Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-01-31

seemed to mock my agony. I must he
half way up now, and for the moment
a ray of hope shone In Upon me that
could hold on to the end. But, to my
despair, now saw that the seeming
dome was false one, above Which rose
the verltable conical roof, another hun
dred feet or more; and that through a
vast round orifce in the sham dome,
the rope was to ascend to the upper
most peak of the roof. In that moment
Of tarture recognized my fate as inev-
liable. might prolong my agony for
few seconds; my muscles were invol-
unfairly relaxing; my grasp Would fail; !;
in another minute at furthest I must
fall to be dashed to pieces on the ada
mantine floor below.
A thousand confused thoughts whirled
through my brain, like the smoke and
sparks of an approaching conAagration,
but especially clear in my minds eve, I
saw did not think but saw this vision
the picture of my far-off home, the
rolling plains of grass, the herds and
fiocks, galloping horseman - there
was my home. My wife stood in the
portico, shading hereyes with her hand ;
the children were clustering about her;
there was news of daddy coming-per-
haps daddy himself. 1t was bitter to
die thus.
My limbs relaxed; my senses almost
deserted me; merciful oblivion, the
intoxication of despair, stole over ME;
voices, l thought, were calling-per-
haps delusion of failing sense-I was
slipping, slipping, and fell
How do you feel now, sir" heard
voice say close in my ear. Was it
rossible-was I still alive? Yes; my
brain was yet conscious. But the frame?
Shattered, no doubt, a mere human
wreck, to which life would be mock
cry. only dared to use my eyes. Any
other muscular exertion might bring on
torments to which I was then insensi-
bic; and yet I had no feeling of pain
perhaps some merciful paralysis had
cut me off from torture.
An old man was bending over me,
the same who had admitted me, he had
wine glass in his hand with some liq-
uor in it; candle burned by his side;
forming little chamber of light about
us.
Am I knocked all to pieces?"
whispered.
don't think so, sir; I don't think
you're hurt a bit. Bless you! you didn t
fall more than three feet"
l stretched out my ar,ns-they were
whole: my leSs-they were sound and
unhurt. What happiness to be alive,
after seeing death itevitable!
Z" How is this?' 1 cried, sitting tip,
and looking about me. II thought
was carried up into the DOME"
And so you were. Yon'd have
been a dead man by this, but Just in
the nick OF time I came back. dom t
suppose should have noticed you, for
the light was pretty nearly done; but I
caught sight of you against the gliding,
and then you gave sort of moan, and
says 1: There's death here, if I can t
think of something in minute. And
then l recollected that I'd heard the
workmen chaps whistle three times, and
Tipped away, and then the rope stopped,
and began to come dome. 1 shouted
to you to hold on and keep your heart
up; but don't think you heard me, for
when your face came in sight it was
white like death, and your eyes closed
but you still holding on till, as
say, you came within three feet of the
floor, and then you gave quiver and
fell, and I caught you in my arms, for
you were in a dead faint. But what
were you about to let them draw you
up like that?'
Then told him my gymnastic feats.
"Oh, then, ! suppose you shook the
rope. That's the signal to pull up, and
up they pulled, and they never knew
what sort of load they were hauling
up. The men are working double shifts
now, and in hurry to get finished"
When I left st. Paul's felt weak
and nervous, as if I had Just passed
through long illness. Icouldn't start
next morning I was SO upset, and I
have written this account of what hap
pened to me as sort of outlet for my
feelings, for don't think I shall talk
much about st. Paul's when I get home.
-Belgraria.