New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-07
rom between her teeth the very mildest OF

inen she began to scOld, half in fun an
half in earnest,
Suddenly series of sharp shouts an
cries came up from the street. She pause
midway IN gesture and listened like
frightened deer. All at once there was
soft rattle below her. She grew DEATH
pale and instinctively tigLtened her Onl
hoid-nanely, that upon the ceiling. !
was weak and fragile as a crust, and 1t brOk
away. She cast glance above her at tn
wide aperture she had made, and then wit
another piercing shrek she darted down
ward and clasped the sinking beam upol
which her feet had rested. Somebody wa
ringing the bell. And it was not leisurel,
motion. It was not slowly tolled, as if TO
funeral. but the hands upon the rope be
low pulled with fire and vigOr. The shiy
ering. clnging little cloud of white flew
down and the yawning bell flew up. From
one there came a second shrill cry, and from
the other an overwhelming clang which
sounded over hill and dale miles away. He
slender arms, now as strong as iron, Rugged
the friendly beam and her soft fingers woiin(
themselves around the rusty bolt-head
with the rigidity of death. Then she came tt
the surface tluttering like dove. with hel
face wild with terror. She caught but E
glimpse Of the blue sky. the glowing
landscape, and then she was down again
screaming frightfully in the midst of the
drowning clamor. Her ears began to grow
deaf to all noises whatever. She came uE
twice and thrice. She had to take fresh
hold. Then another. Then it seemed that
the bolts were coming apart. and that they
! had suddenly grown soft in her hands. She
forgot to scream she could do nothing bu,
! hold on tight. Even the resolution to do
that vital thing presently began to fade
Deatened, dizzy and weakened, the child
grasped and struggled for a little while
longer; then there came that crisis when to
move, or even to breathe, is an invitation
to destruction: that last moment when the
failing muscles just hold their own, and
are capable Of no more effort. Her senses
failed her
At that instant the bell stopped its mad
revolutions. and stopped as suddenly as it
had started.
Maesty's arms, now bereft of their
upon the platform with her long hair
streaming over her face. The huge bell was
poised above her, still giving out its dying
tone. Had it fallen it would have dealt her
lapguld body crushing blow but some
strong hand in the porch held it tight and
steadtast. A dozen feet came bounding and
racing up the stairs, stumbling in the dark
but still pushing on with great energy
Foremost among the people was the sexton
caught up the child as if she were feather
Thank Cod he cried. with his eyes
overlooking with tears. " she is not dead
Majesty, Majpsty.'
Her trembling eyelds just parted, and
then closed again.
The lady. Majesty's friend. who had fol-
lowed close behind, it being she in fact who
had discovered the catastrophe from with
out, now took the child into her more ten
der hands, and the little procession marched
down again. and across the broad green in
front OF the church to the sections cottage.
Here. during the remainder of the day.
lay little Majesty, holding the lady's hand
fast IN her own. and now and then burying
her face and eyes in it, as thrra required to
her mind the scene in the beltry.
The lady sang. and tried thousand arts
to soOthe her. But she was sure to lind the
haltfrightened and waxen face OF the child
intent upon al imagined bell, whose awful
image was never done swaving this way and
that and which ever and anon gave out
terrible clans as the mighty tongue fell in
its cavern of metal.
The night came on and the moon arose
Without. upon the green and the lofty
trees. there was shed a brilliant light,
which Illuminated each quiet leaf and each
blade OF grass. almost as if another sun
had followed the vanished one, and now
Ioohtu UPON TIE eaTIn.
The child had now become so ouieted that
she was enabled to put together. in their
proper order all the events and incidents of
the day. She became rational. and was
able TO listen to the good lady, who, with
out cessation. lavished on her all the tender
words ana caresses that ever a mother
knew. Little Majesty soon began to talk,
and even 70 laugh. This encouraged the
trembling sexton to approach her again. he
having retired TO the tathest corner when
they first lay the child upon the bed He
now appeared. and cautiously examined
her from distance.
with smile. He numbered over the floor
and caught her in his arms.
20 Majesty. Majesty. what good would
there be il life without you! Eli, baby,
tell us, What would be the Use, Where
would be the comfort, Tell us
There being no reply bat a half-sup-
pressed sob. lie said nothing more. but
presently il seemed as though he inwardly
determined to keep such words in his own
breast. inasmuch as he suddenly rose from
beside her and said, rather cheerfully:
Il suppose it is safe for me to 90 now,
ism { II. mem. she's safe, / expect"
Where are you go;ng," asked the lady
and the child in the same breath.
Only short distance. To the clerks |
house. to look after the book
All said the child to her herself. that |
is it. 1t is the book have been trying to
think about.
She pressed her hands over her eyes as if
to recall some haIf-forgotten |
incident or view.
Her anxiety was great her smooth fore |
head corrugated into hundred wrinkles, |
and she shut her eyes aId pressed her lips |
together. In vain did the lady question
her; She would give no answer but " am
trying t. think
She frequently stopped. as f despairing; |
but. before her friend could get her to con
Tess what her puzzle was, she would plunge |
INTO 1t again. and would seemingly march |
quite up to the exact point Of solution, but
no further
Il wish could help you Little Majesty"
whispered the lady. contemplating these |
attempts with some uneasiness.
And l wish" cried the child, with a
burst of tears, and throwing her arms
around her neck, that | could help you | |
would love dearly to make you happy, but |
N SO confused, SO turned around, SO mixed |
up.'
and again: she reflected upon each incident |
with great exactness, but still they yielded |
her nothing If the exercise OF her brain |
was little severe, vet it was intensely in |
teresting. She did not care to talk, as it
only broke the course of her thought and |
so. after some moments, she sank into a |
tranquil state, which resembled sleep Her
eyes closed her hands dropped down, while
she again began to search her memory for
the thing she desired. She lay quite still,
now family smiling as she remembered the
dolls party and the caresses CT her friend,
and now becoming sober, and even turning |
4 little pale as the subsequent events arose
before her All was silent: the moonlight
zane in in broad patches; nothing moved
within the house or out upon the green.
Il vas a long while before she stirred.