Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-08-26


don't mind listening, l will tell you the
story. | was appreniiced to a builder
| when I lett school, and soon got to like
the trade very much, especially when the
work was perilous, and gave me chance
to Guido the other lads in daring. "Spl
der" was my nickname In those days
given partly on account of my long legs
for had outgrown my proportions, and
partly because they said l could craw
along the roof like my namesake. When
] was about three and twenty, wa
working with the famous Mr.. Nj,
and went down with his picked hands, Il
carry out a contract he had taken in Can
ada. While there, fell in love with th'
prettiest glrl | had seen IN Canada, and
that is saying good deal. For time
fancied she liked me, aud that l was get
tIng along very well with my love max
ing, but soon found my mistake, for AL
old lover Of her joined our men, and Mary
gave me the cold shoulder directly. You
may believe this sweetheart of hers who
was called Ben Loyd) and / were not the
best friends IN the world but 1 am moi
th, sort Of fellow TO harbor malice, and
round, and l knew that my chance VA
gone, l made the best Of IL; kept my
sore heart TO myself, and determined 10
beat down jealousy, 10y being great chums
with Ben.
went TO the wedding and there were
not many DAYS when | did not steal hall
an hour TO Sill by his iresIde, which was a.
bright and homelke as you would wish IL
see-Mary being the soul Of order and IN
dustry. IL is not perhaps the usual way
Of driving out envy, TO 90 and look at the
happiness another man had done you Out
of, but you know what the proverb says,
ssWhat Is one mans meat Il another man s
poison" and so it was, / got TO look upon
Mary as a sort Of sister, and Ben had nc
cause for jealousy, although there were
plenty OF evil tongues to put HIM uF 10 II.
The contract was nearly up, when a
lightning conductor upon one OF the high
est chImneys sprang, and the owner oil
the works offered our master the Job.
''It's just the thing for you, Harry,
said Mr., when he told w. OF II.
] accepted il od-hand, and then Ben
slept up and said he'd volunteer 10 lie the
second, two beng required.
.'All right said the master, ''you are the
steadlest-headed fellows i have. The
price is good one, and every penny OF II
shall be divided between you. Well not
fix day for The work, but take the hrst
calm morning and get II done quietly.
So II was that some four or i've morn
ings after, we found ourselves ready for
the. start. The kite by which the line at
tached to the block was TO be sent over the
chimney, was flown, and did It's work
well the rope which was to haul up the
cable was ready, and stepping an Ben and
and began the ascent.
There had been very few people about
when we went into the yard, but as We got
higher saw that the news had spread,
and the streets were filling with sight
seers.
"There's plenty Of star gazers, Ben," ]
said, waving my hat 10 them 81 dare
say they'd like to see Us come down with
, run"
"Cannot you keep quiet p answered
Ben, speaking IN strange tone aud
turning 10 look | saw that he was deadly
pale, and sat IN the bottom of the cradle.
huddled up together, with his eyes fact
shut.
"YOu're not frightened, old chap p l
asked.
"Whai's that to you y
aOh, nothing, only We are getting up
pretty quickly. and you'd have beiler
head Tor work II you got graduaily used
10 the height"
He sand nothing, and never moved.
Theu, looking mp, l saw We were close Ia
the top-a few yards more, and we would
be there yet those who were turning tn.
wIndlass were winding with undated
speed. A sudden chill run through ms
blood and set my flesh creeping. They
had mlscalculated the distance, and with
the force they were winding AT, the rope
must inevitably break when the cradl.
came IN contact with the block. There
was no time 10 attempt a signa,, only an
instant TO point out the danger Ia Ben, and
then TO get hold OF the rope, and by going
hand over hand, reach the coping before
the cradle came up. This Was done
quicker than can tell you, Ben follow
ing.
The cradle came on i then, as antici-
pated, the rope gave shrill, pnging
sound, like a rifle ball passing through the
air, and snapped Down went the cradle,
and there We we're left, nearly three humid
red feet in the air, with nothing 10 rest
upon but coping, barely eighteen
inches wide.
Ben shrieked out that he wss a dead
man, and cried -
"Iell me where can kneei, Harry !;
show me where l can pray 10 Almighty
God for / cannot die this way y
"Hush lad," | said; "don't lose
heart God can hear you just as well sit
ing as knesling and if you Try to get up
you'll tumble to mortal certainty. Think
Of Mary, man, and keep up"
But be only shook aud swayed more
and more, grooming, and crying out that
he was lost /; and could see that if he did
not mind he would overbalance.
"Get hold of the rod" | said. thinking
that, even sprung as il was, the touch of
1t would give him courage.
"Where is il, boy % he said hoarsely :;
and then looking into his face, which was
then turned towards me, saw that his
eyes were drawn together, squirting and
bloodshot, and knew that the fright had
driven him blind. So pushing myself to
him l placed my arm around bis waist,
and worked round 20 the rod, which 1 put
in his hand and then / looked below, to
zee whether they were trying to help us
but there vas no sign.
Tho yard was full Of people, all running
hithsf and thither; and, - afterwards
kney, ell 70 ths Usatsst confederation, the
cradle having Allsu o. one Of the overseers
of the work, killing him On the spot, and
20 occupying the attention Of those near,
that We untotunstes were for the time for
Gut1eu. VA strninin1 NV ewes. In hopa