Worcester daily spy., 1859-01-29
dMortester 4ailp Spp,
LOVE IN THE CLOUDS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

low, aloud, and the sighing wind seemed to
answer like mocking demon.
"What shall l do? What will become Of
me?"
Now enveloped in darkness, he dared not
stir one hairs breadth to the right or the left.
A painful sensation of tghtness across his
q chest, and his soul grew bitter within him.
"They have left me here of set purpose" he
muttered through his clenched teeth. "The
torches below will shine on my body"
Then, after moment
'.No, no the sacristan could not find it in
his heart man born of woman could not do it.
They will come they must come"
But when they did not come, and the pitt
less darkness thickened around him, so that he
could not see his hand, his death-anguish grew
to the pitch of insanity
"God," he CRIED ''the Emperor will not suf-
fer sach barbarity. Noble Leopard, help. One
word from you would save nee"
But the cold night wind blowiRg ominoasly
around the tower, seemed to answer.
"Here alone am Emperor, and this is my
domain"
While this was passing, two men stood
conversing together at the corner of dark
street aloof from the rejoicing crowd
"Havn't managed it right {" asked one.
eyes; he'll never reach the ground alive
unles the sacristan-"
ooh no; the old man is too busy with his
son who came home Unexpectedly an hour ago
he'll never think of that old fool Gabriel un-
til"
"Until It's too late. How did you get rid of
Albert 2"
'fBy telling him that Master joss had under
taken to go himself and fetch the gardner
down. The trap door is fast, and no one with
in call. But think, Master Ottkar, you and
may as well keep out of the way till the
fellow drops down, like ripe apple from the
stem"
And so the two villains took their way down
a narrow street, and appeared no more that
night.
Meantime, dark, shadowy fiend sat on one
of the leaves of the sculptured rose, and hiss
ed in GabriePs ear-"Renounce thy salvation,
and | will bring thee down in safety"
"My God, preserve me from such a sin :"
said the poor lad, shuddering.
"You only promise to give me your Annie,
and I'll save you"
"Will you hold your tongue, you wicked
spirit! %
cor just say that you'll make me a present
of your first-born child, and I'll bear you away
as softly as if you were floating on down"
"Avaunt, Satan! I'll have nothing to do
with gentlemen who wear horns and tailp
said Gabriel, manfully.
The clock tolled again, and the gardener
that he had been asleep. Yes, he had actually
slumbered on that dizzy point, suspended over
the fearful abyss
cam really here" he asked himself, as
he awoke, cor is it all frightful dream have
had while lying on my bed p
cold shudder passed through his frame,
followed by a burning heat, and he grasped the
pinnacle with convulsiye tightness. A voice
seemed to whisper in his ear
al a., I IL A.
which no man shall escape. Anticipate the
fearful moment, and throw thyself down.
"Must l then die 2" murmured Gabriel,
while the cold sweat started from his brow
"Must die while life is so pleasant! Oh, An
ME, Annie pray for me. The world is so
beautiful, and life so sweet"
Then it seemed as if soft white wings float
ed above and around him, while a voice whis-
pered-.
awake, awake The night is far spent,
and day is at hand. Look up and be comfort
ed"
Wrapped in the banner, whose weight help
ed to preserve his equilibrium, Gabriel still
held on with his numbed arm, and with
sensation almost of joy, watched the first dawn
lighting up the roofs of the city.
Far below, in the sacristan's dwelling, the
old man sat- fondly claspng the hand of hand
some, sun-burnt youth, his long-lost son Ar
mold, who had sat by his side the live long
night, recounting the adventures which had
betallen him in foreign lands, without either
father or son feeling the want of sleep.
At length Arnold said:
81 am longing to see Annie, father: dare
say she has grown fine girl. How is my
friend Gabriel, who used to be so fond of her
when we were all children together ?''
Gabriel Holy Virginl 1 had quite for
gotten him
A rapid explanation followed. Master joss
and his son hastened towards the cathedral,
and met Albert on their way.
"Where is Gabriel 2" cried the sacrstan
''I don't know. have not seen him since
he climbed through the trap-door."
"But who helped him down?"
why, you yourself, of course % replied AL
bert, with a look of astonishment Lawrence
told me, when we came down, that you had
undertrken to do it."
ooh! the villains the double-dyed scoun-
dres Now understand it all !" groaned the
old man, Quick Arnold Albert! Come,
for the love of God Look up-look up to the
spire p
Arnold rushed towards the square, and his
keen eye, accustomed to look out at great dis
tances at sea, discerned through the gray, un-
certain morning twilight, something futtering
on the spire
"Tis he 1t must be he, still living"
30 God!' cried Master joss; "where are
my keys? OH that we are not to be too latep
The keys were found in the old man. pocket,
and all three, rushing through the cathedral
gate, darted up the stairs, the sacristan, in the
dread excitement of the moment, moving as
swiftly as his young companions.
Albert knowing the trick of the trap-door,
went through it first
"Call out to him, lad p' exclaimed Master
Joss.
A breathless pause
II hear nothing stirring" said Albert, ''nor
can see anything from this. I'll climb over
the rose"
Bravely did he surmount the perilous pro-
jections, and, after few moments of intense
anxiety, he re-appeared at the trap-door.
"There is figure standing on the rose, but
tits not Gabriel-'tis a ghost"
"a ghost you dreaming dunderhead,"
shouted Arnold. "Let me up" And he be-
gan to climb with the agility of a cat.
Presently he called outcome on, come
on, as far as you can. / have him, thank God.
But quick; time is precious"
Speedily and deftly they gave him aid; and
at length halfunconscious figure still wrap
ped In the banner, was brought down in safety.
They bore him into the Adam and Eve, laid
him in warm bed, and poured by degrees
little wine down his throat. Under this treat
ment ne soon recovered his consciousness, and
began TO thank his deliverers Suddenly his
eye fell on mirror hanging on the wall oppo-
site his head, and he exclaimed:
"Wipe the hoarfrost off my hair and that
yellow dust off my cheeks"
In truth, his cured locks were white. his
rosy cheeks yellow and wrinkled, and his
bright eyes dim and sunken but neither dust
\ nor hoarfrost was there to wipe away--that
one night of horror had added forty years to his