South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-08-01

III any accident happens to you, my
brave fellow, the money shall be paid to
your family. l promise you that. Give
me your address,
'Herc it is said, 'and as you value
your soul keep your WORD with me. NV
wife and children are starving, or / would
not attempt this work. If L die they eau
live on the hundred dollars for q while un-
I'll my sick wife RECEIVERS her strength
I'll maze il hundred and ffty . ex
claimed the architect, 'aud NAV God pro-
tect you! IL [ had the skill necessary TO
ascend that s,eeple l would ask no man 10
risk his life there. But come, and keep q
steady hand and eye.'
followed him into the church, then up
into the spire, until we paused before a
narrow window. This was the point from
which l must start on the perilous feat
which had undertaken.
Casting single glance at the people in
the street below-mere specks in the dis
tance-l reached out from tho window, aud
grssping one of the ornamental blocks,
swung myself out upon the spire.
For an instant my courage filtered, but
the remembrance Of my starving family
came to my aid, aud with silent PRAYER
for protection and success, l placed m y
hand on the next block above my head and
clambered up.
From block to block went steadily and
cautiously, tying each one ere trusted m ?
weight upon il.
Two-thirds Of the space had been passed,
when suddenly the block that supported
me mOved-gave way. Oh ! heavens :
never, though | should live to see hun.
dred years, shall cease to shudder at the
recollection of that terrible moment.
Yet even in the midst Of my agooy, as
| felt myself slipping backward, l did not
for one second loose my presence of mind
1t seemed to me that never before had
my senses been 80 preternaturally acute
as then, when horrible death seemed in
evitabe
Down, down slipped, graspiug at each
block as | passed by it, until at length ID v
fearful course was arrested, and then, while
my headreeled with the sudden reaction, a
great shout came up from the people below.
Come down, come down.. called the
architect from the window half the sum
shall be yours, for the risk you have run.
Don't try again Come down
But no more than ever now I was de-
termined to succeed. | was not zone to
give up, after having undertaken difficult
task.
Coolly, but cautiously, commenced the
ascent once more, first seeking in vain to
reach across to the next row of blocks, for
L did not care to trust myself again on that
which had proved so treacherous This /
was compelled to do, however, until the
space between the angles became sufficient
iy small to allow me to swing across. Ac-
comPliShing my purpose at length, went
up more rapidly, carefully testing each
block as proceeded.
Ere long reached the cross, and there
| paused to rest, looking down from the
dizzy height with GOODNESS that even then
astcDished me.
A few strokes with light Ratchet 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 frag-
ment disappeared, found a sad pleasu re
IN the thought that should | never reach
the ground alivO, my dear ones would have
ample means to supply their wants until
my wife could obtain employment.
Sad and cautiously lowered myself from
block to block, and at length reached the
spire window, amidst the cheers of those
assembled in the street.
Inside the steepIe the architect placed a
roll Of bank notes in my hand.
you have we'll earned the money he
said. 1t does me good to see q man with
so much Derve-hut-bless me, what is the
matter with your hair? II was black be-
tore you made the ascent, now it is gray =
And so it was That moment Of inten SO
agony, while slipping helplessly downward,
bad blauched my hair until it appeared like
that Of an old man. The work of years had
been done in an instant
Entering the bare, cbeerless room, which
was now all called a home, found a visi-
tor awaiting me, my late employer
Harvey said be, extending bis hand
i have done great wrong. 1t cost me a
terrible pang to believe in your gull, but
circumstances we're so strongly against you,
that | was forced to believe IT, have
found the coin, Harvey, it slipped under
the secret drawer IN my desk Gao you
forgive me, my dear old friendY
My heart was too full to speak, 1 silently
pressed bis hand
Il will undo the wrong have done. -
All the world shall know | accused YOU
unJustly not through my words only, but
through my actions, too. You musi be n :
partner, Harvey. II you refuse I shall
feel 'bat you have not forgiven me-
did not refuse. ILsesd, I thankfully
accepted the offer which my friend so gem
erously made, Knowing that 40 suror meth
cd could have been devised to silence for