Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-12
The Daughter Of Night:
A AST0RY OF THE PRESENT TIME.
ny =. W. rULLoM.
CHAPTER |,

shaft, stretched the seams and arteries Of a coal
mine, in one Of which, about three feet in height
and as many broad, huddled in small recess
scoopad in the side, was human figure, attired
in what seemed the dress Of man, though the
wearer was young girl.
| The trapper---for so her vocation was named
discharged the important duty Of aiding the yen-
tilatioa of the mine. This process commenced
of course, at the shaft entrance, which was di-
vided by massive beams into two compartments
each having an inner partition, or brattice. ex-
pressly for the air. These were respectively
called the driving brattice and the drawing brat
tee; and it was through the former that the air
descended, passing up the gate-road, or main
/ passage, TO the workings. The workings branch
ed Oft from the gate-road, about mile further on
| through low, narrow corridors, such as that des-
| cribed and which opened, al intervals into roomy
excavations called boards, where all the coal had
been dug out, leaving only pier to support the
tunnel. AT the entrance to each board was a
| trap door, which, being kept constantly shut by
the trapper, except when train of wagons was
passing through, forced the fresh air up the in
tervening passage into the next excavation; and
! thus the veatating draught, traverSing all the
workings, came round, through another series of
traps, to the shaft where it was impelled up the
drawing brattce, aiiording room for fresh rusl,
| through the driving.
| After the lapse of some time. the trap higher
up, at the other cnd OF the passage, was pulled
open, giving admittance TO train of tubs, loaded
| with coal, and having safety lamp perchei on
the foremost, cleaning in the darkness like star
They were pushed on by baadsman, whom Nil
4 icent as he drew nigh. recognized, in the fain,
light, as one with whom she could claim affinity,
though in a very remote degrce-his mother,
however, being her nearest living relation
"Here's :he last load for tonight. Millv lass. y
said the bandslnan, halting. '.rhey'rs easin-to
| nd, Ns>f N, 4.
when thou hears 'em hola. knock off,"
mo" replied the girl; shut viii il be oag first
Jack? for it's been rare-an-bad here the day-so
sufin', like. Pve hardly got my breath. Idon't
| know, ayther," she continued, more earnestly
''as ever l took on so sadly afore about bein' In
the dark, but warnt able to help it, all could
| think on.'
on that old tale of ghost as they've got about
doa't believe as there's ony such cotle, myself.
| I've worked in the pit, man and boy, yoin' on
| twenty year, and never see one"
| "They say it only comes just before 4 blow-up
or when the choke-damp's gatherin.
| "All stntF! If thou swallows half their yarns
they'll tell 'ce the moon's made of green cheese
| Ihey be no ghosts here, warrant; and if so be
as they'd only keep the traps in order. and have
another cuttin' for air, we shouldn't be troubled
| about the chohe-lamp. They won't do that, how
! somdevcr till the parliament-house puts in word
and then they'll be obligated, take it. Bat
here be our gang comm, and thou'll soon get oil
| now.S ..r-s ....-
| As he moved on with his train, the party of Ia
| borcrs employed above in the furthcrmost work
! ing. appeared al the upper trap. pouring throu III
\ the passage on their knees Swart, massive men
they were, with their bodies stripped to the waist
| showing, as they drag yed their huge limbs along
| the broad quivering lines of every muscle Tney
made no pause in their Roadway, but with word
of greeting to Ml'icent, as she opened the trap
passed out, leaving her once more to solitude and
! darkness
| Bat this was only for moment. As the sound
of their voices, which had made her feel some
| what boder, died away, giving place to complete
silence, the upper trap was again opened, admit
| ting their doggie, or ganger, whose business il
was to go through the mine on the completion OF
the days work, and sec all was in good order for
| the next morning.
| .sWell. lass, how go'st thee on? This be a
thunderin' hot headway you be in, suppose?'
| eyes"
| s:And thou loikes this surt o. work better nor
bein' above. mindn' vour own cookn'- pot? An
other tonne you won't say no to good thing, Use
wand you. Haw haw ~
The girl did not reply.
| IL don't know what thou'd be doin' on, re-
sumed Black Jem, after eyeing her moment in
| silence. "Thcre ban't wench in the pit as
wouldn't Jump at such lift, if gie'd 'em the
chance-Doll Stukely for one; but they've all
| go. so much CAB in 'em. and wants one as won't
! gle me tongue, like that drab Sue did, sink her
That's whoy pitches on you"
''They say as vou sarved poor Sue so bad vol
made her drown herself" said Millicent
''Who says ?" demanded Jem, furiouslv. 81
should loike TO hear 'em, and they wouldn't say
Dwight about me ony more in hurry"
| Again there was no reply.
'sYou believes 'em y pursued Jem, with fierce
| scowl; ssyou believes 'em,. though | hadn't no
| more to do with il nor child unborn! Just say
| you believes 'em, will 'ee?"
! swell. do"
An execration rose to Jem's lips. but was de-
MED utterance as recollccting himself he crunch
| ed his teeth with suppressed rage.
Snow l thinks on't." he said, ''you was always
hangin' on to Sue; and so you be reader TO take
! agen I; but stroke me dead, If warn't down.
ris hi sorry when heerd as she jumped in the
sluice. So thou's nowght to feck about there"
81 got no mind to feck about it, or to say zee i'll
words, if thec'd only let me be-
''Well, wants to give See one more chance
| There amt no full now about marryin', but you
! just goes up to rejesster, and has your name
wrote down. and then you be buckled-to. So
now speak out at once; and say what thou'n be
| at"
81 told 'ec last night, and thou knows amt
| like TO alter"
| De no Woifidl, Ill 'ee uiutt, IoT tnSN
veers about like grasshoppcrs-here to-day there
| tomorrow, and then tother place. There be no
use moindn 'em; and SO tell zee, lass. I'll have
| thee home tomorrow, hook or crook'
'.No you won;'' said the girl, resolutely. ''No!
| I'll let you kill me first"
Thou would, would zee ?" scowled Jem, rails
| ing his hatchet, as though he would strike. 81
| could do it now, and chuck von into the dead gap
| there, and folk be never the wiser. Bat know
! what thee's buildin' on! sped zee. when thou
didn't think it, talkin' wi' young Muster Belwooi
on Sunday, and fancyin' thee cut it so flash. Fool
as if he'd look twoce at the loike o thou, bad W,
| as he be!'
81 don't want him to look at me, nor thou, nor
! onv oae Just let ne be--that's al.'
'.No, wont. I'll be plague to 'ec--l reg
| lar leech. stickin' on constant. Rot zee now
there's hardly nobody in the pit, Ive a gallus
| good moind to sarvc See wuss."
| ''Yoa daren'tr' said Millicen. springiny up.
Whether Jem did, Or did not, intend to carry
out his threat. remained secret; for at this mo-
meut his eve fell on the safety-lamp, and he per-
ceived that the fame was edged round with blue.
presenting the appearance miners call ,'ahre,''
and which, as he well knew, indicated the pres
| ence Of explosive gases. 1t became necessary.
therefore, to look to personal safety, and he hes
itated an Instant as if half inclined to save Milli-
cent; but then pushed past, muttering-''No! lei
her foind it out" ... -fr.--.- .-..-
Thus left to herself, Millicent again crouched
in the recess, waiting anxiousy the moment OF
release The thought that she was, as Black Jem
had intimated. nearly alone in the pit, united with
tho prevailinp rumors of aparitiOns and the doom