The daily gazette., 1877-03-29

lhey can live on the hundred dollar
awhile, until my sick wife RECEIVERS hel
strength.
"I'll make it a hundred and fiftyr
exclaimed the architect, land NAV
God protect you'll II l had the skill
necessary to ascend that steeple. !
would ask no an to risk his life there.
But come, and keep steady hand and
eye"
/ followed him into the church, then
up into the spire, until we paused be-
fore narrow window. This was the
point from which l must certainly
commence my perilous feat which
had undertaken.
Casting single glance at the peo-
pie in the street below-mere speck
in the distance-I reached out from
the window, and. grasping one of the
ornamental blocks, swung myself out
upon the spire.
For an instant my courage faltered,
bnt the remembrance of my starving
family came to my aid, and with 81
lent prayer fer protection and success,
placed my hand ON the next block
over my head and clambered up.
From block to block l went, steadily
and cautiously, trying each one ere 1
trusted my weight upon it.
| Two-thirds the space was passed,
when suddenly the block that sup
ported me moved-gave awayl Oh,
heavens! never, though / should live
to see hundred years, shall cease to
shudder at the recollection of that ter
rible moment.
Yet. even in the midst of my agony,
az felt myself slipping backward, 1
did not for one second lose my pres.
ence of mind. 1t seemed to nae that
never before had my senses been so
preternaturally acute as then, when a
horrible death seemed inevitable.
Down, down slipped, grasping at
each block as pssssd it, until at last
nay fearful course was arrested, and
then, while my head reeled with the
sudden reaction, a 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 it again! Come
down."
mined to succeed. / was not enc to
give up, after having undertaken q
difficult task.
Cooley, but cautiously I commenced
the ascent once more, first seeking in
vain to reach across to the next row Of
blocks, for I did not care to trust myself
again on that which had proved so
treacherous. This 1 was compelled to
do, however, until the space between
the angles became sufficiently small to al
low me to swing across. Accomplishing
my purpose at length, I went up more
rapidly, carefully testing each block as I
proceeded.
Ere long reached the cross, and there
I paused to rest, looking down from the
dizzy height with GOODNESS that oven
then asthonished me.
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.
fragment disappeared, L found sad
pleasure in the thought that should /
never reach the ground alive, my dear
ones would have ample means to sup.
port their wants until my wife could OBJ,
tain employment,
Steadily and cautiously / lowerered
myself from block to block, and at length
reached the spire window, amidst the
cheers of those assembled in the street.
a roll of bank notes in my hand.
"You have well earned the money"
he said. sit does me good to see man
with so much hnerve-but-blessm me! what |
is the matter with your hair? 1t was
black before you made the ascent, now |
it is gray"
And SO it was. That moment of in.
tense agony, while slipping helplessly |
had blanched my hair until |
1t 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 called my home, l /
found visitor awaiting me, my late en-
ployer.
Harvey" said he, extending his hand,
Il have done you a great wrong. 1t
cost me terrible pang to believe in
your guilt, but circumstances were so
to believe it, l have found the coin,
Harvey; it slipped under the secret
drawer in my desk. Can you forgive me,
dear old friend ?"
My heart was to full to speak; silent
ly pressed his hand.
l will undo wrong l have done. All
the world shall know l accused you un-
Justly, not through my words only, but
my actions, too. You must be
my partner, Harvey. If you refuse 1
shall fell that you have not. forgiven
me-"
I did not refuse. Instead, thankful
ly accepted the offer my friend SO gem
erously made, knowing that nc surer
method could have been devised to ST.
lence foieVer the tongue. of slander, and
free my name from the unmerited re-
proach which had of late rested upon it,
Unusual prosperity has attended my
steps ever since that eventful day, but
its memory from by heart, nor restore
ny withered locks to their own raven
lue