Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-02-12


claimed the architect, and may God Pre-
iect you If had the skill necessary I,
ascend the s!eep!e, would ask n" man I,
risk his life there. But come and keep ,
steady hand and .ye."
l followed him into the church, then Il,
int" the spire. until We nov paused b. for,
narrow window. THIS was tue poin
from which ! must start IN my periiOu
fca. which / hsi undertaken.
Casting sing e glance at the people he
Iow-mere spe' ks in the ia ,ce-l rea,
81 ou' from The Window. aui grsspe1 one
OF the ornam"n'ai blocks, swung mys. Il
out from the spire
For sn instant ny courage taltered. bnl
the remembrance of my starving family
came to my al !, and, with silent prayer
for protection and success, placed my
hand on the next block ABOVE my head
and clsmhered up
From block to block l went, stts.il,
aud cautiously, trying each one ere trust
Ell my weight upoa it.
Two thirds of the space had been passed
when suddenly the lock that supported me
moved-gave way. o heavens! Never
then. should live to see = hundred years
shall cease to shudder at the recollection
OF that terrible moment.
lei even in the M d>t IF my agony, as
felt myself slipping backward. did no,
i"r oac moment lose my presence IF mind
1t seemed t. me that never before had
my senses been o na urally acute as tnen
When horrible death seemed inevitable.
Wa, own, siippel grasping al each
lo K as | passed 1t by, until al ngth my
fearful course was arrested; and then
while my head rceled with the sundlen r.
action. g:ea' shout came up from h,
pc 'ple b ! W.
architect, from the window; half the
sum III al he yours for til. risk you have
ran. Don'I try it again. Come down."
Bu; no; more than ever W IS ueterin n.
e. t. succeed. was not one 10 give a.
after hav.n undertaken Il Ilfa:u!t task
Cody hut cautiously | commenced th,
ascent once more, first seeking IN vain I,
,e.cn across to the next row OF blocks, fUl
did not dare to trust myself again or
iha which nal proved So treac,lrrous -
This " .s c,,m ,cil q to do. however, un
Hiticenlly sma:. 10 allow me 10 swing
acrpss. Accom-, ,oli> >hlns my purr,~e N,
!cEg'h. Went up fn,r. Rapidly, carefully
tc-tin. each block as | procce.icd.
ETe long | reached the cross and there
pau>el 10 rest, looking down from til.
-ilzzy h. gh' with q coolness that even
then astouished me.
4 few strokes with light hatchet tha,
the architect had hung st my back, and
piece by piece the rotton Cross fell to the
ground
My work was done, and as the las, frac
meat disappeared found sad pleasure
in Tie though, that should never reach
thc ground alive, my dear ones would have
ample means t. supp'y their w.ats until
nv wife coud II ID employment.
Si.al,iy and cautiously lowered mY-
self from block 10 block, aud ut length
-cached the spire window amidst the
cheers Of tn ose assembled in the street.
Inside the steeple the architect plac d
a roll Of bank notes in my hand.
You have well earned the money, he
aid. Il, does me good to see man with
50 much nerve-but. bless me. what is
The matter with your hair. 1t was black
before you made the ascent and now it is
.ray."
And 80 it was That momen, of in, ense
agony while slipping d5wnward had
'lanrh:d my bar Until it appeared ike
hat Of an ola man. The work of years
,ad been done in an instant.
Entering the re, cherries room which
vas now al called ny home, found a
'isi'or awaiting me-my late employer.
Harvey" said he, extending his hand,
i have done a gres, wrong l, cost me
terrible pang TO believe IL your gull.
M circumstances We're SD strong a.xins.
on that was forced to believe it. il
Dund the coin. Harvey; il Slipped unde~
he secret drawer in NJ, desk. Can You
prgive me, dear old friend:"
My heart Vas tm full Speak IsiIent-
7 pressed his hand.
Il will undo the wrong / have done
II the world shall know now l accused |
on unjus'ly. Not through my wo.ds
ally, but through my actions also. You
.ust be my partner, Harvey. If you re-
lse, l shall feel thai you have not for
'ycn me.''
l did not refuse. Instead thankfully
copied the offer which my friend so gen
'ously maie, kpowlng that no surer
ethod could have been devised TO silence
'revcr the tongue Of s!ander. and free my
a,ne from the unuerited ieproach which
late had rested uion j..
p osperity has attended my steps ever
nee tnat eventful day. but neither pros
,rity nor wealth can efface memory frum
y heart nor restore my " ithered locke 10,
cir own raven hue