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

he followed the woman into q room,
where gray haired man sat, leaning
YEARLY against the back Of his chair.
"You may go now, Katrina" said
the man, motioning to an adjoining
room, and when the door closed he turn.
ed to Franz, trembling with eagerness
swell, have you decidedp"
81 will try, Master Wirtig."
The old sexton wrung his thin hands
nervously. but if you should failP"
"In God is my trust" answered the
boy calmly. "But one if is as good as
another. Why not say, IF you succeedP
It sounds more CHEEKY"
God grant itl'' answered the man,
sinking back in his chair. 1T had the
thought that it would be some hardy
young sprig who should accept my offer,
some sailor or stonemason, whose call
ing had taught him to carry steady
head never dreamed that it would be
a mere lad like myself, and worn out,
too, with the care of thy sick mother.
Even now feel l do thee grievous
wrong to listen to thy entreaties.
''Think not of me, Master Wirtig;
think rather of my mother. Shall we
let her die when few moments on
yonder spire would furnish the means
to make her well? The kind physician
who would have helped me was smitten
with the fever yesterday, and there is
no one to whom can CO."
Had been as prudent as ought l
could have aided thee. But this linger-
ing illness has uScd up what had put
aside. Here is little for thy present
need-some broth for thy mother and
bite for myself, for thy cheeks look as
pinched as if thou hadst not eaten q
good meal for fortnight" He pulled
out covered basket from under the
table and continued: 81 shall arrange
with Nicholas, for he has worked with
me so long that he is as familiar with
the ladders as myself, to 20 with thee
up to the little sliding window and pass
out the flag. Thou must let thyself
down outside the window until thy toes
touch the ledge below. Then thou must
creep cautiously around to the opposite
side Of the spire and wave the flag.
Look always straight before thee or up
at the sky. Thy safety lies in not glanc-
ing below. believe in my heart thou
wilt succeed How l wish that this
graceless Nicholas, this unruly nephew
of mine, were such an one as thou
Then should have some comfort. But
with his evil companions and bad ways
he brings me naught but sorrow. Lis
ten, Franz. If all goes well, thou shalt
have his place in helping me with the
care of the cathedral. There is no lon
ger any dependence TO be placed on him. I"
In his excitement old Jacobs voice
rang through the room. "What is it?''
he asked, as he saw Franz start and
look toward the door.
90 thought heard a rafting Of the
latch, as if some one were outside"
''It's nothing but the wind drawing
through the entry"
Franz took up his basket and babe the
old sexton good night. After he had
passed into the street figure crept out
from the cupboard and stole softly down
stairs. The light by the door showed q
hoy of about II years old, with an evil
scowl upon his face "And so tbon ari
to take my place, Franz Halle" he
sneered. THAT is nothing new. Twice
this year has our master, the goldsmith,
preferred thy work to mine and set thee
over me. Truly, wish thou mayst fall
tomorrow and break thy neck"
When Franz reached home, the kind
neighbor who was watching by bis
mothers bed motioned for him to be
quiet 1.-THE sick one is sleeping we'll, u
she said. IF had but some good broth
to give her when she wakes" Franz
pointed to the basket, and the delighted
woman began the preparations for the
evening meal. When the invalid awoke.
they gave her few spoonfuls of the
broth and had the satisfaction of seeing
faint color come into the white cheeks
as she sank into peaceful slumber.
''Do thou go 10 bed, FranzI / will
stay with thy mother tonight, and to.
morrow, too, for that matter, so that
thou canst have the whole day to thy.
self. Thou needst it after all thy care
and watching. like not these parades
and these marches of triumph. They re.
mind me too much of my boy, whose
young life helped to purchase the VIC
tory" and the good frau wiped away q
tear.
The morning dawned with a bright
blue sky and crisp breeze, which shook
out the folds of the triumphal banners
floating from every tower and turret.
The city was one blaze of color. The
gorgeous festoons ON column and arch
and facade were matched by the rich
tints of the splendid costumes in the
streets below. On every side the black
eagles of Austria stood out distinctly
from their cleaning orange back
ground. The procession was due ut the
cathedral by the middle of the after
noon, but owing to some delay it wat
nearly sunset when the salute from the
fort" told of the approach of the
troops To Franz the hours had drag
ged YEARLY ON, and he sprang up joy
fully when Nicholas finally appeared in
the little room in the tower with the
furled flag under his arm. "Oome, u
he said gruffly, "you have just time tC
climb up and take your stand ON the
spire. " Up the boys went as far as the
great bell, Franz close behind Nicholas,
Still they toiled upward, more slowly
and cautiously now, for the danger in
oATased with every turn. At last they
halted, side b. side, ON the little plat
form under the sliding window. Tt
Nicholas surprise, Franz stood there
surveying it all without fiinching. Th'
younger boy turned to his burly com