Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-20
Only two days moro wcrc required TO

the morning Of the last day but one, O
great part Of the work was found dcfaeed
and broken. II was then that the ficklc-
ness Of popular favor was truly shown;
tho destruction. II was averrod, was the
work of demons; tho labos Of Sabine
were rejected of God.
Bernard do Sunden alone still believed
in the pie,y and goodness OF Sabine; and
at night, tho last night, his figure might
have been seen gliding from pinnacle to
pinnacle, among the mingled turrcts and
scaaolding OF tho cathedral, toward the
summit Of tho great portal. Arrived at
tho place where tho greatest mutilation
had been committed. no was near falling
from the yet unprotected wall on which
he stood. as he saw advancing toward him
q shadowy, white figure. so slender, so
graceful, so bcaming with q divine carn-
cstncss and expression. that. rs tho bcau-
iiful head seemed surrounded with akind
Of glory In tho ray Of gentle moonlight
that fell upon il through IN opening of the
iracery, he thought he behold one OF the
angels whose immortal hands had been
supposed to have shed such supcrhuman
beauty upon tho sculptures of tho
portal.
But as hc stood and eazcd, supported
against tho crocketod pinnacle CT tho tur-
ret, hc perceived that It was no other than
Sabine herself; aud that she trod tho gid.
dy path along the narrow walls, across the
toitcring plaaks, over tho gaping void Of
darkness bcncalh--not with the cunning
and experienced step of tho waking, but
with tho wonderful instinct Of tho sleep
ing. Thus was tho magical progress Of
tho work explained to the wondering Der.
nard. as hc bchcld tho sleeping girl ply
tho mallct and tho chisel with rapidity
and skill that plainly showed she was
dreaming tho execution Of tho work, Of
which sho had already dreamed tho
design.
AS Bernard stood concealed In the shad-
ow of buttress. another stealthy step
was heard; and tall. dark figure emerged
from tho dark intrlcaclcs OF the upper part
OF this vast building, and advancing to-
ward the opposite sldo Of tho top Of the
portal to tho ono where Sabine was work.
ing, commenced with mallot and chisel a
destruction, ns active as tho restoration
which was going on, on tho opposite side.
Tho two figures might havo symbolized
tho spirits Of Good and Evil--of creation
and destruction.
"Yos!" exclaimed Bernard. In an under
tone. "yes. polydorc! thou art rs truly the
demon who destroyed. as that girl Is tho
angel who created tho work"
polydoro turdod freely toward tho
speaker, by whom no found himself thus
unexpectedly discovered. and advanced
furIously toward him; fearful struggle
was about 10 commence on the narrow
wall. with yawnIng gulf on either side,
hundreds OF foe, deep, when polydorc. In
hIsrage. missed his footing, and foil head.
long into tho deep, dark chasm below.
Tho day had arrived whom tho great
portal Of tho clock tower was to DO oxhib-
tied 10 tho public; tho morning boamed
brightly on the lgh, now stonework Of tho
vas. building; AMI as tho workmen pro-
pared to remove tho seaIloldlng and screen
from tho work-eompletcd. % u seemed.
by emImele--lho body Of polydorc. with
tho evidences Of his guilt. tho mutilalIns
mallet and chIsel. lying near his hand. was
discovered beneath tho arch OF tho great
and now perfect portal.
Il II necessary TO add that Sabine bc-
came tho wlfu Of BERNARD do Sundcn, and
,ha, they planned aud executed many
beautiful works together, not tho least Of
which arc tho exquisite sculptures Of
Madgcbours?
Tho statue Of Sabine. which commem.
crates her story, and her share In the
adornment Of tho cathedral Of Strasbourg
Is from tho chisol Of M. A. Grass. now In
trusted with the repairs and restoration Of
this exquisite monument Of tho art and
tho faith Of tho Middle Ages.