The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-06-07

pesring 20 suddenly, she dashed my spirit,
and hadn't word 70 say to her. % 80
Why, Charlie. what 10 the mat.erl" she
cried, in tf,ghtsd sort Of way. ".
awell, il was Just this," said. And
there I stopped. ~ ''.'.. .. .''.'.'. 81, 10
"h anything wrong with jack'"sho cried,
quickly. -.r. ..l.
'yack" r ..-r ...r.r....u.. ...
AYES. he is down in the pit. and they say
i Is foul, which makes mother and me un.
easy. You haven't heard anythingr And
she looked in my eyes As II she would
search me through. ,.,. 80. -.
mo, no." I answered, stealyipg, now
that thought could comfort her "Hs 10
all right You musot mind what tho old
women Of the village say, or you'll be look.
ins for a blow.up every day Of the year,
when ,hereis nothing moro than common.
! haven't como to you about Jack, Nelly; 1t
10 about myself" .r
She gave me another look now; then her
cheeks flushed like Aan,o, and her ayes
turned away. .gr. -.sr,a o. 81. ..,,. =
"Do you know what ! want to say, Mel
lyY' went on. "l wish you did, for l
can't tell il; II Is more than can get words
70. How love you, how you are always
before rue, how a,n crazcd and NAL about
you! Bot though can't say all ] want to,
hero stand, and wouldn't change with
king, If you'll take INC rs am"
"Ah, Charley! you don't know how you
pain me-" she answered. ''" '
"Dont say that, Nelly. doubted about
speaking to you, but now that have done
il. now that can't 60 Oh dcceiving myself,
ifyou have any pity in your heart, show 1t
to me, aud will cherish you to the day Of
my DEATH" .- 81. '....'.
81, 10 no use," she replied. "I can nevor
marry a pitman. I gave the promise to
mother aud Jack, when we walked mp tho
village Mt the funeral Of my poor father and
brothers, oil three killed in the mine-otr
great sorrow, which can never think Of
without crying"
And the tears, II Is true, were running
down her checks. though. for the minute.
she seemed to mo to be harler than stone.
And seemed turned to stone myself had
no recollection, no feeling, and no sense,
and couldn't have moved step to save
my life. Then Il all flushed upon me like
lightning. took last look ut Nelly,
dropped my head on her breast, and, with.
out word more, walked out Of the gate.
Our village seldom looked bright, no mat.
ter how the sun shone, and how | ielt rs if
the sun would never shine again for me, so,
rs my eye fell on the line Of cottages, with
the clouds hanging down from above, and
nothing round hut waste, thought |
nigh, as we'll bn in my grave as continue to
live there. Besides, should always he
meeting Nelly, perhaps lurking about her
mothers cottage, and making her us mser.
able as myself Why shouldn't ! go away,
to Yorkshire, or Derbyshire, or to the dig
gings in Australia, for that matterf The
notion, if !, was good for nothing moro, gave
me little spirit. turned my thoughts,
and stepped out briskcr, gong straisht
home. hadn't much to settle there, only
to bid good bye to the folks lived with,
and soon came out, pack OH my back, and
began my tramp.
stopped at the moor, and looked back,
remembering might never see the place
again, and, dismal as now thought II, with
its gaping walls and shaken roofs cncum.
herring the blachcned ground, L had been
happy there. Not one Of those tnmblins
cottages bu, would open its door to me; not
one where wouldn't meet friend. And
thero had been born; il was the spot Of
Garth that, even in that hour Of bitterness
loved best aud didn't turn away without
dashing my hand over my eyes.
was walking on, when suddenly the air
rang with crash which shook the ground.
knew what Il signiied; such sounds de-
note hut one result in the black country,
and, throwing down my pack, dartcd oil
TO the PIT, with tho feeling that anima'es
every miner ON such occasions.
Il didn't seem minute before came to
tho dust.hcaps round the pits mouth, but
some wcrc there before me, and the of''nen
und the women were rushing up from the
village in a stream. The smell from the
pi, al,nos, knocked me back as came up,
and had to get my breath a little when
three or four Of us crept on to the mouth,
and looked down. The explosion had de-
s,royed the cage no, leaving stick oft. but
il hadn't injured the signal rope; hence a
means Of communication remained for any
one Immediately below. As sooa as saw
this, set to work to rig cross bar, and
presently had Il ready.
"Just lower ino easily,"l said to two
bank's.men. "a may pick up one or two, II
there's any near"
"You cant 20 down yeti" cried tho vicw-
er. allow many are in the pitt"
'Halfan-hour ago there was fifty" re-
Piled the tinckeeper; "but am thankful to
say they all came up but ten"
aAnd they arc lost" said tho viewer, aior
there will bo another explosion directly"