New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-04

1 ltoI oudht TIC III W Tue
"a low melodious thunder buried be-
neath-above, the eternal silence of the
| white moon.
We passed to the roof of the drawing
room. From it, upon one side, we could
peep into the great gothic window of the
hall which rose high above it. We could
see the servants passing and repassing, with
dishes for the supper which was being laid
| in the diningrOOm, under the DRAWN groom,
for the hall was never used for entertain
ment now, except on such great occasions
as coming of age, or an election feast,
when all classes met.
1--WE mustn't stop here" said Clara; 1--WE
shall get our deaths OF cold
what shall we do, then 2" asked
| There are plenty of DOORS" she an
swered, 'only Mrs. Wilson has foolish
fancy for keeping them all bolted. We
must try, though"
Over roof after roof we went; now de-
scending, now ascending few steps, now
walking along narrow cutters, between
battlement and sloping roof; now crossing
awkward junctions-trying doors, many in
| tower and turret-all in vain Every one
| was bolted on the inside. We had grown
quite SILENT for the case looked serious
This is the last door," said Clara" the
last we can reach. There are more in the
towers, but they are higher up. What shall
we 40 Except we 20 uOWu Il
don't know what's to be DONE"
Still her voice did not falter and my cour-
age aid not give way. She stood for few
moments silent. l stood regarding her, as
one might listen for doubtful oracle.
YES I've got it !" she said at length
Have you good head, Wilfrid!"
II don't quite know what you mean,' 1
answered.
do you mind being on a narrow place
without much to hold by :"
High up!" asked with SILVER.
For moment did not answer. 1t was
special weakness of my physical nature,
one which my Imagination had increased
tenfold, the absolute horror | had of such
transit as she was evidently about to pro-
pose. My worst Dreams from which |
would awake with my heart going like fire
engine, were of adventures of the kind
But before a woman, how could l draw
back? / would rather die broken at the bot
tom of the wall. And if the fear should
come to the worst, could at least throw
myself down and end it so.
"Welll' / said, as if | had only been
waiting for her exposition of the case.
"Well!" she returned; "come along, then"
did go along, like man to the gallows;
only would not have turned back to save
my life. But / should have hailed the
slightest change of purpose in her with such
pleasure as Daniel must have felt when he
found the lions would rather not eat him.
She retraced her steps a long way, until we
reached the middle of the line OF buildings
which divided the two courts.
"There~ she said. pointing to the top of
the square tower over the entrance to the
hall, from which we had watched the
arrival of the guests; it rose about nine feet
only above where We now stood in the gut
ter. Il know left the door open when We
came down. did it on purpose | hate
GOOdy Wilson. Lucky, you see that is,
if you have head. And if you haven't,
it's all the same; l have
So saying she pointed to a sort of flying
buttress which sprung sideways, with a
wide span, across the angle the tower made
with the hail. from an embrasure of the
battlement of the hall, to the outer corner
of the tower, itself more solidly but
tressed.
Could she mean me to cross that hairlike
bridge! The mere thought was terror.
But [ would not blench. Fear | confess
cowardice if you will -poltroonery, not.
II see," answered. ~ will try. If Il fall
don't blame me. will do my best"
"You don't think" she returned "Tm
going to let you go alone! l should have to
wait hours before you found door to let
me down-except, indeed, you went and
where | am. No, no. Come along. I'll
show you how"
With a rush and a scramble she was up
over the round back of the buttress before /
had time to understand that she meant as
usual to take the lead. If she could have
sent me back portion of her skill and light
ness, or nerve, or whatever it was just to set
me off with rush like that. But | stood
preparing at once and hesitating. She turned
ON no hat H.
tower.
"Never mind, Wilfrid,' she said, III
fetch you presently"
"No, no." l cried. "Wait for me. I'm
coming"
got astride the buttress, and painfully
forced my way up. 1t was like a dream of
leap frog, prolonged under painfully re-
curing, difficulties | shut my eyes, and
persuaded myself that all had to do was
to go on leap-frogging. At length, after
more trepidation and brain turning than |
care to dwell upon, lest even now it should |
bring back too keen realization of itself | |
reached the battlement, Selling which, with |
one shaking hand, and finding the other |
grasped by Clara, tumbled on the leads of |
the tower.
Come along" she said "You see, when |
the girls like, they can beat the boys-even |
at their own games. We're all right now" |
81 did my best" l returned nightly re-
lieved. "I'm not an angel, you know. can't |
fly like yOu.'
She seemed to appreciate the compliment |
"Never mind. I've done it before 1t |
was game of you to follow"
Her praise elated me beyond measure. |
And it was we'll
Come along" she added.
She seemed to be always saying, come |
along.
| Obeyed full of gratitude and relief She
skipped to the tiny turret which rose above
our heads and lifted the door latch. But,
instead of disappearing within, she turned
and looked at me in white dismay The
door was bOlted. Her look reused what |
there was of manhood in me. ] felt that |
as it had now come to the last grasp, it was
mine to comfort her.
ave are no worse than we were,' said;
'never mind"
81 don't know that" she answered mys-
"Can you go back as you came!
can't"
| looked over the edge of the battlement |
where | stood. There was the buttress
crossing the angle of moonlight, with its
shadow lying far down on the wall. shud-
iered at the thought of renewing my I'M
speakable dismay. But what must be
must. Besides, Clara had praised me for
creeping where she could fly; now | might
show her that l could creep where she could
not fly.
Il will try" returned 1, putting one leg
aver the battlement.
"DO take care, Wilfrid,'' she cried,
stretching out her hands as if to keep me
from falling.
A sudden pulse rushed through me. All
at once | became not only bold, but am
bilious
H(Iiva mo q Eius 7 cold ahaforo 7 1o