a couple of SOM
ersaults into the net beneath us. He
gave the signal, and the next instant
was shooting towards me like an arrow.
We gripped and took the usual swing
to and fro; as / prepared to let go ! felt
his clasp on my wrists tighten spasmod-
ically.
l knew that something was wrong.
l looked down; his eyes met mine with
out a sign of intelligence; they were roll
| ing horribly; filmy and bloodshot-his
features were purple, and looked swol-
| len, while his form was stiffened like
that of a corpse. Then the awful truth
came to me with a shock he was in a III
of some kind. 1 was so startled that
nearly let go my hold; we swayed to
and fro more slowly, and stopped dead;
the perspiration rolled from my own on
TO his upturned face. The tension on my
muscles was becoming vulnerable. / tried
to call for help. but no sound escaped
my parched throat 1t was evident the
onlookers professionals and all, thought
we were about to perform some new and
startling feat
If l was mad with jealousy before. I
was crazy now with horror. What could
l do? If | dropped him he would fall an
inert mass into the net and either break
his neck or burst through sud reach the
I III
| outright, at least crippled for life His
head now fell back and his hold relaxed
What could do? To support him much
longer. was impossible. At that supreme
so revolving that shudder now to think of
it.
| had to do was let him fall. and all would
besevef. No enc could blame me, and no
person but Flora could possible suspect
anything I instinctively looked at her;
| Il was evident that she could see we were
in trouble; her eyes were full of horror
too terrible for me to attempt to describe
The temptation grew stronger. Some de-
mon seemed to whisper Let go, you
fool. Now is your chance. Let 60 You
can soon get another partner"
That word restored all my manhood
like an electric shock; the reaction was al
most unbearable, but withstood it. With
a silent prayer braced myself up for a
last effort to save or die with him. 1t was
now that the result of having recently
worked the aerial act singly came to my
aid. It had made me as supple and strong
as a tiger.
Exerting all my powers in final super
human effort, 1 drew Jim up until
clasped him round the waist with my left
arm, then raised myself and burden to
the bar grasped it with my disengaged
| hand, got astride, and dragged Jim up
| beside me. When it is borne in mind
| that / had been all this time suspended
| by my feet, the extraordinary exertion
required to perform this feat may be
| imagined. 1t is certSin none but a trained
athlete could have done it. And exactly
! how l did it myself | never could tell. but
/ by heavens help l did do it, and we
were comparatively safe.
| By this time the audienc had scented
danger, and were awe-struck; our fellow
! performers were the same, and stupen-
/ dous silence reigned in the vast tent.
! After a brief rest I regained my speech
and called out, hoarsely: 1.-The ropet the
! ropeH This aroused the professionals
! from their stupor, and the climbing rope
from the trapeze was brought within
my clutch. More dead than alive, l slid
| down it with Jim in my arm.
| 1 was told afterward that I cried like
a child, when recovered from the swoon
/ into which / had fallen, and learned that
my partner had, by the aid of a DOCTOR
| who CHANGED to be present, also ,regained
| his senses. l pulled myself round suffi-
| GENTLY, and bow my acknowledgements
to the deafening applause with which
was greeted.
| It was a terrible experience. and have
never been on a trapeZe since-neither
| has Jim. We set up in business as makers
| of gymnaStic apparatus, and are doing
| fairly well, and remain better friends than
ever.
SrAMMANY TIM