Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-04-24

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me1your sddrsss ssrssl's's 81 fz-a 30 u
Here it is.'f said.. 'snd a. yca saios
your soul keep your word Sish ine. My
wife and cbildres'sre Starving. orr wodld
not attempt this work. 81 If ffdey - en-
live on the hundred dellafs for While us-
ill my sick wife fecovers her stfe6xso..s) ,
I'll make it hundred and fifty + Ell
claimed the architest, .ssnd nav God pro-
tect you If / hsd she)still neeesssry 70
ascend that steeple I would ash, no man 10
risk bis life there. But come, snd keep
q steady hand aud eye. ek "
I followed him into The church, then M
into the spire. until We paused before a
narrow window. This was the point from
which ! must start on my perilous feat
which l had undertaken.
Casting single glance at the people in the
street below-merc specks in the distance
i reached out from the window. aud i.
grssping one of the ornamental blocks,
swung myself out upon the spire.
For an instant my courage faltered. but
the remembrance Of my starving family
came to my aid. and with silent prayer
for protection and success, I placed nv
hand on the next block above my head
and clambercd up. -
From block to block went steadily and
cautiously. trying each one ere / trusted
my weight upon it. -
Two-thirds Of the space had, been pas
sed. when suddenly the block that sup
ported me moved-gave way! Oh hea-
vens never. though I should live to see
a hundred years. shall I cease to shud-
der at the recollection Of that terrible mo-
ment.
Yet in the midst of my agony, as
| felt myself slipping backward. l did not
for one second lose my presence Of mind.
1t seemed TO me that never before had
my senses been 50 preternaturally acute
as then. when horrible death seemed ip.
ev.,able. ~
Down. down slipped. grasping at each
block as l passed it BY. until at length my
fearful course was arrested, and tficn,
while my head reeled with the sudden re.
actlcn. great shout came from the peo-
pie 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 it again Come down.
But. no! more than ever now was de-
.ermined to succeed. l was not one to
gire up. after having undertaken a diff
cult task. '''t
Coolly, but cautiously. I commeurca
the ascent once more, frst seeking In vain
to reach across to the next row Of blocks.
for did not care to trust myself again on
that which had proved so treacherous-
This I was compelled to do. however. ur-
til the space between the angles became
sufficiently small to allow me to swing
across. Accomplishing my purpose at
length, I went up more rapidly. carefully
testing each block as I proceeded.
Ere long l reached the cross. and there
I paused to rest. looking down from the
dizzy height with a cooiness that even
astonished me. l''"
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. -7'f
Ny work was done. and as the last frag-
mcnt disappeared, I found sad pleasure
in the thought that should never reach
the G round alive. my dear ones would
have ample means to supply their wants
until my wife could obtain employment.
Sad and cautiously I lowered myself
from block to block, aud At length reached
the spire window. amidst the cheers Of
those assembled in the street. -.. a.
Inside the steeple the architect placed a
roll of bank notes in my hand.
You have we'll earned the money he
said. 'Is does me good to see man
with 50 much nerve-bui--bless me /! what
Is the matter With your hair? It was
black before you made the ascent, now it
is greyr @'" -..
And 50 Il was That moment Of iu-
tense agony, while slipping helplessly
downward, had blanched my hair until
il appeared like that of an old man.
The work Of years had been done in an
instant! 1'st'7 at Hi .iEt.9st .F7l.. / ,
Entering the bare. cheerless room which
was nov all ! called . home. I found q
visitor awaiting me. my late employer.
Harvey, said he. extending his hand :,
Il have done great wrong IL coet me
a terrible pans to believe in your guilt.
but circumstances we're 50 strongly against
yon. that was forced to believe il. |
have found the coin, Harvey. i, slipped
under the secret drawer in my desk. Can
ron forgive me. my dear old friend r
My heart was too full to speak. l silent
" pressed his hand.
~ 4 viii undo che wrong Z have dcue.-
AL the world shall kuos Il ,cosC<i you
anjsstly mol through ny scrds only. bat
through my actions. too. Yoa mzss b
my partner. Harvey. II you refuse. I
shall feel that yoe have not forgiven
me. D. iss1Tctai Ealssa = truodss at
5 Idid not refuse Instead, I shaukfal-
ly accepted the offer xhich my frisrd 80
generously made. knowing that no surer
method could have.been divised 10 silence
forever The tongue q slandef, odd ifee my
name from The unmesiscA sepeosck .vhish
had OF lsse ressea spoa h.g7t ~ .s,,b
Uumerited prosperity has attended my
steps ever since that eseasfsf day. bns
neither prosperity nor wtalsh en- eliee ID
memosy frSm ny hssss. subra ssstsrsi soy