Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-05-27
Err III.
WITHOUT FEAR.

Inc Sllder was at Work gliding the
great hall on top Of the church stee-
pie. Every 20 years this had to be
done. and it was ar event in the viii
age. 1t was said that it cost much
money; there were rumors that it cost
as much as 1000 francs. The glider
knew, of course. and the cure knew, u
neither Of them told. Moreover, it was
DANGEROUS. and, like all dangers, fas-
cinating.
The boys of Vicques stood in groups
in the street with their heads bent back,
watching the tiny figure of a man that
crept up an invisible ladder far in the
air. lashed to h side of the steeple. Up
and up 1T went, like a fly, crawling on
the fleche. and there was a sinking feel
ing in each boys stomach 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. They wished no III
to the glider, who was a stranger not
OF their village, nevertheless 1t would
be a proud thing to say they had seen
him killed. Life and suffering mean
nothing to a boy, but an event is a
pleasure. Many OF the girls turned
away their heads n cried out, Il can't
look; I'm afraid he will be killed" And
at his the boys felt superior, because
they were not afraid but rather hopeful
OF a catastrophe. There are points of
pCyS anu Kills..
Francois however did not think about
the glider at all, yet his mind was on
the gliding of the ball every minute of
the day. He wished earnestly. pas
sbonately, to crawl up that Ladder and
be himself that fly against the fleche.
He felt that he could not possibly go
on living with self respect, that feat
being unaccomplished. He was a good
lad and an obedient one nornaallt. and
he knew that his father and mother
would forbid such an attempt with hor-
ror. but that counted for nothing
against the strength Of his desire. 1t
was a possession, an obsession; the
thought drew him as martyrdom draws
a fanatic. Three days he watched the
work. standing with the other boys, all
their dark little heads bent back as
their eyes followed the invisible brush
which was noiselessly, slowly turning
the dul surface of the ball into a golden
lamp, hung on the blue sky. The boys
talked among themselves about it.
When l am a man / shall do such
work" Achill-Dufour announced In a
bold voice. Probably / shall be up
there some day where the glider is
now, n all Of you down below watch
ing me-"
And the other ieered frankly. You
who fall over a fence-you in
deed!" said his cousin Henri scorn-
fully. But as for me, / would, not be
afraid to climb up there today" and
at that there was a chorus of protest.
Who was it. tell me, who was afraid
to climb the flagpole by the church?
Who was that boy, Henri Dufour?"
demanded Pierrot Tremblay, and the
embryo F~renchmen joined in a sar-
castle "Ah!" and pointed grimy fingers
at the mortified Henri.
"That's nothing" Henri threw back
sulkily. "And / was not the only one
who was afraid. / offered to climb the
pole. n was afraid after-but none
Of the others even offered And 1t was
no great shame to me, for it Is dam
gerous to climb that pole. 1t Is 20 feet
to the cross bars, and beyond that it is
so feet yet to the small cross bars at
the top-it is very high in the air
70 feet. Only Francois Beaupre of all
the village has yet climbed that flag
pole, and all the world knows thai
Francois is different. His stomach is
different; he has no fear of things, in
side him-Francois."
There was amurmur of assent, and
the hero put a friendly hand on the
shoulder of The d~iscredited 'Dufour.
It's nothing" he agreed. It's only
that I am born different. ! do not feel
inside my stomach that thing which
you say is being afraid. l do not know
that feeling, 80 1t Is easy. 1t was not
much for me to climb the pole, 1t was
Just that I could do IT."
And the boys, seeing their honor
saved, agreed heartily.
All the same" AchilIe Dufoar sug-
ge6ted ungratefully. Francois would