Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-05-11
ON THE STEEPLE.

was seated on little bench, shaded
from the sun, gazing in admiration at the
grand cathedral I evoked in wonder at Its
massive columns and heavy arches, and rum
ming my eye upward contemplated in silent
amazement its mighty, far reaching spire,
which, losing itself almost in the clouds, is
an object of establishment to all who look
upon it. The burning sun was casting it's
brightest rays upon the golden symbol upon
its far distant top, until it glowed like
cross of flame, pointing the way to a happier,
better land.
AS l bent my eyes upon it, towering SO
many, many feet above me, I remember
how, long years before, when as child I
had gazed on it as it blazed in the monday
sun, had often wished that 1 might stand
upon it, and as 1, in my childish innocence
imagined, overlook the world, for to me it
had seemed that an object SO high, as I
thought among the stars, must command a
view of the whole universe Although since
then years of travel had placed me on points
hundreds of times as lofty, still kept my
eyes fixed on it, and recalled the wish of my
youth; the desire again came back to me to
place myself there and overlook, if not all
creation, at least the city and surrounding
country. But / was not aware that there
existed any means of reaching its apex, or,
if there were such facilities, that travellers
were ever allowed to use them; and so I sup
posed that must content myself with i'm
aginlng the view instead of realizing it.
While these thoughts were passing through
my mind movement near me attracted nv
attention, and, looking in the direction of
the sound, saw that lady had seated her
self upon the bench quite near me, and was
likewise contemplating the golden cross AS
/ looked at her she withdrew her attention
from it and fixed her eyes on me- Large,
liquid, melting eyes were they, whose effect
was heightened by as beautifula countenance
as ever my sight beheld She appeared
young-not above 20-clad in black, with
curls like the ravens wing falling over her
shoulders. For perhaps quarter of min
ute she looked at me in silence; then she said
in that soft, mild, indescribable voice which
is so beautiful thing in woman:
''You would like to stand upon the cross
is it not so?'
How she OWNED my wish could not i'm
agine but I answered:
'Such was indeed my desire"
81 should be happy to show you the way"
she said with a sweet smile.
"And l should be but too happy to visit it
y
trouble that I should occasion YOU"
"The trouble is nothing, for it is my bust
ness, and shall claim reward for my serv-
ices"
"What might it bea" asked
II will tell you when we have arrived at
the top" was the reply. "But come, let us
hasten, for in two hours the cathedral will be
closed, and the way is long and tiresome.n
She arose and I followed her, wondering
that had never before seen Or heard of her,
and thanking my good stars that had so
angelic guide We entered the cathedral
and commenced ascending broad oaken
staircase. This we followed for some time
my guide talking pleasantly all the while
Finally we halted, and she drew from her
pocket little lantern, which she lighted
and we began to ascend what would other
wise have beer dark spiral, which wound
up through t:is smaller portion of the spire.
For a long, long time we went on the stairs
growing narrower and narrower until, after
reaching a part which presented but room
for the passage of but one at time, and
proceeding so for dozen steps, she suddenly
threw open little door; stream of light
poured in upon us, and we found ourselves
walking out on one of the arms Of the cross.
Although from below it appeared not much
larger than a good sized cross which lady
would hang upon her necklace, yet we found
upon reaching it that the narrowest part of
the platform-that is to say, the thickness of
the cross, was some six or eight feet, thus
affording us a very secure resting place.
When stood upon it I did not regret the
labor which it had cost me to reach it, AWAY
down beneath us stretched the mighty'city
like map, its loftiest buildings appearing
10, ahnc a1n 10
men and women as mere specks Beyond
the city limits stretched far away the green
plains and valleys, sprinkled over with ponds
and rivers, which cleaned in the sun like
spots and ribbons of silver, while afar off
dusky line of mountains framed in the pict-
ure. For a long while I Toasted my ewes
upon it, while my beautiful chaperon pointed
out to me spots of interest and renown.
Finally l concluded to descend, and then,
remembering what my guide had said to me
in regard to a recompense, asked her what
it should be. Raising herself to her full
height, throwing back from her shoulders
her jetty hair, and fixing full upon me her
beautiful eyes, she said, in tones as melodious
as a flute:
ga kiss!'
In the course of my life have passed
through many strange scenes and listened to
many strange requests, but never before had
heard a more curious one than this. A
young and lovely woman to put herself to all
the trouble which she had done, and then to
demand as payments kissl
What could it mean! Were kisses then so
scarce as to be thus arduously bought, or was
there some hidden meaning in her reply, or
did my ears deceive me! 1t must be the lat
ter, thought l, and to be certain I repeated
my request. The answer was the same: ga
kissr"
Here was something which I could not
solve; but if l was not able to understand, l
could at least make the required payment.
What man in my situation, with all the
incentives which l have before spoken of, |
would have hesitated a moment? I at least
did not. Stepping toward her. placed my
arms about her neck and bent my head to |
bestow the wished for boon. The moment I |
had done so 1 repented, for passing her arms
around me just above my hips with the
strength of Hercules, she raised me from
the platform, and with two steps had reached
the edge. l struggled, but in vain. In
another instant, grasping nae still in her
arms, she had thrown herself from the dizzy
height. Down, down we sped. Ny senses
reeled, my breath forsook me, and then with
a force like thunderbolt we struck the pave
ment and were crushed to bleeding, shape |
less, quivering mass.
''Such," said my friend Gustave, twas the |
dream which last night sweetened my Sleep"
10 Il