The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-05-28

against that before-sometimes on the
crucified, I pressed in mortal terror along.
"Every possible accident and delay was
presented to my excited brain. b If
the ledge should narrow suddenly to Moth
ing? Now I believed that my heels were
unsupported in air, and I moved along on
tip-toe. Now / was convinced lat the
narrow pathway sloped outward, that this
slope had become so distinct, SO incre4s-
ingly distinct, that I might at any moment
slip off into the void. But dominating
every consideration of possible disaster,
was still that of the need for speed, and
distinct amid all other terrors was that
sensation of the dead wall ever silently
and inexorably pressing me outward.
"My mouth and throat were choked with
dryness, my convulsive lips parched and
the cold, moist stone. But I never stopped.
Faster, faster-more wildly I stepped-in
a delirium 1 pushed along. Then suddenly
before my staring eyes was a well-remem-
the rope should be directly behind me.
Was it?
81 glanced over my left shoulder. The
rope was not to be seen! Wildly l looked
over the other-no rope! Almighty God!
and hast Thou deserted me?
"But what! Yes, it moves! it sways in
sight! it disappears-to return again to
view! There was the rope directly at my
back, swinging in the 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 fol-
q little time of the hungry air beneath-l
offered deep thanks to my God for the de-
livery that seemed so near"
The old mans lips continued to move,
but no sound came from them. We waited
| silent while, with closed eyes and ben
head, he remained absorbed in the recol-
lection of hat strange minute of devout'
ness.
81 stood there" he said at last, "fol
what now seems a space of hours, perhaps
half a minute in reality. Then all the
chances still to be run crowded upon me
To turn around had been an attempt almost
desperate before, and certainly, mos
certainly, the ledge was no wider where
now stood. Was the rope within reach?
feared not. Would it sway towards me?
could hope for that.
"But could l grasp it should 1 be saved
Would it not yield to my ~hand-comins
slowly down as l pulled, unrolling from
coil above, trailing over the ground at thu
top, running fast as its end approached tn
edge, falling suddenly at last? Or was i
fastened to the accustomed stake Wa
any comrade near who would summon ait
at my signal? If not, and if l grasped it
and If it held, how long should / swing il
the wind that now bore he freshness AM
tremors of an imminent gale?
Snow again fear took hold on me, and q
a desperate man 1 prepared to tur m,
face once more to the vast expanse o
water and the nothing beyond that awfu
cliff. Closing my eyes, 1 writhed, with
know not what motions, easily around til
again my back pressed against the preci
pice. That was a rcstful sensation. An,
now for the decision of my fate! I looke'
at the. rope. Not for a moment could
fancy it within my reach! Its swaying
were not, as l had expected, ever slight.
inward, but when falling back against tn
wind, it swung as though the al
were eddying from the wall.
"Now at last 1 gazed down steadily
Would a leap be certain death? The waite
was of immense depth below. But wha
chance of striking it feet or head first
What chance of neutrality-suspicious.
death; that at least was clear.
"Again 1 turned to the rope. I was nov
perfectly desperate, but steady, nerved be
yond the best moments of my life, good TO
an effort surprising the human. Still tn
rope swayed as before, n its motion wa
very regular. I saw that I could touch
at any point of its gyration by a stron
leap.
"But could 1 grasp it? What use if
were not firmly secured above? sui a
time for hesitation had gone by. I kneN
too we'll that strength was mine but for
moment, and that in the next reaction c
weakness I should drop from the wall lik
a dead fly. Bracing myself, I watched tn
rope steadily for one round, and as it re
turned against the wind, jumped straigh
out over the heaving Atlantic.
SPY Gods aid l reached, touched
clutched, held the strong line. And it held
Not absolutely. Once, twice, and again
gave, gave with jerks that tried my arms
I knew these indicated but Tightening
Then it held firm and I swung turning i
the air, secure above the waves tnat bea
below.
ITO slide down and place my feet in tn
loop was the instructive work of a moment
Fortunately it was of dimensions to adm
my body barely. I slipped it over m
thighs up to my armpits just as tn
dreaded reaction of weakness came. The
I lost consciousness.
"When I awakened my dear mother
face was beside my pillow, and she told m
that I had been tossing for a fortnight i
brain fever. Many weeks I lay there, an
when l got strong found that I had left m
nerve on that awful cliff side. Never sine
nave l been able to look from a height
see any other human being on one withor
s~huddering.
$50 now you know the story, Mr.. Fraze
and nave had your last walk IN the factor
wall"
He spoke truer than he knew. His stor
has given me such horrible nightmares evt
since that 1 could no more walk on the hig
%brickwork than along that narrow ledge
distant Cornwall.-E. W. ~ThOmps0n'S Prf;
Story IN Youths Companion.