The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-23
CHAPTER III.
without Fear.

Without Fear.
The glider was at work gliding the
great ball on top of the church steeple
Every twenty years this had to be
done, and it was an event in the vii
lage. Moreover, it was dangerous, and,
like all dangers, fascinating.
The boys of Vicques stood in groups
in the street with their heads bent
back, watching the tiny figure of
man that crept up an invisible ladder
far in the air, dashed to the side of the
steeple. Up and up it went, like a fly,
crawling on the feche, and there was
a sinking feeling in each boys stom-
ach which was delightful, to think how
at any moment that creeping black
spot which was the glider might fall
down, down, and be dashed to pieces.
Achille Dufour suggested, Even
Francois would not dare climb that
ladder to the ball Dare your"
The great brown eyes of Francois
turned about the group; the boys wait
ed eagerly for his answer. 1t was al.
ways this one who led into the dan
gerous places; always this one who
went a bit further when the others
courage failed.
81 dare" said Francois. Then the
dark heads came together in an I'M
easy mass, and there was whispering.
At the dinner-hour that day several
mothers of the village remarked that
their small lads we're restless, not in
tent as usual on the black bread and
! the soup of chopped vegetables and
the green beans-all anxious to finisa
and get away. Only the mother Of
Francois, however, reasoned from this
that mischief was brewing. When the
slim, wiry, little figure slipped from
the table and out through the open
door, she rose and followed and stood
in the great entry watching him race
across the field toward the church. He,
veered but once In his straight path
to turn to the Prilpoteaux cottage,
where the glider lodged while in Vic
CUES.
How soon will one be at work up
there again?" he asked through the
window of Auguste Philpoteaux sit
ting at his dinner, and the man an.
swered good-naturedly:
TT may be in half an hour, my boy,
Not sooner" And Francois raced on
By this time boy here and boy
there had stolen from their dinner
tables and were gathering in groups
down the street, but the elders paid
no attention. Francois disappeared in
| IN he oh 1rsaIo. fHeah her m
breathless
1T will take some minutes for the
stairs" one said, and they waited
Two minutes, three, perhaps five;
something rose out of the trap-dool
leading to the platform from which the
steeple sprang-a figure looking verJ
small so far up above them. Instantly
it attached itself, like crawling fly
to the side of the steeple; it moved up
street, jumped as a hand gripped his
arm. He looked up frightened at Ii
Claire.
"Is that my Francois? 2" she demand
ed sternly, but the boy did not need tt
answer.
+. With that, by degrees people cam,
from the cottages as at some mysteri
Gus warning and stood silent, afraid t.
breathe, watching the little fgur,
creeping up, up the dizzy narrowing
peak Of the church steeple. A ride
galloped down the road; seeing tn
groups, he pulled in his bay horse an,
his eyes followed the upward glanc
of the whole village
+ who is it?' he flung at the neares
knot of peasants; his voice was abrup
. and commanding.
The men pulled Off their caps, an,
one answered respectfully: 1T is III
tie Francois Beaupre, my seigneur;
is child who has no fear; he is a
most at the top. but we dread 1t whel
he descends.'
Mon dieu!r the man on horsebac
growled.s IF he looks down he is lost
the lad is born hero or born luna
tic"
The crawling spot up there showe
dark In the sunlight against The ne1
gliding of the ball. 1t stopped; tn
blot was fixed for a second; anothe
second. From the crowd rose gaspi
and excited broken sentences.
He has the vertigoi He is lost!''
The dark blot chung against the gii1
ing. Then suddenly it moved. bega
to make slow way downward. and
long sigh, like ripple on water, ra
through the ranks Of people. No on
spoke; all the eyes watched the littl
figure slip down. down the unseen lac
der in the air. At last it was at tn
bottom; it disappeared into the rraI
; door. Every one began to talk volubl
.. at once; a woman cried for Joy. then
child spoke in high voice.
&c.," she said shrilly, the mothe
Of Francois goes to meet him!"
LIE Claire was far down the street
gliding toward that church doc
? which was under the steeple AS sh
!. reached it the little lad came out. hi
face flushed. his eyes shining with d,
citement and triumph. She took hi
hand silently, hardly looking at hin
and turned SO, quietly, without a wor
Of either Joy or reproos, her face in
: passive. She had got her boy agai
! from the dead, it seemed to Claire