The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-12

eIeiS! He cailou OUT, DuG the lingering
echo of his own voice was the only
answer.
How foolish 1 amp he exclaimed.
sit is but the clatter of my shoes on the
stone stairs. Up another fight, and
down the long. narrow entry he went,
and still he could not shake off the feel
ing that he was being followed.
At that moment a door opened, and a
woman peered out, holding a candle
high above her head. sis that you,
Franz" she said. my brother has
been expecting you this half hour -
By the Pickering light of the candle
Franz could see that there was no one
in the entry. He turned, impelled by a
strong desire to search the tall cupboard
near the stairs and see if any one had
concealed himself within, but the dread
OF being laughed at kept him back, and
he followed the woman into a 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.
"Well, have you deoided?"
I will try, Master Wirtig.'
The old sexton wrung his thin hands
nervously. but if you should fail?"
"In God is my trust" answered the
boy calmly. "But one if is as good as
another. Why not say, IF you succeed?'
1t sounds more CHEEKY"
''God grant it!'' answered the man,
sinking back in his chair. ST 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
mere lad like thyself, and worn out,
too. with the care of thy sick mother
Even now feel I do thee a grievous
wrong to listen to thy entreaties. y
Think not of me, Master Wirtig;
think rather of my mother. Shall we
let her die when a few moments Oh
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 I can 60"
Had been as prudent as I ought
could have aided thee. But this linger-
ing illness has used up what 1 had put
aside. Here is little for thy present
need-some broth for thy mother and
a bite for thyself. for thy cheeks look as
pinched as if thou hadst not eaten a
good meal for a 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 go 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 I wish that this
graceless Nicholas, this unruly nephew
- >--AANt VSAO SuSu oil Ou0 DIS luOu
Then should 1 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 bis place in helping me with the
care OF the cathedral There is no lon
ger any dependence to be placed on him -
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,
thought Iheard rafting Of the
latch, as if some enc were outside. -
Its 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 a
boy OF about II years old, with an evil
soowi upon bis face. And SO thou art
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
neighhQr who was watching by his
mothers bed motioned for him to be
quiet "The sick ope IS sleeping WE'LL"
she e ]. If 1 lad bu5 some good broth
to give her whsn she wakes" Franz
pointed to the basket. and the delighted
WON an 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 to bed, Franz! 1 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 necdst 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 coed frau wiped away a
Gear.