Litchfield enquirer., 1869-02-25
see-s T.ss-'sis7.ss4s FADING DEATH.


 story. I was apprenticed to builder when I left school, and soon got to like the trade very much, especially when the work was perilous, and gave me 8 chance to out-doI the other hands in daring. s'Spider" was my nickname in those days, given partly on account of my long legs, for had out grown my proportions, a1d partly because they said I could crawl along a roof like my nanesake. When was about three and twenty, was working with the famous MT. M M----, and went down with his. picked hands to carry out contract he had taken in Canada While there fell in love with the prettiest girl I had seen in Canada, that is saying good deal For a time fancied she liked me, and that I was getting on very well with my love- making, but I soon found my mistake, for an old lover of hers joined our men and Mary gave me the cold shoulder directly. You believe the sweetheart of hers (who was called Ben Loy6 and were not the best of friends in the world; but I am not the sort of fellow to harbor malice, and when the biddlngs to the wedding went round, and I knew that my chance was gone, made the best of it; kept my sore heart to myself, and determined to beat down my jealousy by being great chums with Ben.s fs5. sE<AEs f - went to the wedding, and there were not many days when I did not steal half an hour to sit by their freside, which was as bright, and cosy, and homelike as you'd wish to see-Mary being the soul order and and industry. It is not, perhaps, the usual way of driving out envy, to go and look at the happiness another man has done you out of, but you know the proverb says, 'What is one mans meat is another man s poison, and so it was I got to look on Mary as a sort of sister, and Ben had no cause for jealousy, although there were plenty of evil tongues to put him up to it.
 The contract was nearly up, when light ming conductor on one of the highest chim- neys sprang, and the owner of the works offered our master job.
 '.Its just the sort of thing for you, Har ry," said Mr. M-, when he told us
 accepted it off hand, and then Ben stspped up and said he'd volunteer to be the second man, two being required.
 "All right" said the master, ''you two are the steadiest headed fellows I have. The price is good one, and every penny of it shall be divided between you. We'll not fix the day for the work. but take the first calm morning and get it done quiet ly." ,......'
 So 1t was that some-four or five. morn inRs 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 cradle was ready, and stepping in, Ben and be- gan the ascent.
 There had been very few people about when We went into the yard, but as we got higher, l saw that the news had spread, and that the streets were filling with sig ht- seers. k-s+tt t
 There's plenty of star gazers, Ben," I said, waving my cap to them, 'I dare say they'd like to see us come down with 8 run." t"
 Cannot you keep quiet9" answered Ben, speaking in strange tone, and turn ing to look l saw he was deadly pale, and sat in the bottom of the cradle, huddled up together, with his eyes fast shut.
 You're not frightened, old chap?" I asked.
 Whats that to you?"
 "Oh nothing; only we are getting up pretty quickly, and you'd have Q better mead for work if you'd get gradually used to the height" e.
 He said nothing. and never moved. Then looking up, l saw we were close to the tor "a few yards more and we should be there yet those who were turning the windlass were winding with unabating speed 4 sudden chill ran through my blood. and set my flesh creeping They had miscalcu- lated the distance, and with the force they were winding at, the rope must inevitably break when the cradle came in contact with ha k~ tempt signal, only an instant to point out the danger to Ben. and then to get hold of the rope, and by going hand over hand, This was done quicker than I can tell you the following. -t7s se
 The cradle came on. Then as I antici. pated, the rope gave O shrill, ringing sound like rifle ball passing through the air, and then snapped. Down went the cradle, and there we were left, nearly three hun dred feet in the air, with nothing to rest upon but coping, barely eighteen inches wide.o s9-.7I '. ilF9
 Ben shrieked out that he was dead man, and cried
 'Teil me where can kneel. Harry, show me where l can pray to Almighty God, fol cannot die in this wayl' T.'
 Hush! lad" said, ''dont loose heart God can hear you as we'll sitting as kneel ing; and if you try to get up you'll tumble to moral certainty. Think of Mary, man and try to keep up."
 But he only shook and 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" I said thinking that, sprung as it was, the touch of it would give him courage.
 Where is it. boy?" he said hoarsely, and then looking into his face, which was turned to me. l saw that his eyes were drawn together, squinting and bloodsho, and knew that fright had driven hin blind. So pushing my self to him, plac ed my arm around his waist, and worked round to the rod, which put in his hand and then looked below to see if they were trying to help us, but there were nc signs. t.4
 The yard was full of people, all running hither and thither. asI knew afterwards, and all in the greatest consternation-the cradle having fallen on one of the overseers Of the work. killing him on the spot, and so occupying the attention of those near, that the unfortunates were for the time forgot. ten. was straining my eyes in hope of seeing some effort made to help us, when was startled to hear horrid yell. and was