Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-07-04
a Selefted Sturw.
A MINERS LOVE STORY

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A MINERS LOVE STORY
Nelly Glover was the prettiest lass in the pit vii
lage. Her eyes were of the sweetest blue hel
cheeks were like a rose; and you might have
thought her brown hair was the finest silk. Ther
she had figure like fairy, it was so trim; and
with waist you could almost span. Iloved Mel
", but as for that all the chaps of the village were
of the same mind, and she might have had hel
pick of u.s. the worst Of it was, she treated us al
alike, and wouldn't look at one more than another
She had a smile for everybody, and was always
good tempered but thereit ended; and, somehow
none of Us could screw up courage to try her fur
ther. I don't know how often I thought it over
It came into my head the first thing In the morn
ing, and there it remained the last thing at night
when It either kept me awake or haunted my
dreams. At last it took possession Of me. Nc
matter where Twas, digging, or blasting, or tun'
nelng; above ground or down in the pit; my
thoughts turned on Nelly, and from being the mer.
riest 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
st once, that I would have it out with Nelly, so
made myself smart, and set out walking as brisk
as If it was a wager. You may thirk it conceit In
me, but can say that was then rs clever chap
to look at as you would often see, and knew it
For all that, began to walk q bit slower when !
caught sight of Mrs. Glovers cottage, and felt
ofmy heart. But went on, and 1 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'ta word to sag:to her.
"Why, Charley, what is the matter2" she cried,
in fighted sort of way.
'sWen, it is just this" I said. And there l
stopped.
'tis anything wrong with Jack?" she cried
quickly.
"Jack?'
ssYes, he is down in the pit; they say it IS foul,
which makes mother and me uneasy. You haV' mt
heard anything?" And she looked In my eyes as
if she would search me through.
ssNo, no." I answered, steadying, now that l
thought could comfort her. HE is all right
You mustn't mind what the old women of the vii
lage say, or you'll be looking for blow-up every
day in the year, when there is nothing more than
common. 7 haven't come to you about Jack,
Nelly; it is about myself"
She gave me another look, now then her cheek
flushed up like fame, and her eyes turned away.
"Do you know what want to say, Nelly?
went on. II wish you did, for can't tell it. Ii
is more than have got words for. How 1 love
you, how you are always before me, how l am
crazed, and mad about you! But though l can't
say all want to, here stand, and l wouldn't
change with king, if you'll take me as 1 ami
"Ah, Charlie you don't know how you pain
me,'' she answered.
ttDont say that, Nelly. doubted about speak
ing to you, but now that have done it, now that
I can't go on deceiving myself, if you have any
pity in your heart, show it to me, and will cher
ish you to the day of my DEATH
'sIt is no use" she replied, 81 can never marry
pitman. gavethe promise to mother and Jack,
when we walked up to the village at the funeral
of my father and brothers, 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. I had no recollection, no feeling,
and no sense, and couldn't have moved a step to
have saved my life Then it all flashed upon me
like lightning. I took last look at Nelly, drop.
ped 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 I felt as if the sun would
never shine again for me, so, as my eye fell on the
line of cottages, with the clouds hanging down from
above, and nothing round but waste, l thought
I might as well be in my grave as continue to 1--we
there. Besides should always be meeting Nelly
perhaps lurking about her mothers cottage, and
making her as miserable as myself. Why shouldn't
1 20 away, to Yorkshire, or Derbyshire, or to the
diggings in Australia, for that matter? The no
ton, if it was good for nothing more, gave me 6
little more spirit. 1t turned my thoughts, and
stepped out quicker, going straight home. lhadn''
much to settle there, only to bid goodbye to the
folks lived with, and came out pack on back,
and began my tramp.
stopped at the moor, and looked back, remem-
bering might never see the place again, and, dis
NAL as now thought it, with its gaping walls and
shaken roofs enculnbering the backened ground, !
had been happy there. Not one Ct these cottages
but would open its door to me; not one where
wouldn meet friend. And there I had been
born; it was the spot on earth that, even in that
hour of bitterness, I loved best, and I didn't turn
away without dashing my hand across my eyes.
I was walking on, when suddenly the air rang
with a crash that shook the ground l knew what
it signifed such sounds denoted but one result in
the black country, and throwing down my pack,
darted off to the spot, with the feelings that AMI
mate every miner on such occasions.
It didn't seem minute before came to the
dust-hears round the pits mouth, but some were
there before me, and the off men and the womer
were rushing up from the village in stream. Tht
smell from the pit almost knocked me down as
came up, and had to getmy breath ittle whel
three or four of us crept up to the mouth, ane
looked down. The explosion had destroyed the
cage not leaving stick of it, but it had not in
jured the signal rope; hence means OF fcommuni
cation remained for any one Immediately below. A
soon as I saw this set to work to rig cross bar
and presently had it ready.
''Just lower me gently" said to two banks
men. II may pick up one or two there's an!
near
"You can't go down yet!' cried the viewer
"How many are in the pit?''
"Haf an hour ago there were fifty, " replied tn,
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