Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-12-24

ne presence OF all these honest folks,
hat Annie shall be yoursr said the sac
'istan, grasping GabriePs hand with one
If his, while he wiped his eyes with the
back of the other.
One thing i have to ask you,' said
the young man, that you viii keep this
matter a secret from Annie. She'd nev-
er consent; she'd say was tempting
Providence; and who knows whether
the thought of her displeasure might
not make my head turn giddy, just when
| want 10 be most firm and collected
No fear of her knowing it, for I have
sent her on visit to her aunt two or three
miles in the country.
And why did you send her from home
Master JOSS ?
Because the sight of her pale face
and weeping eyes troubled me; because 1
was vexed with her; because, to tell you
the truth was vexed with myself. Ga
briel, was hard hearted old fool, I see
it now. And Twas very near destroying
the happiness of my only remaining child;
for my poor boy Arnold, your old friend
and sehoolfellow, we don't know what has
become of him. But now, please God,
Annie at least viii be happy, and you
shall marry her, my lad, as soon after the
day of the procession as you and she
please. There's my hand on it,
There was not happier man that eve,
ming within the prcincts of Vienna thar
Gabriel the gardener, although he wei
knew that he was attempting most per
ilous enterprise, and one as likely as not
to result in his death. He made all nee
essary arrangements in case of that event
especially in reference to the comfort O
an only sister who lived with him, an,
whom he was careful to keep in ignoranc,
of his intended venture This done. b
resigned himself to dream all night @
tumbling down from terrific nights, an
all day of his approaching happiness
/ Meanwhile, Ottkar swallowed his chagri
as he best might, and kept aloof fror
Master JOSS; but he might have bee
seen holding frequent and secret COMMIT
nications with Lawrence, a man whe a.
sisted the sacristan in the care of th
church.
: The day of the young emperor's tr
umphal entry arrived. He was not e.
: pected to reach Vienna before evening
/ and at the appointed hour the sacrista
embraced Gabriel, and giving him ii
banner of the House of Austria, gorg
4 ously embroidered, said: Now, n
boy, up in Gods namel Follow La,
n renee; he'll guide you safely to the to
= of the spire, and afterwards assist you
o coming down.
?. Five hundred and fifty steps to Il
' top Of the towerl Mere child's play
the young gardener few up them with
e joyous step. Then came two hundrt
II wooden stairs over the clock-tower al
n belfry; then five steep ladders up t
! narrow pinnacle. COuragei 4 few mo
= bold steps-half an hour of peril,-th'
= triumph, reward, the priests blessir
J. and the joyful 'YesP before the alt
q All, how heavy was the banner to dr.
a upwards-how dark the straight, sto
a. shaft! Hold there is the trap-door.
i Lawrence, and an assistant who acco
At panied him, pushed Gabriel through.
d That's it cried Lawrence; 'yoJ
Sc see the iron steps and the clamps to hC
nb on By outside-only keep your head ste
If dy. When tits your time to come dov
rs hail Us, and we'll throw you a rope-la
der with hooks. FAREWELL As
& said these words Gabriel had pas
er through the trap-door, and with feet a
as hands cIinging to the slender iron prof
,e- tions, felt himself hanging over trem
=; dous preciPice, while the cold even
y, breeze ruf9ed his hair. He had 8
Ee burdened as be was with the banner,
steady himself on a part Of the 81
I'D zcuIptured in the simiIitude Of n
zip and then, after two or three daring st
for still higher, to bestride the very pima
of and wave his gay gold flag.
May God be merciful to ne ? sig
an, the poor lad, as gIancing downward
ont the busy streets, lying 90 far beneath,
oy whole extent Of his danger flashed j
Ter, him. He felt 50 lonely, 50 utterly
nb- saken in that desert Of the upper air,
the cruel wind stroye with him, and stl
ON gIed to wrest the heavy banner from
ed hand Annie, Annie, It's for thee 7
"a murmgred, and the sound Of that s.
was name nerved him to endurance.
las wound his let arm firmly round the