Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-22

only enter STOPPING pushed open the trap an
went on few steps, though my Dlyv-lamp wa
what ptmen call aire the anne being all blu
and | knew that the atmosphere was so mucl
gunpowder. But | stumbled along If ! wasn't t.
/ save any one, it didn't matter what became OF my
self, and pleased myself with the thought tha
Nelly would hear had died IN the attempt AM
then all az once, it came into my head what sh,
had said about her brother Jack being in the pit
/ This gave my heart such a turn that | quite stag
gcred, and the perspiratiou poured from my fore
head like water rushed forward as il | wa
mad my foot struck something; bent dowf
over what seemed a corpse, and the CLEAN Of the
lamp tell on It's face. It was Jack Glover
didn't know whether be was alive or dead bat
caught him ia my arms, and with the strength o
a giant and the speed of adser-hardly conscious
hardly breathing-I made a dash for the shaft
It was easier work going back. when YOU were
once DO the main or hors. road; for now the shaft
was before you, instead of behind and though
you wouldn't think it, this made a wonderful df.
ference in the light Dark as pitch 10 still was
though uot TO a pitman's eyes, aud I had found
that Jack breathel when i reached the shaft
The discovery neryed ms airesh aud kept all my
senses az work, without NV seeming to know ill.,
/ only ielt that there would soon be another ex-
pl1sion. So placed Jack on the stra lille. and,
taking the cord from my DAyy-lanp, tied him hand
and foot then pulled the signal rope aud as the
people above hauled the tackle aud lifted the
straddle from the ground | hung on by my arms ;
thus we began to mount the shaft
IL wasn't till we had got twenty feet up that
felt the strain OF standing on nothing, but from
that moment, il became Just terrible. Ny hands
seemed ready to snap; the ache ia my arms spread
through every muscle; my head spun round; and
my feet kicked about in an agony. | watched the
mouth of the pit till my eyes swami and As ] reck-
oned the space between, while my strength waned,
and my misery deepened, thought l must drop
before | reached the top Then they began to
hoist faster. ! mustered all my strength. [ tight
ened my grip of the strallle, though my fingers
were growing numb. stsadied my feet. and hard
ly trusted myself to breathe could see the walls
Of the shaft | could feel the pusr air; | heard
voices; and presently the tackle swung: strong
arms caught me round and | was landed on the
bank
They had Jack Glover or the straldle before
YOU could look round. and he was carried aw w..
while they raised my head and poured little
brandy in my mjuth | called out for the
viewer
"What is it, Charley Baston ~ he askel bend
ing over me.
"Eyerybody away from the pit. sir. - / said
"You are right,r he answered "it will come
in minute or two
They got me TO the top OF the bank when
heard a scream and there WAS Nelly. trying to
throw herself on her brother jack. but kept back
by the other womsniolks she never glanced
round at met wished then that | had stopped
in the pit. or let myself drop from the bar, as [
came up, and 50 escaped seeing her again But
made up my mind that had looked on her for
the last time. [ told my helpers that could walk
now. and when they let 20 my arms. | turned
towards the moor. intending TO pick 10 my pack.
aud dag ON at least to the next village.
Bat I could no more walk five miles than |
could dy When | came to the pack ( sat down
by il, aud felt that | mast give IN. | was so
O
at the pit as had expected and though it shook
the ground under me. | didn't lift my head. All
| thought of was stretching out my arms and legs.
and lying quiet. How long Law there | never
knew But, by degrees, / recovered little
strength. and my thoughts took more shane. when
| decided to return to my old lodging and have a
day's rest before set out on nv wandsrings.
The dly passed, and the night, and the next
day, aud was still in bed the good folks tending
me like a child NJ limbs, which had been rackel
with pain, now felt easy, and | was ready for a
start again. Bat thought there would be oppo-
sition, so got up very quiet, and was putting on
my things, when the room-door opened and to
my wonder in came Jack Glover
"Hlloa Chlrley, here we are ~ he cried seiz-
inc my hlnd. and giving it hearty squeeze .-
% Who would have thought of US two being alive
TO-DAY ~
Well Jack / answered 60 am glad for YOU
but | shouldn't have cared for myselfn
"How's that?n he asked
because nave something on my mind.n
"Youir he said. laughing. and giving ms
little push. "Here, sit dow1 and have pipe,
and il will 20 OF like the smoke"
81 don't care IL never smoke a nine arain,n
said savagey
"Now, I'll tell you what it's, =" said Jack "you
have been having tiff with our Nelly
II haven't" answered, my cheek burning.
''Well, you know best about that - continued
Jack but its what guess, because YOU were
seen talking with her, aud she had a CRYING fit di-
rectly after. And when she heard from me that it
was you brought me up from the pit, she fell on
my neck and tainted"
Didn't she know it before ?nI asked, relenting
"No.n
"Then I'll Just tell you all about her and me -
said.
was a long time telling it, but Jack sat up as
if he was listening to a play or a sermon at chap
el gave him a description Of Nslly that would
have done for the Hae and Ccy; went into all the
feelings she had raised in my breast, told him how
hal watched for her, thought Of her, and dreamt
of her, and, finally, recounted our last colloquy-
Jack never moved muscle and not till stopped
for breath did be put in a word
"Don't you think you've been little fast,
Charley p he then said obviously
"H5w do you mean p answered
''Why, in giving up So Suppose when Nelly
said she couldn't have you, you had put your arms
round her waist and said she mu,t?n
This view had never struck me, and rather took
me aback
"But there was her promise to you and her
mother never to marry ptmlnn urged
a