Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-24

tCh ~.
stacy had just remarked: "I'm
'feard the stairs has played puck with
NJ. Macklem's polite acceptance"
when that aspirant's head came
through the hatchway on top Of the
stair tower. He was CHASTITY pale.
We could see him trembling as he tot
tered to the ladder and laid hands on
a rung.
Behind him came young George
Stacy, looking very serious, and then
frowning fiercely up at two or three
who were grinning at Maeklem's plight
and chatting him.
George told me afterward that he
had tried to dissuade Macklem from
coming up out of the stair tower, for
the higher he mounted the palmer was
| his fright. "But of course he was my
fathers guest" George explained,
"and | could not stop him by force.
He would come on-he said he had
promised, and MacDew would laugh
I if he backed out. / was sorry for the
| little man, and when heard those two
ieering at him, felt like going up and
kicking them off the chimney"
Macklem's grasp on the rung seemed
to steady him for a few moments, and
he came slowly up hand over hand and
foot past foot, well out over the abyss.
But he was in a shocking state of fear.
His face was clammy with a cold
sweat, he seemed not TO respire, his
white lips were fixed wide in a DEATH
like grin that showed the gold filings
Of his teeth, and his eyes were tight
shut and wrinlled, as If he were striv-
ing to close them more completely lest
he should by chance glance down.
Clearly he might collapse at any mo-
ment, and yet he came slowly CULVER
ing up the slanting ladder.
"By the powers, he's brave mani"
whispered old Stacy. sincerely.
Then he called down enoouragingly:
"You're doing fine, Mr.. Macklem,
and there's whatll do you good up
here waiting!"
George" old Stacy called to his
son, who had begun 10 ascend, ''you
had better be coming up right close
after Mr. Macldem, close, so as to give
him a boost at the topl" But the old
mans real purpose was that his strong
son should catch Macklem instantly II
the man collapsed. If he should fall
backward from the height of six feet
above Georges broad shoulders, the
young man might be hurled down with
his fathers guest.
fa1 L. - Il.
under young Stacy's quickened move
ment he stopped with an inartieulate
cry, as if believing that the ladder had
given way; but when George called
out: I'm coming up closer after you,
Mr.. Maekleml" he seemed TO under
stand, and clutched for a new rung
above him.
Old Stacy and all OF us were as pale
as Macklem when at last he put his
hand on the coping in reaching for one
rung more.
well done, SORT" said old John.
"Just put up both your hands and
I'll help you up by the shoulders"
He was afraid to take hold of Mack
lem without such a warning. for the
strained nerves might break down at
an unexpected touch.
But Maeklem kept his lower hand on
the rung, and spoke, if speaking that
could be called which was little more
than a motion of ashen lips.
"Put an oyster in my mouth" his
lips whispered.
He gulped it down with difficulty.
"Now I've lunched with you / said
would" and suddenly he put one
foot down as II to retreat.
The sole of his boot came hard on
George stacy's left hand. At this con-
tact with something unexpected
Macklem's strength gave way, and he
fell in dead faint.
His face fell forward and his legs
sprawled down in George Stacy's
front; he slipped down over the rungs
until the youth iammed the limp fig-
ure against the ladder by pushing his
own body forward,
Old Stacy gave a loud cry, fearing
his son must go down, too, and he
made movement as if to help him by
getting on the ladder, which might not
have borne the addition of his heavy
frame. But we held the contractor
back for an instant, and then ii was
all over. George seized Macklem
about the waist with his mighty left
arm, and easily backed down the lad.
der with him.
He laid Macklem on the roof of the
stair tower and hurried away for some
stimulant.
When he returned with the remedy,
the party had all descended from the
chimney-top.
1t was fully IS minutes before the
stimulant and the tanning of his face
and chatting of his hands revived the
merchant. Then, like the famous
Consular of Rome" the first words he
/ spoke were of the fight:
Didn't / keep my word with you,
Stacy?"