Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-16
to see hundred years, shall cease to
shndder at the recollection of that ter

| 70 see q hundred years, shall cease to
shudder at the recollection of that ter-i
rible moment. >--'.. -
Yet, even IN the midst of my agony.
as L felt myself slipping backward.
olo noc 1of one second lose my pres
ence of mind.
1t seemed to me that never before.
mad my senses been SO preternaturally
acute as then, when a horrible ,leatk
seemed inevitable.
Down, down L slipped, grasping at
each block as passed it bv. until 81
length my fearful course was arrested
and then, while my head reeled with
the sudden reaction, a great shout came
up from the people below.
! Come down, come down p called
the architect from the window; sshalf
the sum shall be yours. for the risk
you have run. Don't try again Come
down"
But, no more than ever now was
determined to succeed. / was not one
to give up after having undertaken O
| difficult task.
Coolly, but cautiously, commenced
| the ascent once more, first seeking in
vain to reach across to the next row of
blocks, for did not care to trust my
self again on that which had proved so
treacherous. This [ was compelled to
do, however, until the space between
the angles became sufficiently small to
allow me to swing across. Accom-
pilshlng my purpose, at length, I went
up more rapidly, carefully testing each
block as l proceeded.
Ere long L reached the cross, and
there [ paused to rest, looking down
from the dizzy height with a coolness
that even then astonished me.
A few strokes with light hatchet
that the architect had hung at my back,
and piece by piece the rotten cross fell
to the ground
My work was done, and as the last
fragment disappeared, found sad
pleasure in the thought that, should I
never reach the ground alive, my dear
ones would have ample means to sup
ply their wants until my wife could OBJ
tain employment.
Sad and cautiously lowered myself
from block to block, and 1T length
reached the spire window, amidst the
cheer SO of those assembled in the
street.
Inside the steeple the architect
placed roll OF bank notes in my hand
You have well earned the money"
he SAID. 'It does me good to see a
man with so much nerve-but-bless
me! what is the matter with your hair
1t was black before you made the
ascent, now it is gYayy'
And so it was! That moment of
intense agony. ME slipping helplessly
downward, had blanched my hair until
it appeared like that of an old man.
The work of years had been done in
an instant!
Entering the bare, cheeriess room,
which was now all I called home, [
found visitor awaiting me, my late
employer.
Harvey, - said he, extending his
hand, 81 have done you a great wrong.
1t cost me a terrible pang to believe
your guilt, but the circumstances were
so strong against you, that 1 was
forced to believe it. [ have found the
coin, Harvey; it slipped under the
secret drawer IN my desk Can you
forgive me, my dear old friend?"
My heart was too full to speak: T
silently pressed his hand
& viii undo the wrong have done.
All the world shall know I accused
you unjIstly, not through my words
only, but through my actions. too.-
You must be my partner, Harvey. II
you refuse [ shall feel that you have
not forgiven me-"
did not refuse. Instead, thank
fully accepted the offer which my
friend SO generously made, knowing
that no surer method could have been
devised to silence forever the tongue
OF SANDER, and free my name from the
unmerited reproach which had of late
rested upon il.
Unmerited prosperity has attended
my steps ever since that eventful day,
but neither prosperity or wealth can
efface its memory from my heart, nor
restore my withered locks to their
own raven hue.