Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-11-06
VOLUME 80, NO. 50.

them; IL il falls -" hes ended reverenty
in the words OF the old miner. "the Lord
have mercy on my soul!"
Ethel had looked up at the irst ring of
the deep voice Who was il? II was the
man whJm she had accused OF being nse-
less and listless. the man of whom she had
said. "He is no hsro"--it was Gordon
Drasdyi.
Hold tightly to the rope.r he said. II
have climbed the rigging OF man. of war.
and am not afraid Of the depth. Cramer.n
his face was pale. but he was quite calm and
collected, eff the worst comes 10 worst, do
not forget my message. Now, boys!"
step, and he was swinging by the rope
lower. lower. as the men paid it out
Nearing the rock close TO ii-passing it
now. and the handsome cavalier-face turn
ed little upward. and the handsome eyes
darkened with something which was not
fear; only solemn thought, as the blue
sky is lost to his sigh,.
The women dropped uron their knees,
praying aloud, and the took off their
caps. Ethel watched the rope with hor-
rid fascination it slid through the hands
OF the holders.
/ Five minutes, aud the strain ceased-he
had reached The bottom. Then another
silence. and after n shout of triumph. Some
one was holding the rope again, and at
length deadly faced boy was landed safely
at the top.
''Only one killed." he said; ''and We
think the rock will hold awhile. The gen
teman is helping he men up one by one.
He SAYS he will wait until the last"
Was he a hero?
They were drawn up one after another.
Men with rigid faces aud eyes hollow with
fear; boys with hardly the power to raise
themselves. One by ope-one by one;
Ethel thought it would never end. Forty.
iorty one. lorty two--she could count no
longer. She bid her face in the cushions
aud waited
"Only one more" she heard voice say
al LAST. "and lac is the gentleman bat, mas
tcfs. the rock has stirred"
Fresh workers crowded to the pits mouth,
1t must bavc reached the Jo,tom," said
oac, but he is not holding it."
lie was most worn out," said the man
who last came up. He had helped us all.
and it was hard work bu. he wouldn't come
until he had seen the last Of as up; he said
there maybe litlc sisters waiting at the top
who loved US"
Was he a-hero2
AZ last at lat he was holding to the rope,
and they drew 1t slowly and cautiously.
Two, three. four minutes. five, and the
strong hands were above the rock, but their
veins we're knotled and starring; and as
the mans lace rose to view they saw his
eyes were closed, and that his lips were Bit
ten purple.
/ A stir, a hustle. n wild. triumphant shout.
peallng and ringing TO the very sky, and
Ethei's carriage bad drawn nearer.
Put him in here" she said Give him
some wine, Reggie. Oh, Gordon, Gordon ~
And when they laid him on the seat, she
drew bis brave, noble head upon her lap,
smoothing the heavy hair back, and chaing
the swollen hands in her own, and then, TO
Regie's great anazement, she bent anG
kissed him.
She would not let Reggie move him; bis
head must rest there and there il rested
until they reached the house II was not
long before he was conscious, and then Eth
el piled cushions Tor bim on the sofa, and
insisted on bringing his tea 30 bim with her
own pretty hands.
Before the evening was over. Reggie very
considerably found business which needed
bis presence ia the village; and as he left
the loom, Miss Crsmer. who had been sit
ting in silence for some time. looking
thoughtfoIly into the fire, rose from her
chair and crossed to the PROSTATE hero's
side, evidently with purpose.
IL have something to tell you, she said.
in pretty little GLOW of enthusiastic peni-
ttnce. II said you were not hero. I
was very unjust ADD foolish. Please, won't
you shake hands with me. and be lriendsY'
lie was stretched all his magnificent six
fee. length, and he looked UP at her ten
dcrly. Shake bands' OF course be would.
lla shook both hands, and then insisted on
holding them and drawing Miss Ethel into
chair at bic side.
DO YOU mean that ] am hero7" he
.s'l. with quiet smile. Ethel. Regie
.ar' hti yol kissed me this evenine-did
to.s"
epe bI..bel briehdy. bat her answer was
.iaueariHira''y pretty aud frank
art 7 dil. bad been watching