The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-18

the opportunity TO speak the beloved name and
TO praise his conduct. The miller wished 10
see him. and said one day
"He is poor Can do nothing for him.
ANYTHING he chooses 10 ask is his
Martha blushed. The priest determined to
seize the moment and strike while the iron
was hot
Ten l know what he will choose" said
the priest.
"Wha do you mean?''
"Can you not guess?''
Tell me what you mean, plainly. said the
old man.
'Do you hear, Martha p said her broth
Marthas cheeks were crimson.
What would you say if he asked you for
Martha herself" went on the priest.
How. what. said the old man.
The priest continued
He has long loved Martha but has been too
timid to prefer his suit, and Martha has given
him no encouragement, through fear of ve1-
ing you. H.,
Of that. He can have good field. or a round
sum in money, if he chooses, but my daughter
never? No one must mention this to me a
gain
The priest feared the case was hopeless.
but he made several other attempts with his
father, which were again unsuccessful. The
old man never made him any answer. He
only shook his head and left the room directly.
In few days he met Frantz. He went up to
him, shook him by the hand. and said:
.Frantz you are noble fellow. l am under
great obligations to you, and would gladly do
anything for you--but my son says you wish
to marry my daughter Now that can never
be. You are poor, though that Is no shame
TO you, and my son-inlaw must be rich, and
a land owner But is there no other way? Do
you not need money? | am told you support
your mother by
Frantz interrupted him, and said shortly:
L thank YOU, while an ironica smile play
ed over his compressed lips. He then asked
after the miller's health and passed on.
After this interview, all seemed to be over.
Everything went on its old way, except that
Frantz became very sad and thoughtful. His
companions could not draw from him the
cause of this. but it served to keep them at
distance from him.
One day an accident happened to one of
the miners. He did not return at the due
time and party set out In search of him.
He had been buried in the snow. and they
drew him out, his body stiff and cold. Franz
was foremost In the search and " hen the body
lay before him he muttered
II | were only in his plaee-he has a wife,
has children and home have nothing to
lose. nothing.
An old man who overheard this, reproved
Franz severely; he called such thoughts bias
phemous, and a defian ce to Heaven.
1t now became necessary for the priest to
return. Martha heard it with the deepest sor
row. They never spoke together Of Franz,
but she knew that her brother understood her
and gave her a sympathy which no one else
I L
the time was fixed and closely drawing near.
The miners had now struck new and very
valuable vein. on which they worked day and
night, the different divisions of men relieving
each other.-They had penetrated about
twenty fathoms into the rock, and wished 10
widen the passage. For this purpose Franz
started morning with party of men.
The rock was very hard, and every step must
be blasted. The drill was deep, and now
we'll filled with powder.
'Tist will be tremendous blast, said one
of the workmen.
Yes said another, that will do double
work
Ready now called out the first and gave
the 81 Ignal to get-out of the way. Most of the
men sprang back to some distance but Franz
was little late, and had just succeeded in en-
sconsing himself behind projecting rock at
turn in the gallery, when the explosion took
place. The sudden crash followed by
the sound OF a large mass rolling heavily TO
the ground-the lamp was extin gushed, and
all for a time was darkness and confusion.
This was noble blast called out Franz
from his corner
Light the lamp. Martin. said Andreas
Martin searched for it the ground. where
he soon found it, and almost blinded by the
change from utter darkness. held it up TO see
what progress had been made.
Why are you 50 slow? Why don't YOU
light the lamp? called cut Franz |. was his
voice, but dull and strange as if from grave
Where are YOU? exclaimed Martin and
Androas at once.
Here, here said the voice, bu, the sound
the same
They held up helamp, and only saw before
them large mass of rock.
Where are you? they shouted again in ter
ror and looked around them hoping they
might be mistaken in the direction from which
the sound seemed TO come
Here. Why don't you strike light9'
The men looked at each other. Dismay
was pictured on their faces
For Gods sake, Franz. said they, YOU do
not mean
you SO long rubbing those matches? There is
piece Of rock in my way and can. see to
get out till You bring lamp.
Then all was clear 10 the men Franz was
walled IN behind the fallen rock; thev exam
ined 1t in every direction. but no way of egIess
presented itself. There was only narrow
cleft al the top through which few rays OF
the lamp penetrated.
The first moments in which Franz became
aware of his situation was terrible one to
him, though he did fully realize his danger
He pushed with his whole strength against
the rock in every direction, hoping to dislodge
Sn,,a S-ona w inb ,,,,,-.