Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-04

was hard-hearted old fool; see it now.
And was very near destroying the happiness
of my only remaining child for my poor'boy
Arnold, your old friend and school-fellow,
Gabriel, has been for years in foreign parts,
and we don't know what has become of him.
But now, please God, Annie at least will be
happy, and you shall marry her, my lad, as
soon after the day of heprocession as you and
she please There's my hand on it."
There was not a happier man that evening
within the precincts Of Vienna than Gabriel,
the gardener, although he we'll knew that he
was attempting most perilous enterprise, and
one as likely as not to result in his DEATH tie
made all necessary arrangements in case OF
that event, especially in reference to the com.
fort of an only sister who lived with him, and
whom he was careful to keep in ignorance of
his intended venture This done, he resigned
himself to dream all night of tumbling from
terrific heights, and all day Of his approach.
ing happiness. Meanwhile, Ottkar swallowed
his chagrin as he best might, and kept aloof
from Master Joss but he might have been
seen holding frequent and secret communlca-
tions with Lawrence, a man who assisted the
sacristan in the care Of the church.
The day of the young Emperor's triumph
al entry arrived. He was not expected to
reach Vienna before evening; and at the ap'
pointed hour the sacristan embraced Gabriel,
and, giving him the banner of the House OF
Austria, gorgeously embroidered, said: "Now,
my boy, up ID Gods name! Follow Law
renee he'll guide you safely to the top OF the
spre, and afterward assist you in coming
down."
Five hundred and fifty steps to the top OF
the tower! Mere child's play-the young
gardener flew them up with joyous step.
Then came two hundred wooden stairs over
the clock tower and belfry then five steep
ladders up the narrow pinnacle. Courage
A few more bold steps-half an hour of
peril-then triumph, reward, the priests bles-
sing, and the Joyful "Yes!" before the altar.
All! how heavy was the banner to drag up
ward-how dark the straight, stony shaft
Hold, there is the trap-door Lawrence, and
an assistant who accompanied him, pushed
Gabriel through.
II have itr cried Lawrence; "you'll see the
iron steps and the clamps to hold on by out
side-only keep your head steady. When
'tis your turn to come down, hail US, and we'll
throw you a rope-ladder with hooks. Fare
wellw AS he said these words, Gabriel had
passed through the trap-door, and with feet
and hands clinging to the slender iron projec-
tions, felt himself hanging over tremendous
precipice, while the cold evening breeze ruff
fled his hair He had still, burdened as he
was with the banner to steady himself on
part of the spire scul ptured in the similitude
of rose. and then, after two or three daring
steps still higher, to bestride the very pinnacle
and wave his gay old flag.
"May God be merciful to mel" sighed the
poor lad, as glancing downward on the busy
streets, lying so far beneath, the whole extent
of his danger dashed upon him. He felt so
lonely, so utterly forsaken in that desert of
the upper air. and the cruel wind strove with
him, and struggled to wrest the heavy banner
from his hand. "Annie, Annie, it's for thee !"
he murmured, and the sound of that sweet
name nerved him to endurance. He wound
his left arm firmly around the bar which sup
ported the golden star, surmounted by cres-
cent, rnat served as weathercock, and with
his right waved the flag, which tapped and
rustled like the wing of some mighty bird OF
prey. The sky-how near it seemed-grcw
dark above his head, and the lights and bon
fires glanced upward from the great city be-
low. But the cries of rejoicing came family
on his ear, until long continued shouts, min'
gled with the sound of drums and trumpets,
announced the approach of Leopold.
"Huzza! huzza long live the Emperor
shouted Gabriel, and waved his banner proud
ly. But the deepening twilight and the dizzy
height rendered him unseen and unheard by
the busy crowd below.
The deep voice of the cathedral clock tolled
the hour
"Now my task is ended" said Gabriel,
drawing deep sigh of relief, and shivering
in the chilly breeze. "Now I have only to
get down and give the signal"
More heedfully and slowly than he had as
cended, he began his descent. Only once he
looked upward to the golden star and cres-
cent, now beginning to look colorless against
the dark sky.
"Ha" said he, "doesn't it look now as if
that heathenish Turk of crescent were nod
ding and wishing me an evil good nightT
Be quiet, Mohammed"
A few courageous steps landed him once
more amidst the petals of the gigantic sculp-
tured rose, which offered the best, indeed, the
only coin of vantage for his feet to rest on.
He furled his banner tightly together, and
shouted: "Halloa, Lawrence! Albert! here
throw me up the ladder and hooks"
No answer.
More loudly and shrilly did Gabriel reiter-
ate the call.
Not a word, not stir below.
"Holy Virgin can they have forgotten me?
Or have they fallen asleep?" cried the poor
fellow aloud and the sighing wind seemed to
answer like a mocking demon.
"What shall do? What will become of
me?'
Now envelopcd in darkness, he dared not
stir one hair breadth to the right or to the
left. A painful sensation of tightness across
his chest, and his soul grew bitter within him.
"They have left me here Of set purpose, he
muttered through his clenched teeth. "The
torches below will shine on my crushed body"
Then, after moment:
mo, no the sacristan could not find it IN
his heart ; men born of woman could not do it.
They will come they must come"
But when they did not come, and the pitt
less darkness thickened around him, so that
he could not see his hand, his deathanguish
grew to the pitch of insanity.
"God " he cried, "the emperor will not suf-
fer such barbarity. Noble Leopold, help!
One word from you would save me-"
But the cold night-wind, blowing ominously
around the tower, seemed to answer:
"Here I alone am Emperor, and this is my
domain"
While this was passing, two men stood con-
versing together at the corner of dark street,
aloof from the rejoicing crowd.
"Hayen't MANAGED it. we'll ?" asked one