Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-02-03

hesitatingy made in my favor. In consequence,
as sort of rejected candidate Richard Leroy
really did lie, amongst US, under an unexpressed
and indefinite ban, which was by no means like
ly to be removed by the registering, scornful air
of superiority with which he mostly spoke Of
looked at, and treated US.
| Charlotte and l took leave of my father on that
grey September evening with the full conviction
that every blessing was in store for US which af-
fiction and wealth had the power to procure
Over the green. and up the lime-tree avenue, and
then, goodnight, my lady-love, Good night
.i.-- Psss si,,e, - last
row-ah think of tomorrow. The quarters of
the church clock strike half-past nine. Good
night, dear mother-in-law. And, once more,
goodnight, Charlotte,
| 1t was somewhat early to leave; but my faith
ers plans required it. He desired that we should
be married. not at the church Of the village where
we all resided, but at distant short walk, in
| which he took peculiar nterest-where he had
selected the spot for family burial place, and
| where he wished the family registers to be kept.
1t was a secluded hamlet; and my father had
| simply made the request that would lodge for
while at farm house there, in order that the
| wedding might be performed at the place he fixed
| his heart upon. My duty and my interest were
| to obey.
GOOD night. Charlotte had not long been
uttered, before was fairly on the way to my
temporary home. Our village, and its few scat
| tered lights, were soon left behind, and then
was upon the open down, walking on with
| springing step. On one side was spread the
English Channel and from time to time could
mark the appearance of the light at Cape Grinez,
on the French coast opposite. There it was,
coming and going, flashing out and dying away,
| with never ceasing coquetry. The cliff lay be-
tween my path and the sea. There was no dam
| ger for, although the moon was not up, it was
bright starlight. l knew every inch of the way
as well as l did my fathers garden walks. In
| September, however mists will rise; and as
| approached the valley, there came the offspring
of the pretty stream which ran through it. some
thing like light cloud running along the ground
| before the wind. Is there night-fog coming
on! Perhaps there may be. If so, better steer
quite clear of the cliff, by means of gentle cir
| cult inland. 1t is quite impossible to miss the
valley and once in the valley, it is equally diff
ficult to miss the hamlet. Richard Leroy has
been frequently backward and forward the last
| few evenings; it would be strange if we should
chance to meet here, and on such an occasion.
On, and stiH on, cheerly- In few minutes
more shall reach the farm, and then, to pass
| one solitary night is almost pleasurable
delay, a refinement in happiness. | could sing
and dance for joy. Yes, dance all alone, on the
elastic turf! There, just one foolish caper just
one
Good God is this not the shock of an Garth
ol-al I tas
the ground beneath me quivers and sinks /
grasp at the side of yawning pitfall, but grasp
IN vain. Down, down, down, fall headong.
When my senses returned, and could look
about me, the moon had risen, and was shining
in at the treacherous hole through which had
fallen. A glance only too sufficient to ex-
plain my position. Way had always so fool
ishly refused to allow the farmer to meet me half
way, and accompany me to his house every eve
ming; knowing, as / did know, how the chalk
and limestone of the district had been undermin-
ed in catacombs, sinuous and secret, for wells
flint manure, building materials, and other pur-
poses Ny poor father and Charlotte!
Patience. 1t can hardly be possible that now
on the eve of marriage, l am suddenly doomed TO
lingering death. The night must be passed
here, and daylight will show some means of es-
cape. L will lie down on this heap OF earth that
fell under me.
Amidst despairing thoughts, and hideous
waking nightmare, daylight slowly came.
The waning moon had not releaved the ex-
tremity of my despair; but now it was clearly
visible that had fallen double the height / sup
posed. But for the turf which had fallen under
me, must have been killed on the spot. The
hole l~rse for orAep ,,P, BY pressing
against it with my back and knees and there
were no friendly knobs or protuberances visible
up its smooeh sides. The chasm increased in
diameter as it descended like an inverted funnel.
might possibly climb up a wall /; but could l
creep along a ceiling?
| l shouted as l lay noone answered. shout
| ed agan-and again. Then 1 thought that too
much shouting would exhaust my strength, and
unfit me for the task of mounting. l measured
with my eye the distance from stratum to STRAIT
um of each well marked layer of chalk. And
then, the successive beds of fint-they gave me
the greatest hopes. If footholes could only be
cut Though the feat was difficult it might be
practicable. The attempt must be made.
arose, stiff and bruised. No matter. The
first layer of flints was not more than seven or
eight feet overhead. Those once reached, could
secure footing, and obtain first starting place
for escape. tried to climb to them with my
feet and hands. Impossible the crumbling wall
would not support half my weight. As fast as
attempted to get handhold or footing. it fell in
fragments to the ground.
But, a better thought-to dig it away, and
make mound so high that, by standing on it,
could manage to reach the flint with my hands.