Year: 1874

yin OiOSh " DlOcR went
steadily and cautiously, trying each
one ere / trusted my weight on it.


Two-thirds of the space had been
passed, when suddenly the block
that supported me moved-gave
way. o, heavens never though I
should live to sec a hundred years,
shall cease to shudder at the
recollection Of that terrible mo-
mcnt.


Yet in the midst of my agony,
as l felt myself slipping backward,
did not for one second lose my
presence OF mind.


1t seemed TO me that never before
had my senses been so naturally
acute as then; when q horrible
death seemed inevitable.


Down, down slipped, grasping
at each block as 1 passed it by,
until at length my fearful course
was arrested; and then, while my
head reeled with the sudden reac-
ton, q great shout came from the
people below.


"Come down! come down !" call
ed the architect from the window
"half the sum shall be yours for tho
risk you have run. Don't try it
again. Come down ~


But no more than ever now I
was determined to succeed. / was
not one to give up after having
undertaken a difficult task.


Cody but cautiously l commence
ed the ascent once more, first seek
ing in vain to reach across to the
next row Of blocks, for l did not
dare to trust myself again on that
which had proved treacherous.
This | was compelled to do, how
ever, until the space between tho
angles became sufficiently small
to allow me to swing across. Ac-
complishing my purpose at length,
went more rapidly, carefully test
ing each block as I proceeded.


Ere long reached the cross, and
there 1 paused for rest, looking
down from the dizzy height with n
coolncss that even astonished me.


a few strokes with light hatch
ct that the architect had hung at
my back, and peace by peace the
rotten cross fell to the ground.


Ny work was done, and, as tho
last fragment disappeared, I found
sad pleasure in the thought that,
should l never reach the ground
alive, my dear ones would have
ample means to supply their wants
until my wife could find employ
ment.


Steadily and cautiously 7 lower
ed myself from block to block, and
at length reached the spirc window
amidst the cheers of those in the
street.


Inside the steeple the architect
placed a roll of bank notes in my
hand.


"You have we'll earned your
money" he said. at does me
good to see a man with so much nerve
bat = bless me what is tho
matter with your hair! 1t was
black before you made the ascent,
now it is gray


And so it was That moment of
intense agony, while slipping down.
ward, had blanched my hair, until
it appeared like that of an old man.
The work of years had been done
in an instant.


Entering the bare, cheer,ess
room which was now all / called
my home, / found visitor await
ing me--my late employer.


Harvey" said he, extending his
hand, al have done a great wrong.
1t cost me q terrible pang to be-
licvc in your gilt, but circumstances
were so strongly against you that
] was forced to believe it, l have
found the coin, Harvey it slipped
under the secret drawer in my
desk. Can you forgive me, dear
old friend Z"


My heart was too full to speak. I
silently pressed his hand.


al will undo the wrong / have
done. All the world shall know
how accused you unjustly, not
through my words only, but
through my actions, too. You
must be my partner, Harvey. IL
you refuse, | shall feel that you have
not forgiven me-"


l did not refuse. Instead, I
thankfully accepted the offer which
my friend had so generously made !;
knowing that no surer method
could have been devised to silence
forever the tongue Of slander and