The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-10

duu keep d SIStUy udnu anu eye.
1 followed him into the church, ther
up into the spire, until we paused be
fore narrow window. This was the
point from which I must start on the
perilous feat which I had undertaken
Casting single glance at the people
in the street below-mere specks in the
distance-I reached out from the win
dow, and, grasping one of the ornamen.
tai blocks, swung myself out from the
spire.
For an instant my courage faltered,
but the remembrance of my starving
family came to my aid, and, with ST.
lent prayer for protection and success,
1 placed my hand on the next block
above my head, and clambered 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
passed, when suddenly the block that
supported me moved-gave way. o,
heavens never, though I should live
to see a hundred years, shall cease to
shudder at the recollection of that ter
| rible moment.
Yet even in the midst of my agony, as
| felt myself slipping backward, did
not for one second lose my presence of
mind.
1t seemed to me that never before
| had my senses been so naturally acute
as then, when horrible death seemed
inevitable.
Down, down I slipped, grasping at
each block as I passed it by, until at
length my fearful course was arrested
and then, while my head reeled with
sud rno0tTNTN q rPrnof no a
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 it again. Come
DOWN.
But no; more than ever now was
determined to succeed. I was not one
to give up after having undertaken a
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 dare 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. Accomplishing
my purpose at length, went up more
rapidly, carefully testing each block as
l proceeded.
Ere long I reached the cross, and
there I paused to rest, looking down
from the dizzy height with a GOODNESS
that even then astonished me.
A few strokes with a light hatohet
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, I found a sad
pleasure in the thought that, should
never reach the glound alive, my dear
ones would have amply means to sup
ply their wants until my wife could find
employment.
Steadily and cautiously lowered my
self from block to block, and at length
reached the spire window amidst the
cheers of those assembled in the street.
Inside the steeple the architect placed
a roll of bank notes in my hand.
"You have we'll earned the money"
he said. cit does me good to see a
man with so much nerve-but-bless
me what is the matter with your hair?
It was black before you made the as
cent, now it is gray"
And SO it was That moment of in
tense agony, while slipping downward,
had blanched by hair, until it appeared !
like that of an old man. The work of |
years had been done in an instant.
Entering the bare, cheerless room |
which was now all I called my home, I |
found visitor awaiting me-my late |
employer.
"Harvey," said he, extending his
hand, "I have done great wrong. 1t |
cost me terrible pang to believe in |
your guilt, but circumstances were SO |
strongly against you that I was forced |
to believe it. I have found the coin,
Harvey; 1t slipped under the secret |
drawer in my desk. Can you forgive
me, dear old friend p
Ny heart was too full to speak. L |
silently pressed his hand.
I will undo the wrong l have done. |
All the world shall know how l accused |
you unjustly, not through my words |
only, but through my actions too. You
must be my partner, Harvey. If you |
refuse, shall feel that you have not
forgiven me-"
I did not refuse. Instead, thank |
fullyssaccepted the offer which my friend |
so generously made, knowing that no |
sarer method could have been devised |
to silence forever the tongue of SIAN |
der and free my name from the unmer- |
tied reproach which of late had rested |
upon if.
Prosperity has attended my steps |
ever since that eventful day, but ne1th-
prosperity nor wealth can efface mem
ory from my heart, nor restore my with |
cred locks to their own raven hue.