Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-31
A MINERS LOVE STORY.


the pit village. Her eyes were of the
sweetest blue; her checks were like
rose; and you might have though her
brown hair was the finest silk. Then she
had figure like fairy, it was so trim;
and with waist you could almost span.
loved Nelly, but as for that, all the
chaps of the village were of the same
mind, and she might have had her pick
of us; the worst of it was, she treated US
all alike, and wouldn't look at one more
than another. She had q smile for every
body, and was always good tempered,
but there it ended and, somehow, none
of US could screw up courage to try her
further. don't know how often thought
it over. It came into my head the first
thing in the morning, and there it remain
ed the last thing at night, when it either
kept me awake, or haunted my dreams
At last it took possession of ME. No
matter where | was, digging, or blasting,
or tunneling; above ground, or down in
the pit; my thoughts turned on Nelly.
and from being the merriest fellow in the
village, | just came to be the dullest.
One morning there was no work in the
pit for my gang, because the viewer
wanted that part of the seam shored up.
and it struck me, all at once, that | would
have it out with Nelly, so | made myself
smart, and set out walking as brisk as il
it was wager. You may think it con-
ceit in me, but can say that was then
as clever chap to look at as you would
often see and knew it! For all that,
began to walk bit slower when | caught
sight of Mrs. Glover's cottage, and felt
of my heart. But went on, and l just
got up to the cottage. when who should
come out but Nelly herself She never
looked prettier than at that minute; but
appearing so suddenly, she dashed my
spirit, and hadn't word to say to her
"Why, Charley, what is the matter p
she cried, in frighted sort of way.
"Well, it is just this" said. And
there stopped.
"Is anything wrong with Jack?" she
cried quickly.
"Jack 2"
"Yes, he is down in the pit; they say
it is foul, which makes mother and me
uneasy. You haven't heard anything?
And she looked in my eyes as if she
would search me through.
"No, no. answered, steadying, now
that thought could comfort her. Z" He
is all right You mustn't mind what thr
old women of the village say, or you'll
be looking for blow-up every day in
the year, when there is nothing more
than common. | haven't come to you
about Jack, Nelly; it is about myself
She gave me another look, now; then
her cheek flushed uPlike fame, and her
eyes turned away.
"Do you know what | want to say,
Nelly?" went on. 81 wish you did,
for | can't tell it. 1t is more than have
got words for. How | love you, how
you are always before me, how am
crazed, and mad about you! But though
| can't say all | want to, here I stand, and
wouldn't change with king, if you'll!
take me as am!
"Ah, Charley you don't know how
you pain me-" she answered.
Don't say that, Nelly. l doubted
about speaking to you, but now that
have done it, now that can't go on de
ceiving myself if you have any pity in
your heart, show it to me, and; I will
cherish you to the day of my DEATH"
1t is no use," she replied, 81 can
never marry pitman. | gave the prom
ise to mother and ack, when we walked
up to the Wills at the funeral of my
father and b, iers, all three killed in
the mine-our great sorrow, which can
never think of without crying"
And the tears, it is true, were running
down her cheeks, though, for the moment
she seemed to me to be harder than stone
And seemed turned to stone myself.
had no recollection, no feeling, and no
sense, and couldn't have moved step
to have saved my life. Then it all flashed
upon me like lightning. took list
look at Nelly, dropped my head upon
my breast, and without word more,
walked out of the gate.
Our village seldom looked bright, no
matter how the sun shone, and now felt
as if the sun would never shine again for
me, so, as my eye fell on the line of cot
tages, with the clouds hanging down from
above, and nothing round but waste,
thought might as well be in my grave
as continue to live there. Besides, should
always be meeting Nelly, perhaps lurking
about her mothers cottage, and making
her as miserable as myself Why shouldn't
90 away, to Yorkshire, or Derbyshire,
or to the diggings in Australia. for that
matter2 The notion, if it was good for
nothing more, gave me little more spirit.
1t turned my thoughts, and | stepped out
quicker, gong straight home. hadn't
much to settle there. only to bid goodbye
10 the folks lived with, and came out,
pack on back, and began my tramp.
! stopped at the moor, and looked back,
remembering might never see the place
again, and, dismal as now thought it.
with its gaping walls and shaken roofs
encumbering the blackened ground, had
been happy there. Not one of those cot.
tages but would open its door to me; not
ono where | wouldn't meet friend. And
there had been born; it was the spot on
earth that, even in that hour of bitterness,
loved best and ] didn't turn away with.