Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-19


unfortunately have some patients SO i'll dare
not leave them.''
~ will start by the next train, which reaches
our station at seyen," rejoined Belwood; 50
shall just have time to give Helen charge of this
poor girl, and then be off,"
swell, l will call and see her tomorrow" :" said
Thornhill. 81 am now bound in the other direc-
| ton; but she can take no harm, if kept out of
the cold''
! Mellicent, pursuant to Belwooi's orders. had
already been placed in the carriage. wrapped in
blankets, and propped up by cushions. One of
! the miners wives, selected by Mr. Phipps to at
tend her, sat at her side; and Belwood took his
place with the coachman on the box, when the
vehicle moved slowly away.
About half mile of moor brought them to the
hills, which looked down on what seemed 10 be q
new country, so widely and completely did il diff
fer in every respect from the sterile region be-
hind Two miles further on was Belwood House.
peeping through luxuriant trees on the high road
though at other points, noble vistas opening in
every direction, afforded an extensive prospect.
On arriving at the hall door, Belwood hastily
entered the mansion, leaving Millicent unnoticed.
but two female servants soon appeared. and. aid
| ed by the pit-woman, carried her in. moment
afterwards Belwooi returned. and throwing him
self IN the carriage, was borne off to the railway
CHAPTER ILL.,
cent found herself stretched on Il bed in small
chamber. which the moon, peering through an un-
curtalned window, showed To be furnished with
marked regard to comfort.
| Rubbing her eyes, in the suppositon that she
must still be asleep, she looked round in amaze
ment, till. collecting her ideas. dim and confus-
ed remembrance of the explosion arose. exciting
once more sense of su.iocatioa. which was
scarcely less oppressive than the reality.
She closed her eyes in n paroxysm of horror &c
II to shut out the hdeous recollection. that shook
and convulsed her sore, weary frame. and made
her blood curdle. Again she seemed to hear the
rush, the crash, the mighty roar OF the explosion
bounding forward like devouring fire. vet, fire
without flame, enveloped in impenetrahie, awful.
blasting darkness, which sunk its iron breath into
the very soul. Then it grew thicker and closer.
wrapping round her in leaden folds, dripping with
| icy, putrid moisture, benumbing, deadennS Her
hands struggled to throw it of-she gasped for
breath-and the vivid impressions of her imarin-
alton. which had assumed 50 much of the real.
vanished like nightmare.
Sitting up, she aScerta;ned that stiffness in her
limbs. and a few bruises. Were her only hurts
though feeling of weakness, to which she was
subject, had very materially increased. Her next
thoaght was to conjecture where she could pos
slhly be-alt the circumstances which followed
her rescue from the pit. when she was at no time
more than half conSc ous--seeming shadowv and
| vague. Then came the wondering question. was
any one else hurt?-had any one pcrished?-for
on these occasions. as is too we'll known il is no
uncommon thing for as many as thirty. or even
fifty lives TO be lost.
There were few with whom the Young Girl was
| associated by ties of kindness; but in this rude
seml-barbarous community. such catastrophes
excite sympathies deep and strong, giving halo
to familiar faces, even when they are wont to
Scowl. Moreover, tide of gentle and tender
in harh hna IT hlyn Ial
known. unsuspected, that rose at every cali; and
it was to the welfare and comfort OF Others. not
! to her own, that she was accustomed to give her
first thoughts. But at last she concluded that the
only way OF arriving at the truth, was to rise and
inquire.
Her clothes, patched with trrf the colors Of the
rainbow. she found. bv gropin- about. on a chair
near the bed, and after plunging her face in ba-
! sin OF wafer, her toilet was completed
At this moment her pTactised ear distinguished
rustng sound in the passage. as of some one
moving by; and then followed faint, half-sup-
pressed moan, seeming TO be uttered involuntari-
| iy, under insnpportabie pain
opening the door. Mlicent perceived white
figure leaning against the wall, evidently wo-
man. but, alarmed at Miilicent's appearance she
instantly turned TO retreat. Her totterin- steps.
however, could move oaly few PAGES when She
was obliged to stop, being hardly able to prevent
herself from falling As she reeled back. a roll
of something dropped from her arms, which Mil
hcent. flying forward to assist her. picked up
The moonlight fell full upon it, and cry broke
from the girl she discovered that it was a dead
infant.
The woman herself was scarcely less start
ling object. Long jetty tresses fell disheyelled
| down her shoulders, which We're wrapped round
with shawl, fastened over a night-dr and
her face was pale as ashes. Her form, too, was
slight and dropping; and in her white garments.
tnppi brilliant ot-nl
| more like wandering and unqniet phantom than
| a living child of earth
For one instant she was rivetted to the spot.
speeches.. powerless. Then, however, she found
both speech and strength--the strength of frenzy.
the voice of unutterable woe. Her quick throb-
h!ng words thrilled the ear, though scarcely rising
above her breath.
''Hush hushr y she said with tremulous eager
ness, as she caught Millicents arm with one hand
and drew away the dead child with the other, ''or
we shall be heard. Is it Sarah? Tell me-who
are you?
''lm Milly Kennel, ma'am, one of the trap-girls
in the pitt
The lady's hand dropped from her arm. as if
paralyzed
From the pit' she said, shudderng. "Then
how are vou here?"
81 don't know, ma'am; but was in the work
ings when the accident was, and Eve Just come
to. don't know where be. ma'am.''
Inc iauy aFertcu hef lace. then SAID, hurried
ly-
'.This is Mr. Belwood's. and-and-"
|'Ah! now know. and vou'd be Miss Helen.
ma'am. Oh, dear! You'll fall, you'll, Miss Helen
Let me hold zee up
'No! DO not need your help. You NAV 20
| awav-von can go back TO your room"
The girl receded pace or two, but Immediate
returned.
"Dont'ee send me away, Miss Helen. and YOU
SO badly! No! no I'll stop with 'ce-watch hv
! zee; and do thou lay down. The dear babbv
dead"
IL know" said the young mother. with burs.
Of anguish which made her forget everything but
her sad bereavement. Il know''-and she pres
| sed the clammy, rigid body to her bosom-''and
have no strength to carry it out and bury it ~
She sobbed convulsivelv, hanging so fondly over
that precious casket, rhed, alas of its treasure
"My child my child! cannot even give you a
grave"
''pl take it ont for 'ee, Miss Helen,'' said Mi
licent. "Do, do let me if so be-" she added.
with an instructive perception Of some mystery
''thee don't want it to lay in the house,
Her words seemed to rouse the lady, who look
ed up suddenly, FIXING searching glance Oh her
face.
'Will you-will YOU do this for me ?" she said,
sand the secret? And vet do not mistake me.
am a mother, but | ain wife though, from
| some unhappy circumstances, cannot avow NV
| marriage. This is why my child must be relnov-
ed candestnely. Should it be discovered here,
it would soon he reported TO my uncle, and his