Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-05-07

the dead wall ever silently and inexora-
bly, pressing me outward.
My mouth and throat were ehoked
: with dryness,my cOnvulsive lips parched
! and arid; much l longed to press them
against >the cold, moist stone. But L
, never stopped. Faster, fsster-more.
J wildly stepped--in delirium pushed
, along. Then suddenly before my staring
eyes was well-remembered ledge of
} messy stone, and knew that the rope
should be directly behind me. Was it?
Il glanced over my left shoulder. The
rope was not to be seen! Wildly look
ed over the ether-no rope! Almighty
G odl and hast Thou deserted mep
But whatl Yes. it moves! it movesl
it sways in sight it disappears-to re-
turn again to Viewj There was the
rope directly at my back, swinging in
tthe now strong breeze with a motion
THAT had carried it away from my first
hurried glances. With the relief tears
pressed to my eyes and face bowed to
the precipice, almost forgetful for a little
time of the hungry air beneath offer
ed deep thanks to my God for the deliv-
cry that seemed so near Il aEl
! The old mans lips continued to move,
but no sound came from them. We
waited silent while, with closed eyes
and bent head, he remained absorbed in
the recollection of that strange minute
of devOutness.
Il stood there he said at last, for
what now seems a space of beurs, per-
haps half a minute in reality. Then all
the chances still to be run crowded upon
me. 10 turn around had been an at
tempt almost desperate before, and GER
tainly, the ledge was no wider where
now stood. Was the rope within reach?
feared not. Would it sway toward
me- l could hope for that.
But could grasp it should be savedp
Wouldiit not yield to my hand-eoming
slowly down as pulled, unrolling from
coil above, trailing over The ground at
the top, running fast as its end APP
preached the edge. falling suddenly at
lastp Or. was it fastened to the aecus-
toned stake, Was any comrade near
who would summon aid at my signal?
If not. and if grasped it. and if it
held, how long should l swing In that
wind that now bore the freshness and
tremsrs of an imminent gale?
Now again fear took hold on me, and
as a desperate man prepared to turn
my face once more to the vast expanse
of water and nothing beyond that awful
cliff. Closing my eyes. writBed, with
Eknaw not what motions, easily around
till again my back pressed against the
precipice. That was a restful sensation
And now for the decision of my fatel I
looked at the rope. Not for moment
could fancy it within my reachl Its
swayings were not, as 1 had expected,
even slightly inward, but when falling
back against the wind, it swung OUT
ward as though the air were eddying
from the wall.
Now gazed down steadily. Would
leap be certain death? The water
was of immense depth below. But
what chance of striking it feet or head
first? What chance of preserving coz
seriousness in the-descentP No, the leap
would be death that at least was clear.
Again l turned to the rope. was
now perfectly desperate, but steady,
nerved beyond the best moments of my
life, good for an effort SURPRISING the
human. Still the rope swsyed as before,
and its motion was very regular. saw
that could touch it at any point of its
gyratioh by strong leap.
But could grasp itf What use if it
we're not firmly secured above? Bat
ali time for hesitation had gone by.
knew too well that strength was mine
but for moment, and that in the next
reaction of weakness should drop from
the wall like dead fly. Bracing my
self, watched the rope steadily for one
round, and as it returned against the
wind, jumped straight out over the
heaving Atlantic.
BY Gods aid l reached, touched,
clutched, held the strong line. And it
heidi Not absolutely. Ouee, twice and
again it gave, gave with jerks that tried
my arms. i knew these indicated but
Tightening. Then it held firm and I
swung turning in the air, secure above
the waves that beat below.
To slide down and place my feet
in the loop was the instinctive work Of
a moment. Fortunately it was Of di-
mensions to admit my body barely. I
slipped it over my thighs up to my arm-
pits just as the dreaded reaction OF
weakness came. Then lost conseious>
ness.
when 1 awakened my dear mothers
face was beside my pillow, and she told
me that had been tossing for fort
night in brain fever. Many weeks lay
there, and when got strong found that
had left my nerve on that awful cliff
side. Never since have l been able TO
look from height or see any other hu-
nun being on one without shudderi1g.
so now you know the story, Mr.. Fra
zer, and have had your last walk on the
factory wall
He spoke truer than he knew. His
story has given me such horrible night
mares ever since tnat 1 could no more
walk on the high briekwork than along
that narrow ledge in distant Cornwall.
e. w. Thomsens Prize Story in The
Youths ComDauion.
EXCITEMENT over q Miraculous cure in
England.-The newspapers OF Great Britain
are filled with accounts of the wonderful re-