Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09
THE sPIRE OF ST. STEPHENS.
by Emma w. DemerItt.
Copyright, 1890, by the Author.l

vicar COnsClenCe, anu Jne tnlnB is zone.
Those were old Jacobs words.
''The clear conscience is not lacking,
thank God. But all these weeks of
watching by q sickbed and the ssanty
meals have made the head anything
but steady. If it were but three months
ago, my courage would not fail me, but
now
The boy broke off abruptly and, step
ping back several feet, stood looking up
at the stately spire that lowered above
him. Fair and shapely it rose, with
gradually 'receding buttress and arch,
until it terminated at point over 400
feet from the pavement.
All day long little groups of men had
struggled across the platz and gathered
in front of the great cathedral, elbow
ing one another and stretching upon
tiptoe to read the notice nailed to the
massive door. Many were the jests pass
ed around.
"Does the old sexton think men are
Gies, to creep along yonder dizzy
height?" asked one.
1.-THE prize is indeed worth winning"
said another, but" he turned away
with an expressive shrug of the shout
der. 'life is sweet"
"When try to reach heaven twill
be by some less steep and dangerous
way" laughed third, with an upward
glance at the spire.
1t makes a strong man feel a bit
queer to go up inside as far as the great
bell and look up at the network of cross
ing ladders, but to stand outside and
wave flagl Why, the mere thought Of
it is enough TO make one's head swim, I"
said the first speaker. Jacob Wirtig is
the only man in all Vienna who has the
nerve for such part. "
''But he served a good apprenticeship.
He learned the knack of keeping a
steady head during his early days Of
channels hunting in the Tyrol. But why
does he seek to draw others into dangerl
For SO much gold many a man would
risk his life"
II can understand it, Caspar. Twice
before, ON some grand occasion, has old
Jacob stood ON the spire and waved a
flag as the emperor passed in the streets
below. And now, after all the fighting
and the victory, when there is to be a
triumphal entry into the city and a
grand review and such rejoicing as was
never known before, he feels in honor
bound to supply the customary salute
from the cathedral. And since this mis-
cradle fever which has stricken down
so many in the city has left him too
weak to attempt it be is trying, as you
hxy this I1ntipp fn n
take his place. He offers all the money
which the emperor never fails TO send
as q reward, to say nothing of the glory.
I'll wager form that he'll offer in
vain. But come, let us be going. There
too much work to be done to be lettering
here"
Twice before on that day, once in the
| early morning and again at noon, had
the boy stood as if spellbound, with his
eyes riveted ON the beautiful spire, and
now the setting of the sun had found
him third time at his post. The platz
was deserted, but the streets beyond
were thronged with people hurrying to
their homes. Was it fear or the chill of
the night air that sent a shiver over
the slender figure of the boy as he stood,
letting his eyes slowly wander from the
top of the spire to the base of the tower
beneath as if measuring the frightful
distance? But as he turned away with
| little gesture of despair there rose be-
fore him the vision of wan and weary
face as white as the pillow against
which it rested, and he heard the ply
sician's voice as he gently replaced the
| wasted hand ON the coverlet, 1.-THE fever
has gone, my boy, and all she needs
now to make her well and strong is
| good care and plenty of nourishing
food. " The money offered by old Jacob
would do all that and much more II
would mean comfort for two or three
years for both mother and son, with
their simple way of living
When the lad again faced the cathe-
dral it was with an involuntary
Strengthening of the shrinking figure.
with Gods help, will try" he said
aloud, with a determined ring to his
voice, "and l must go at once to let
Master Wirtig know. Now that have
finally decided, it is strange how the
fear has flown. 1t is the hesitating that
takes the courage out Of one. After all, 4"
he paced back, back, back until he
was far enough from the cathedral to
get good view of the noble structure,
"who knows? 1t may look more difficult
than it really is IT'S but foothold Of
a few inches. but tits enough. If it were
near the ground, 1 should feel as safe
as if were on the floor of the great hall
in the stadthaus. Why. then, should
fear up yonder?"
The boy made a step forward and,
slipping back the little cap from his
locks, stretched out his clasped hands
toward the sky. 30 Mary, tender
mother" he cried, "plead thou for me
in my time of need tomorrow o Jesus,
be near to help and savel"
He replaced the cap and hurried across
the platz to the crowded thoroughfart
beyond. At the end of three blocks he
turned into a narrow street and stopped
In front of high house with steep, tiled
roof. The lamp in the swinging iron
bracket above the door gave such fee
BILE light that he was obliged to grol6
his way through the hall to the stairs.
at the second landing he paused fol
moment, fancying that he heard &
light football behind him, but all wal
still, and he hastened ON to the mex
floor. Again he stopped, thinking tina
he caught the sound of a stealthy, cat
like tread on the steps below. "Who'I
there?" he called out, but the lingering
aahO = his own vOica was the only