The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-02-23

would have been no story for you to lis
ten to.
:. Once more burning thirst. Hunger
had entirely passed away. looked up,
and all was dark; not even the stars or the
cloudy sky were to be seen at the opening
of my cavern. A shower of earth and
heavy stones fell upon me as lay. Istill
was barely awake and a groan was the
only evidence which escaped me that l
had again recovered the use of my SEN
ses.
n "Halloa! What that down there?"'
said voice whose tone was familiar to
me. l uttered a faint but frantic cry
Iheard moments whispering, and the
hollow echo Of departing footsteps and
then all was still again. The voice over
head once more addressed me.
+ Courage, George; keep up your spiritu-
al! In two minutes will come and hual
you. Don't you know me?''
l then did know that it could beno other
than my old rival, Richard Leroy. Be
fore could collect my thoughts, a light
glimmering aginst one side of the well;
and then, in the direction opposite the fall
len table Of flint, and just overit, Richard
appeared, with lantern in one hand and
rope tied, 10 stick across it in the
other.
Have you stregth enought left to sit on
this and to hold by the rope while | haul
you up?"
+ .'I think I have" said. I got the
stick under me, and held by the rope to
keep steady onmy seat. Richard planted
his feet firmly on the edge of his standing,
place, and hauled me up. By sleight
of hand and an effort of strength, inwhicf
/ was too weak to render him the least as
sistance, he landed me at the mouth of E
subterranean gallery opening into the well
I could just see, on looking back, that if
had only maintained my position on the
ledge of flint, and improved it little,
, might, by a daring and vigorous leap
have sprung to the entrance of this yer.
} gallery. But those ideas were now useles
I was so thoroughly worn out that I coul'
: scarcely stand, and an entreaty for waite
preceded even my expression of thanks
"You shall drink your fill in one instan
. and am heartily glad to have helped you
e but first let me mention one thing. 1t
: understood that you keep my secret. 70
r. cannot leave this place-unless blind
: fold you, which would be an insult-witl
e out learning the way to return to it; an
a of. course, what you see along the gallel
= les are to you nothing but shadows an
J dreams Have I your promise?''
b I was unable to make any other repl
d than to seize his hand, and burst into tear
y How I got from the caverns to the fae
j of the cliff. how thence to the beach 81
t, cluded hamlet, and the sleeping villas
o does really seem to my memory like a vi
1t ion. On the way across the downs, L
d roy stopped once or twice, more for tt
t, sake of resting aching limbs, than of t
m king breath or repose himself, Durir
g those intervals he quietly remarked
or me how prejudiced and unfair we had ;
l. of us been to him; that as for Charlott
at he considered her as child, little sist
Mt almost even as baby plaything. s.
ID was not the woman for him; he for l
3. part, liked girl with little more of t
al devil about her. No doubt he could ha
Id carried her off; and no doubt she wou
be have loved him desperately a fortnight
En terwards. But, when he had once g
90 her, what should he have done with su
in a blue eyed milk and water angel as ths
er Nothing serious to annoy us had ever G
| tered his head. And my father oug
ng not quite to forget the source of his o'
fortune, and hold himself aloof from
ng equals; although he might be lying q
ID, city in harbor at present. Really it "
le. joke, that, instead of eloping with
by bridegroom!
tainted when he carried me into
st, fathers house, and I remember no MI
J, | than his temporary adieu. But aft
ny wards, all went on slow y and surely
gle NY father and Richard became &c
rs. friends, and the old gentleman acquil
es, such influence over him, that Lero
ny pleasure trips" soon became rare, g
of finally ceased altogether. At the last r
,ur he brought foreign wifeeover with h
ip, and nothing besides-a Dutch woman
No. great beauty and accomplishments; W
ere as he said, was as fitting helpmate
= him as Charlotte, he acknowledged, was
EST, me. He also took a neighboring chu
ind and its appurtenance into favor, and
my tied down as landsman, within a
to miles of us. And, if our families C
tinue to go on in the friendly way t
IS have done for the last few years, it see
ak likely that Richard may conduct CT
the lotte, to enter their names together in a
l OF vorite register book.
I