Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-01-24

upon uiul itAt EluN ot name IN lut uaih.
lie put the thought behind him with in
dignatiOn, and went out-Of-doors as if TO
escape from bad atmosphere.
But the soil was prepared for the seed,
aud the curate discovered he was bound
to a terrible ally. He allowed himself to
consider it as child ventures little by
little into danger, dreaming he has a
strong hold behind.
He began TO think Of particulars; to
hold the solution in his hand, as il were,
and to examine it. His antipathy for it
lessened, its criminality faded, it became
practicable, the pitfall began to disap-
pear.
lie would do it. He would take some
Of the money that belonged TO the church,
but would return it before it was missed
To how many man has this same
wretched plan seemed feasible at first,
only to gather over him a mountain Of
troubles to crush him in the end.
He remembered that the annual charity
sermon would be preached on the after
noon of an approaching day. One of his
exclusive charges was the offertory,
an artistic brass-bound casket which hung
in the porch of the church, aud which was
so arranged that it could be taken away
at the pleasure Of its custodian. This
box would be filled on the day Of the rec
tors appeal. The day would be Wennes-
day. Few burdens can be more severe
than the premedita'ion of a crime. The
curate staggered under his, aud carried
the load as if it had an actual bulk, like
milestone.
The day approached and came, and
people began to remark that the eurate's
work in the parish was too much for
him, too laborious, too exactmg, for ii
plainly began to tell upon him. He
looked pale, and felt really i'll; but,
nevertheless, that very morning he bought
the ring, promising the jeweller to pay
for it before night and sont it at once to
the reclor's daughter with an affection.
ate letter
1t so happened that the season lad
, been severe, and many high winds had
prevailed. Among the shipping and il
elevated parts Of the city much damage
was now being repaired, and upon the
stceple of the church of Our Saviour there
was perched man buisly mending the
fractured states and replacing some with
others. His position was apparentlya dan
gerous one, and the passers in the street
looked upward with feeling of nervous
ness. They stopped to see him swing from
one place to another, and not having
their fears fulfilled, went on and gave
(, their places to others, who stared ant
trembled at the frailty of his hold.
He had been accustomed to arrive a
his place of duty at an early hour, to as
cend and work steadily until noon, wher
r he would descend to dinner. After thi,
he would again hoist himself, and theI
come down at dark. lie was reputed tC
be extremely careful, and not to have
contracted that fata! carelessness which
familiarity with danger too often pro
duces. He has been seen to examine tht
ropes which were to support him, witt
great exactitude, going over them witt
his eyes and fingers until every separat,
inch passed under his inspection.
He was said to have been sailor; anC
possibly it was this experience which
taught him to forecast a storm Of winC
BY the peculiar Formation of the cloud
, which appeared en- the afternoon of tn
wednesday so important ip the affairs o
the curate., Pa. a0 '.''Ah'el
, Srecks appeared in the hitherto cloud
less sky, and rapidly grew to immens
size, while the led glow of the sun chang
ed to yellow as itapproached the horizon
The man, perceivibg this, ceased iswork
and prepared to descend at least an hou
before his usual time. He detached tn
rope at his side, and, passing it loosel,
9 about his leg and forearm, gradual,
slipped downward inch by inch. His form
, was conspicous and picturesque. A crow
E assembled far below to greet him.. Ii
, passed the base Of the tall spire safely
and also the huge brass hands of the clock
/ Such was the great reflection upon til,
! gilt figures that he was lost for momen
in a food Of dazzling light, but he emerg
ed and descended past wall of granite
! and came to the Gothic window OF til
9 organ-loft.
). The sun brilliantly Illuminated fores
f of dusty pipes, and exposed the remotes
corner Of the room. The man locke
! within. He saw another man standin
, transGxed, holding in his hand the bo
n which belonged in the porch. The lid wa
q raised, the mans cheeks were waxen
his knees were bent, he was in a pac
meant to be secret; there could be bu
a one meaning. They exchanged glance
Of intelligence, and, with a fierce gaz
/ prolonged to the lastspossible instant, til
man sank out Of sight with greater speed
/ He gained the ground amid murmu
r Of applause, detached his sling from til
/ rope, fastened the rope to hinge
shouldered his few tools, his dinner-pa
! and thick coat, and disappeared in tn
i crowd without word to any one.
n A moment later the curate bounded OF
! of the door of the robing-room and search
! cd for him.. He was not to be found a
!. hour, two hours Of pursuit produce
5 nothing. The man had escaped, and th
: culprit's secret was at large.
y The succeeding night was one of una
4 loyed torment and distress The warrior
f expedients Of confession, denial, an
!. fight, filled his mind in never-ceasir
! succession, and fragments Of prayer