The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-07-28

an accomplishment. Would l ever dare
the attempt? My head swan as
gazed downward, and then across, and
I shrank back absolutely terrified at
the very thought.
Yet nv nerve returned, and I found
myself cool and determined. 1t was
no pleasant job, to be sure, and
was compelled to steel myself to the
attemp pit, yet no longer held back para
lyzed by fear. I easily found a secure
fastening for the strip of bed-spread at
nv own window, and then, satisfied
that it was taut and securely held at
both ends, lowered my body cautiously
over the sill, until my stockinged feet
nervously gripped the narrow stone
of the coping. dare not look down
or permit my mind to dwell fer an
instant on what was below. Slowly
I Strengthened up, until my entire
weight was upheld by this precarious
foot-hold. To advance step by step
was impossible; all I could hope to
accomplish in locomotion was to
stealthily advance one foot few
inches, sliding it along the stone, ever
retaining contact, and then, as care
fully drawing the other after until
they met, toe and heel. It was the
slow progress of a snail, yet the slight
est effort at hurrying would mean a
certain fall.
This was not mduly perilous, how
ever. so long as I retained firm hold
on the sill. or even could grip my
fingers over the lower frame Of the
open blind, as I was enabled thus to
partially sustain my weight, and, even
if a foot slipped, the feel Of the solid
wood yielded confidence. But finally
nv hand reached out and grasped only
the cloth cord, twisted into some SEM
blance of a rope, and, as it gave sick
eningly to the pressure, the old fear
swept over me in torrent of agony.
I could never make it-never! would
90 swirling, crashing down to that
death below. It was but step, to
be sura; step and could reach
the firmness of the other blind; but,
oh, the step-the speeches. horror Of
It! Yet there was no going backward:
:. I tried this, only to- realize at once its
impossibility, and the perspiration
burst out from every pore, as the full
horror of my situation suddenly
flashed oyer me. I must 60 on, trust
Ing to that thin, unstable cord, balanc-
ing myself above the gulf. There was
no other way, no retreat, no means OF
escape. do not know now how the
act was accomplished; it IS hardly a
memory, except as some wild delirium
of sleep haunts one when they awake.
Inch by inch I crept, hand encroach-
ing on hand, foot pressing against foot,
every slightest movement an In
expressible agony-then I gripped the
support of wood once more, and clung
to it as with the grasp Of death.
clung there until my mind came
back, until felt the return of strength
to my body, and could look down
through the moonlight without reeling
dizzily. The blind was strong, firmly
braced, and 1 felt safe in its protec-
ton. But what about the window
beyond? Suppose it should be locked?
or the room into which I opened,
occupied? I could not continue to cling
there in uncertainty: I must learn the
truth-assure myself that I had not
passed through all this tense agony
In vain.
moved slowly, barely an inch at
q time, each advancing foot feeling
for support, but more confident now
because of the grasp of my fingers on
the upper wood. The window was
closed, but dark and grimy looking,
as though the room within had been
long unoccupied. Its very appearance
gave me courage. I balanced myself
on the precarious footing of the stone,
clinging tenaciously with my left hand
to the iron hinge of the blind, while
nv right endeavored to raise the sash.
At first believed the window
firmly fastened down-the suspicion
leaving me numb with despair. But
reckless tugging loosened its hold,
and enabled me to shove up the sash
little by little, until finally the open
ing became sufficient for me to squeeze
through. 1 felt as though I had re-
turned from the dead, the nervous re-
action so great that lay for moment
on the floor where I had fallen, un-
able to move. I knew T was alone,
the space untenanted, the walls as
bare as in that other room from which
I had fed. I knew this. and in my
exhaustion cared to know no more.
Then l staggered to my knees, and,
with opened eyes stared curiously
about, gathering my wits together.
There vas nothing to see but the
four walls. I tried the dOoc, and 1t
opened silently, permitting me tc
glance out into a narrow dark hall
way, uncarpeted. 1 could dlmiE
discern the top of flight OF stairs
leading down to the story below. L
slipped out, and closed the door softly