Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-09-27

adore Bella-Bella, don't care to
have her dropping on my head
Seth. who also was not lacking in
wisdom which prompts a man towards
self-preservation, got up and leaned
against the wall out of reach Of the
net
Oh, she won't fall, my lord" said
the chairman, with a satisfied smile.
Bella knows a trick worth two of
that; trust her for taking care OF her
self. Here she Isl" and striking the
table in front OF him with an ivory
hammer, he Shouted Order, gentle
men!" in stentorian tones.
The band grew louder, and then,
amid a general silence, a woman
sprang on to the stage.
She was tall, but so exquisitely
made and every limb so perfectly pro-
portioned that she did not look more
than of medium height. She was, of
| course, dressed in silk tights, which
displayed her handsome figure, and
that small portion of her attire which
was not composed of silk tights was
of ruby plush, fiecked here and there
by diamonds, which in this case were
real; but few would have given a sec
ond glance at the diamonds after see
Ing her face. 1t was a singular one
She was dark, and her hair, tightly
| coiled at the crown of her shapely
head, was black, and the face was
striking In its mixture of audacity and
simplicity. She came to the footlights
with smile that was at once defiant
and self-assertive, but at the same
time there was look Of almost gentle
depreciation, of child-like gaiety, in her
dark eyes.
1t was as much her beauty as her
marvellous skill on the trapeze that
drew the crowds to the Palace during
her engagement.
AS she came forward into the
glare of the footlights Seth raised his
eyes and looked at her with piercing
scrutiny then softly and slowly drew
back, slid back, into the shadow of the
balcony.
Her appearance was the signal for a
loud outburst of applause, and a buzz
of excitement ran through the audi
ence, the swells" drew few inches
nearer, as IL fascinated; and the band
which had paused during her recep-
ton, broke into gay and exhilarat-
ing air
|
She acknowledged the enthusiastic
welcome with smile and a nod,
while a couple of stage attendants In
| gorgeous liveries seized a rope that
hung from the lofty ceiling and with
every sign of respect brought it within
| her reach. She sprang at it as a cat
springs at bird, and with a grace
and ease almost incredible drew her
self up to the trapeze, which hung ut
a giddy height above the stalls.
Trapeze performances are very
much alike; but Bella-Bella's was dis
tinguished by its audacity and the
grace with which 1t was executed
She and the trapeze seemed to be part
and parcel of the same machine. One
moment she was swinging by one
hand, her 1.-THE body at right angles:
the next she was suspended by her
feet and nothing else, her face smiling
down at the audience beneath her, as
If to hang head downwards forty yards
above the earth were the cCmmonest
of feats. There was a ladder sus-
pended lengthwise just below the cell.
ing, and with an effort which seemed
effortless she reached it and travelled
along 1t first by one hand and then by
one foot. Then she dropped like a
feather to the trape2e again and
knelt on one knee. Suddenly, while
the applause was almost deafening,
she uttered cry of feigned terror and
dropped like a stone in the net be-
meath Broken as her fall was by the
net, 1t would have shaken the life out
of an ordinary man, to say nothing of
woman, but almost instantly she was
on her feet again, and Selling the
guide-rope, was slowly swung on to
tho stage.
A roar like that of the wild beasts
OF Ephesus rose from The excited
audience, and she stood looking round
with slightly flushed face and parted
lips, scarcely bowling, yet receiving
the general applause as If it were her
due-as doubtless it was-then turned
to go. AS she did so she glanced
down at the group of gentlemen and
gave them an almost imperceptible
nod.
"All right" said the young peer with
a smile; shell come. Did you see
her nod? By George! she was better
than ever tonight; what do you think.
Harry"
yes" drawled the man addressed.
Some night she'll be best, and that
will finish her! Come on; she won't
take long, and therell be the devil to
pay II We keep her waiting"
They moved languidly towards the
| gorgeous corridor, with its electric