The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-04-16

ing. Suppose l succeed in moving
the cross, and then
IF any accident happens to you,
my brave fellow, the money shall be
paid to your family. 1 promise you
that. Give me your address,
'Here it is,' / said, 'snd as you
value your soul keel your word with
me. Ny wife and children are
starving, or l would not attempt this
work. If I die they can on live the
hundred dollars for awhile until my
sick wife can recover her strength.
'1'll make it . hundred and fifty Z
exclaimed the architect; and may
God protest you; If had the skill
necessary to ascend that steeple
would ask no man to risk his life
there. But come, and keep q steady
hand and eye.'
l followed him into the church,
then up into the spire, until We paus-
ed before Q narrow window. This
was the point from which I must
start on the perilous feat which l
had undertaken.
Casting . single glance at the peo.
pie in the street below-mere specks
in the distance-I reached out from
the window, and, grasping one of
the ornamental blocks, swung my
self 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 suc.
cess placed my hand on the next
block above my head and clsmbered
up.
From block to block I went. stead.
ils and cautiously, trying each one
ere / trusted my weight upon il.
Two thirds Of the space had been
passed, when suddenly the block that
supported me moved-gavs way
o heavens Never, though / should
live to see hundred years, shall !
cease to shuddar at the recollection
of that terrible moment. Yet even
in the midst of my agony. a. I felt
myself slipping backwards, / did not
for one second lose my presence Of
mind.
It seemed to me that never before
had my senses been 20 preternatur.
ally acute a. then, when . horrible
death seemed inevitable.
Down, down I slipped, grssping at
each block ss passed it BY, until ct
length my fearful course was arrest.
ed, and then, while my head reelsd
with the sudden reaction, . great
shout came 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 /
was determined to succeed. / was
not one to give up after having un-
dertaken q difficult task.
Coolly, but cautiously. / commeno-
ed the ascent once more, first seeking
in vain to reach across to the next
row of blocks, tor ! did not care to
trust myself again on that which had
proved 80 treacherous. This l 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
proceeded.
Ere long reached the cross, aud
there ! paused to rest, looking down
from the dizzy height with . COOL
ness that even then astonished me.
A few strokes with . light hstohet
that the architect had hung at my
back, and piece by piece the rotten
cross fell to the ground.
My work was done, and ss the last
fragment disappeared / found sad
pleasure in the thought that should
l never reach the ground alive my
dear ones would have ample means
to supply their wants until my wife
could obtain employment.
Steadily and cautiously ! lowered
myself from block to block, and at
length reached the spire window
amid the cheers Of those assembled
in the street.
Inside the steeple the architect
placed . roll of bank notes in my
hand.
you have we'll earned the money
he said. 1t does me good to see
man with so much nerve-but--
bless me ! what is the matter with
your hairp It was black before you
made the ascent, now it 10 grsy?'
And SO it was. That moment of
intense agony, while slipping help
lessly downward, had blanohed my
hsir until it appeared like that of an
old man. The work OF years had
been done in an instant.
Entering the bare, oheerless room
which was now all l called my home,
/ found . visitor awaiting ms-my
late employer.
Harvey he said, extending his
hand, Il have done you great
wrong. It cost me aterrible psng
to believe in your guilt, but eircum.
stances were so strongly against you
that wss forced to believe it. !
have found the coin, Harvey; it
slipped under the secret drawer in
my desk. Can you forgive me, nay
dear old friend p
My heart was too full to speak !
silently pressed his hand.
Il will undo the wrong ! have
done. All the world shall know that
I have accused you unjustly, not on
ly through my words, bat through
my actions. too. You must be my
partner, Harvey. If you refuse I
shall feel that you have not forgiven
me-
did not refuse. Indeed, I thank.
fully accepted the offer which my
friend 30 generously made, kno wing
that no surer method could hsvS
been devised to silence forever the
tongue Of slander, and free my name
from the unmerited repFosoh which
had oflste rested on il.
Great prosperity hes attended ny
steps ever since that eventfui dsy,
bat neither prosperity nor wealth
can effaee its memory from my heart,
nor restore my whitSned locks 80