Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-16

"Who?"
Mr.. Giles dropped his voice into =
low whisper, and answered: "Hum-
phrey."
Humphrey repeated tho aston
ished Mr.. Parker. How do you
| know?'
Il know"
''But how?"
Listen" said Mr.. Giles. as he took
| his friend By the arm and drew him
nearer. About four years ago Hum
phrey was in here alone with me. as
you are now, and had been drinking a
great deal, as you have not He was
very tal1a tive, and so drunk that be
seemed 70 mistake me for some one
else-for some companion Of twenty
years before-and he talked about rob
berry and murder"
"Well, put in Mr.. Parker.
ale said that he had been the leader
Of the numbering gang" continued Mr..
Giles, ''and he kept referring to me to
corroborate his stories"
why haven't you told OF this be-
fore?" asked Mr.. Parker.
Il didn't dare to so long as Humphrey
lived. Indeed. no. My life wouldn't
have been worth that pewter pot if
had. Humphrey was too drunk to re-
member what he had said, and didn't
propose reminding him Of it"
Il rather think that he was so drunk
that he imagined the whole thing, said
Mr.. Parker.
Think Of il as you will, think OF it
as you viii, Parker. You will see, though,
mark my words, mischief, and mischief
alone, will come ont of that bell. |
have nothing more TO say about it, and
will have nothing more to do with it"
you are silly, Giles. Because
Humphrey may have done wrong is no
reason that the church should not ac-
cept the bell"
Have your own way, Parker, have
your own way. But tell you that the
money came through evil, and that the
bell viii bring evil
you are a croaker, said Mr. Parker
THE bell will BIO swinging in the tower
of st. Agnes before two months, and on
Christmas day it will ring as merrily as
any bell in all England
So the conversation ended for that
day, and the subject was not mentioned
again for almost a month. when, one
night. while the two friends were seated
at table IN St. Agnes inn, discussing
the different brewings of all, the clerk
of the parish entered.
"Goo1-evening, Mr. Miller" said Mr..
Giles. Take seat and some ale, and
tell us the London news When did
you get home?"
This afternoon
What news about the casting of the
bell?" asked Mr.. Parker.
bad news, answered the clerk.
81 told you So" said Mr. Giles. ~
told you SO. What is it, Miller? Out
with it,"
Il went TO see them pour the BELL
replied the clerk, and all was ready at
three o'clock yesterday. The melted
metal was in huge pot that some
workmen We're swinging by derrick
into place 10 pour, when chain parted,
and the molten mass was spilled onto
two of the men, killing them in
stantlv."
What did tell you, Parker2 What
did | tell you?" asked Mr.. Giles.
Didn't say that it would bring evil?
Here are two good lives sacrificed. and
| fear that there will be more If the
work is continued"
They will try again next week"
said Mr.. Miller.
They had better stop where they
are. They had better stop" answered
Mr.. Giles.
Mr.. Parker had nothing to say He
appeared very much affected by what
he had heard, and began to fear that
perhaps, his friend Giles was right
But on that day two weeks he had for
gotten his fears, and, entering the inn,
in an exultant tone said: THE bell is
here, Mr.. Giles, and viii be hung on
the morrow. tbs so large that we must
build scafolding, and take it up out
side of the tower and let it down
through the roof You must come and
help"
Not I, Parker, not l. wouldn't
touch hand to it for all of the wealth
in the parish"
''Iou are very silly, Mr.. Giles But
come and see US hang it. There will
be a fire in the church stove to keep
your fingers warm
Il wouldn't 60 into the church after
the bell touches the grounds for all that
could be offered to me- but l will be
there to see
That is right, Mr.. Giles; come and
hear the bell ring merry laugh at
your fears"
On the next morning the bell was
deposited at the foot Of 81 Agnes tow.
er, and the men who had gathered al
the church were warming themselves
at the fire inside, waiting for those who
had not yet arrived; all. excepting Mr.
Giles, who stood at some distance from
the tower, looking upon the bell in a
frightened manner, as though 1t was
some sort Of BRASS jawed and iron
tongued wild beast ready % spring upon
him. To MIR Giles the bell was not a
senseless mass Of metal, but the incar-
nation of old Humphreys evil deeds;