Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-09

and my feet kicked about in an ago
ny. | watched the mouth of the pit
till my eyes swan, and as l reckoned
the space between, while my strength
waned, and my misery deepened, I
thought | must drop before l reached
the top. Then they began to hoist
faster. | mustered all my strength /;
l frightened my grip OF the straddle,
though my fingers were growing
numb | steadied my feet, and hard
ly trusted myself to breathe. |
could see the walls of the shaft |
could feel the purer air | heard
voices and presently the tackle
swung strong arms caught me
round, and was landed on the bank
They had Jack Glover off the
straddle before you could look round,
and he was carried away, while they
raised my head, and poured little
brandy in my mouth. l called out for
the viewer.
"What is it, Charley Batson ?" he
asked, bending over me.
Everybody away from the pit,
sir" | said.
"You are right" he answered "it
will come in a 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 womenfolks. She never
glanced round at me! wished then
that l had stopped in the pit, or let
myself drop from the bar, as / came
up, and 80 escaped seeing her again.
But made up my mind that l had
looked Oh her for the last time. |
told my helpers that l could walk
now, and when they let go my arms,
turned towards the moor, intending
to pick up my pack and drag on at
least to the next village.
But | could no more walk five miles
than | could fly. When came to
pack I sank down by it, and felt that
l must give up | was 80 beat, and
though there was now another ex-
plosion at the pit, as had expected,
and though it shook the ground un
der me, l didn't lift my head. All l
thought of was stetching out my
arms and legs and lying quiet. How
long I lay there l never knew. But,
by degrees, / recovered little
strength, and my thoughts took more
shape, when decided to return to
my old lodging, and have days
rest before | set on my wanderings.
The day passed, and the night, and
the next day, and | was still in bed,
the good folks tending me like
child. Ny limbs, which had been
racked with pain, now felt easy, and
l was ready for start again. But I
thought there would be opposition, so
l got up very quiet, and was putting
ON my things, when the room door
opened, and to my wonder in came
Jack Glover.
"Hilloa, Charley, here we are !"
he cried, seizing my hand, and Civ
ing it hearty squeeze. " Who
would have thought of US two being
alive to-day?"
"Well, Jack" answered, 81 am
glad for you, but | shouldn't have
cared for myself"
"How's that ?" he asked
Because l have something ON my
mind"
"Youl" he said, laughing, and
giving me little push. Here, sit
down and have pipe, and it will go
off like the smoke"
Il don't care if | never smoke a
pipe again" l said savagely.
"Now, Pll tell you what it is"
said Jack "you have been having a
tiff with our Nelly"
81 haven't" l answered, my cheek
burning.
"Well. you know best about that"
continued Jack "but it's what |
guess, because you were seen talk
ing with her, and she had crying
fit directly 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 before2" |
asked, relenting.
"No,"
"Then Pll just tell you all about
her and me-" | said.
was a long time telling it, but
Jack set up as if he was listening to
a play, or sermon at chapel |
gave him a description of Nelly that
would have done for the Hue and
Cry; went into all the feelings she
had raised in my breast, told him
how | had watched for her, thought
of her, and dreamt of her and,
finally, recounted our last colloquy.
Jack never moved a muscle, and not
till l stopped for breath did he put
in word.
"Don't you think you've been a
little fast, Charley?" he then said,
obviously.
"How do you mean? ?" 1 answered.
"Why, in giving up so. Suppose
when Nelly said she couldn't have
you, you had put your arm round her
waist, and said she must?"
This view had never struck me,
and rather took me aback.
"But there was her promise to you
and her mother never to marry pit
man." urged.
$50 there was. But did you new
er hear that promises were made to
be broke?"
AZ can't say but have" I mutter
ed, clapping on my hat.
"Where are you going 7" said
Jack.
"You wait here minute" / re-
piled.
With that | took two strides down
the stairs into the road and hurried