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Saved By A Circus Rider

Saved By A Circus Rider image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
February
Year
1881
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Uroadway, biilliant and gay, as if there were nothing of poverty or huinan suffering in the world - as if none m the great city were familiar witli tiunger and siekness; as if there were never to be anyawakeningfrom a golden dream oí liixiuv and pleasure. "Ah, thuughtlt'ss wcalth and fashion !" munnured ïom Orton, bitterly, as he saw fur-clad fonns, and pampered steeds, and richly mounted liarness, and gilded sleighs, and costly robes dash along. "IIow inuch you will have to answer for in the day of Dual reckonlng, for neglccting yonr poor, toiling, snffering brothers and sisters!" Suddeiily a oonfused cry, a wild tumult, the drawing away of teams on either side, or dashing intoside si reets, startled hini and he knew something uuusual was taking place. Then carne the shout of "Runaway ! runaway !" and he feit that life or property, or both, were being whirled onto destrnction. "Are you mad?" asked many, asthey ran to a place of safety, and he standing on the curbstone. He gave no heed to the warning. He liad braved death far too often to shrink from it in any event, and most certainly when at such a distance. His eyes were fixed up the street on a team of noble bays, that were tearing along, mad with fright and siirgingthe sleigli from side to side - running at their utmost speed, each striving to uitdo the mIict, slrainiiig every nerve - running away driverless. Had that been all he would not have troubled himself, deep as was his affection for blooded steeds, for he was not at that moment particularly in sympathy with wealth. It was quite another matter that chaiiied hini. At the first outcry he has sprung to and half climbed a lamp-post; and so obtainedaclearer view - one that thrilled his heart to the very core, causcd his breath to be more deeply drawn, and liis pulse almost to cease to beat. In the sleigh was a young and beautiful wonian, palé with terror, audclasping two chïldren to her breast. Orton thought of his Jenny and their litlle ones, and resolved to saté them. The impulse was noble, but how was it to be accomplished ? Far beyond any human control were the frantic horsës, ïo attempt to seize the reins as thiey dashed jmst wonld bö madness. He saw this - saw that the course of the horses would bring them direetly upon him, and, though the crowd furiously warned hini of his danger, he stirred not - only braced muscles and nerves, and set hls teeth with determination. "My God !" exclaimed a man, who, bolder than the rest, sprang forward and would have drawn him away. "You will be instantly killed !" ïom Orton shook him off just as the horses reaehed him, watched his opportunity, seized upon the harness as tliey were sweeping past, sprung lightlv upon the back of the nearest horse. grasping the reins, and, turning to the affrighted woman and screaming chiklren, shouted; "Keep quiet ! I wlll save you I" And save them he did. Before a block had l)een traversed the horses were made to realize that he was tlicir master, and the. Sharp curb eutting deeply iuto theic mautus brought tlioni to a standstiil. The crowd clieered lusüly - the police assisted the woman and children out and csrrléd them to a neighboring store, and, as soon astlio former had in Ü Tiicasure recovered her senses, she nsked for lier preserver, that she might thank and reward him. J5ut he was not to be found. All that could be learned was, that as soon as the trembling steeds had been taken chargo of by others he had disappearéd. "Wlin cqnjd it have been?" questioned the lady, with still ghastly face and bloodless lips, "Cannot say," answered apoliceman, "but he was a brave fellow, anyhow. I would not liave taken the risk he did for thousands." "A brave f ello v, indeed," was the response," and I would like very much to know his name and where he is to be found." But the lady departed without obtaining the desired information, and the sensitiveness of Torn Orton causetl him to lose the one (ipp'irtunlty of' lü life to have risen above iron-handed poverty, Meanwhile he was hurrying to business, more time had been occupied in the rescue than he thought possible, and though applause was dear to him (as to all), yet he could not stay to listen, and as for risking his life for money, he had not even drauned of auoh a thing. Out of breath he daslied into the dressing-room, and was received with reproof for being late. "Cannot help ït," lie replied; "I saw i pair of flery horses running away, with a sleigh and a woman and two children, and had to stop to save them," He told his story very briefly, and modestly while gettingready, and soon was dashing down the arena upon a spirited steed, "charging the world with wondrous horsemanship." The audience applauded to the echo, and, carried away by the excitement, he rashly determined to execute liis most daring acts, forgetting that the horse he rode had not been trained to them - was young and wild. The result wassoon plaiafyapparént. Though some were accomplishcd in safety, yet, when he attempted teaping over a banner, the fiattering f righ tened the horse, He bolt cd smidenjy, and Torn Qrton w;is hupled heiivily 'to the ground 1 He midcuviinMi to rise and make llght of pain, but a strang thlcknea (ruin; over Mm, the light fllckered and grew dim, he gasped for air and kncr nothing more nntil somewase revivcd, in the dressing-room, heheard familiar voices, "Q, (d! wliat wilt Ixtconui of .Jenny and the babiesV" he gasped, fainlly. "I am done lor, and - and - " liis tears and sobs chokwl liiin. "Do not foar fortliem, Tona," saiil a dossen hearty volees, and as many grasped his liand as oonld obtain hold, "we will see tliat they are taken care of." Many senselessly and carelessly condemn ring and stag bu etin the law of want and sufferingtheir' liearts Bbine upon the surface, and sucli charity is sliDwn that i]Qne upon Urn eaith is bi-igtiter. Ah, if all hunianity was true as the brother and sisterlinnd. whd.se Uves are given tl)t1 WubBnient and instruction of others, tlicic Woukl bii far less of trial and Huffci'ini); in the wui'lu. It is a oliarlty Itmt laats beyond the sad scènes at the "Little churcU around the corner." "Thanks, thanks," murmured the lnjured man; "but teil me the worst." "A broken leg is all that appears serious," answers a gray-headed man - a strang physidan whohad been sum moned; "tliough I cannot account for the inarks upon your side, my man." ".Probably he burt hiinsclf when he stuppcd the runaway horsees," wassugr gested, and the story told, "Hump ! a dangerous business nekt lo i'ooliiaidy; áól one in ten thoiisaud would have escaped ulive!" replied the physk-ian, with preased lips and ftyshiag eyes. "Well, all that can be done nmv is to get him home. 'l'hcn 1 wil] inake a more minute exaniination," A'eiv tendeiiv wns the noble-hearted felliiw taken to his huml)le aliode. The scène, when he was laid npon the lied, Bide liy side with his sick wilc and phildren. causedeveryeye to overflow with tears. "Toni, dear Torn," said .Tenn 'y as well as she conld for her pit i ful sobbing "whal will lit'come of us - of the children? We will starve anddié together !" NOt while we have hands," replied liis associates, every heart touchwl and every arm nwvetlto the utmost toward relief. They all looked around anxiously for the dhysician. Hut he was not to be sccn, and thelï gruinbling became loud md dcep. "I (m beat anything," siiidTom, "but for you, Jenny, and the children," and lie entirely brokedown. "And I could curse the doctor for an unfeeling wretch," blurted out one of the most passionate. "But it is ever thus. W'v, give our lives freely to picase the public, and when anything happens tliey care nothiug for us." Torn groaned heavily. The, sound woke his little girl. She raised up in bed, clapped her tiny hands and shout9d, in true childish glee and wonder: "Mamma ! papa ! see ! an angel !" All eyes were turned in the dircction pointed, and in the doorway stootl : licautif'ul woman, leaning upon the arm of the physician. Yes; an angel had come to them. Toni Orton liad risked his life to save that one il;uifihterof Dr. Annitage and his grand-children, and the nicicsi chance had given them the knowledge wIhi t was. But never was an equestrian feat better rewarded, and never a more charitable angel appeared upon earth even upon the day when, alike upon the hill-top and valley, it proclaimed "Peace upon earth, good will to men."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat