Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09

hoarsely, when you are safe outside,
I'll hand out the flag. I'll wait till you
reach the opposite side of the spire and
call out Ais well, and then I'll go
down and leave you to make your way
back. And glad 1 shall be to leave this
miserable trap in midair. ="
Franz'sface was deathly pale, but his
eyes shone like two stars. IL climbed
up nimbly through the opening, let
himself carefully down to the stone
ledge outside and reached up for the
flag. A few moments passed, which
seemed like ages to the waiting Mich
olas. Then a CHEEKY "All' WE'LL" rang
out without culver in the steady voice.
The older boys face grew black with
rage. "What nerve the pale, sickly lit.
tie thing hasl' he muttered between
his set teeth. II believe he'll do it after
ALL And SO this baby gets not only the
prizes at the goldsmith's, but the mon
ey and the glory of this thing, to say
nothing Of his taking my place in the
cathedral"
He raised his hand to the window
and stood in front of it for a moment
AiAOh hO bNknh lAlO uCSC0llb ab IL bOllo
demon were after him. The frail lad
ders vibrated and swayed with the dan
gerOus strain, but down he went, with
reckless haste, until he reached the
second platform, when he raised his
hands with an agonized gesture to his
ears as if he was trying to shut out the
voice Of conscience that Kept calling
to him: BACK, back, before it is too
latel Stain not thy young soul with
such a orimeP'
Still he hurried down with flying
step to the landing near the great bell,
where he paused and stood leaning
breathless against one Of tho crossbeams
of the tower. Into the fierce, turbulent
passions of the troubled face stole q
softened expression, lighting up the
swarthy lineaments like CLEAN Of sun.
shine. 81 will go back and undo the
horrid deedl" he cried, as if in answer
to the good angel pleading within his
breast. 81 am coming. FranVi God for
give mer'
He had turned TO make the ascent,
and his hand was stretched out to grasp
the side Of the ladder when his toe
caught in coil Of rope on the plat
form, and, missing his hold, he plunR-
ed down into the space beneath.
In the meantime Franz had made his
way safely around the spire and stood
quietly, with the end of the Flagstaff on
the ledge beneath, waiting for the sig
nal. 1t came in a few moments-the
thunder of the great gun on the platz,
and bracing his feet firmly he unfurl-
ed the flag and slowly waved it back
and forth. From tho answering roar Of
artillery and the cheer upon cheer that
hoated up through the air he knew that
his salute had been seen.
With a light heart he began to retrace
his steps, edging himself cautiously,
inch by inch, to the window. To his
surprise the sliding panel was closed.
With one hand he grasped the iron ring
fastened to the wall beneath the win
dow and with the other pushed, first
firmly and then with all his might, but
the panel remained fast He tried to
batter it with the Flagstaff, but soon
found that in his cramped position i.
only increased his danger. Again and
again he endeavored to force it open,
breaking his nails and bruising his fin
ger tips in his frenzy, but to no pur-
pose. Suddenly the conviction dawned
upon him that the window was bolted
from the inside. With despairing sob
he tottered backward, but his grasp on
the ring held, and with supreme effort
he pulled himself up close to the wall
and tried to collect his scattered wits.
at is no use to shout, " he said aloud.
at is more than folly to attempt to
make myself heard from this height. I
might as we'll save my strength. All
that remains for me to do is to wait
patiently. Some one will be sure to
miss me and come to my relief. In God
is my trust" And his courage rose with
the words.
The troops disbanded, and the peo-
pie hurried OFF to the brilliantly lighted
cafes and theaters, all unconscious of
the pale, silent boy clinging with des-
perate grip to the spire, with but mar
row shelf of stone between him and q
horrible death.
The sunset faded into the twilight,
and with sudden wave darkness drift
ed over the earth. The noise in the
streets grew fainter. The minutes
heightened into hours, and still the boy
stood there, as the night wore ON, oc-
casionally shifting his position to ease
his cramped and aching limbs The
night wind pierced his thin clothing,
and his hands were benumbed with the
cold. One by one the bright constella-
tions rose and glittered and dipped in
the sky, and the boy still managed to
keep his foothold. as rigid as the stone
statues on the dome below.
1.-TWO, three, four" pealed the bells
in their hoarse, deep tones, and when
the first glimmer of dawn tinged the
eastern horizon with pale yellow the
haggard face lighted with expectancy,
and from the ashen lips. which had been
moving all night in prayer, came the
words. "In God is my trust. "
"What is the meaning Of yonder
crowd?' asked one Of two artisans who
had met while hurrying across the platz
to their work.
"Whatl Have you not heard? All
Vienna is ringing with t. newsl 1t
was young Franz, the goldsmith's APP
prentice, who climbed out ON the spire
yesterday and waved the flag. In some
way the little window near the top was
fastened ON the inside, and the poor
boy was forced to stay out all night
| clinOin0 IN the Rnire II was only short