The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-08-07

ing the cord from my Davylamp, tied
him hand and foot, then pulled the
signal, and as the people above hauled
the tackle, and lifted the straddle from
the ground, hung on my arms. Thus
we began to mount the shaft.
1t wasn't till we had got twenty feet
up that | felt the strain of standing on
nothing, but, from that moment, It be-
came just terrible. My hands seemed
ready to snap-the ache in my arms
spread through every muscle-my head
spun round, and my feet kicked about
in agony. | watched the mouth of the
pit till my eyes swan, and as / reckon
ed the space between them, while my
strength waned and my misery deepen
ed, thought / must drop before reach
I'd the top. Then they began to hoist
faster. mustered all my strength;
tightened my grip on the straddle,
though my fingers growing numb;
l steadied my feet, and hardly trusted
myself to breathe. I could see the walls
of he shaft; Tcould feel the purer air;
heard voices and presently the tackle
swung; and strong arms caught me
around, and I was landed on the
bank.
They had Jack Glover off the strad.
die before you could look around, and
he was carried away while they raised
my head and poured little brandy in
my mouth. called out for the view
er.
"What is it, Charley Baston ~ he
asked bending over me.
Everybody away from the pit, sir"
! asked.
"You are right he answered, 1t will
come in a minute or two"
They got me on the top of the bank,
when heard scream, and there was
Nelly, trying to throw herself on her
brother Jack, but kept back by the 9TH
er women folks. 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 so es-
capped 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 90
my arms, turned towards the moor, in
tending 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 my
pack, sank down by it, and felt that l
must give up. was so beat, though
there was now another explosion at the
pit, as ! had expected, and though it
shook the ground under me, ! didn't
lift my head. All l though. of was
stretching out my arms and legs, and
lying quiet. How long l lay there l
never knew. But, by degrees, recov-
cred little strength and my thoughts
took more shape, when decided to re-
turn to my old lodging, and have a
days rest before set out on my wan
dcrings
The day passed, and the night, and
the next day, and was still in bed, the
good folks tending me like child. My
limbs, which had been racked with pain,
now felt easy, and / was ready for a
| ottit iDut i WOulu
be opposition, so got up quiet, and was
putting on my things, when the room
door opened, to my wonder, in came
Jack Glover.
"IIiloa, Charley here we are" he
cried selling my hand, and giving it IA
hearty squeeze. "Who would have
thought of us two being alive to-day.
"Well, Jack" answ cred, 81 am glad
for you, but shouldn't have cared for
myself"
"IIow's that?" he asked.
"BecaRse I have something on my
mind"
"You !" he said, laughing, and he
gave me little push.
"Here, sit down and have a pipe, and
it will go off like the smoke
81 don't care if | never smoke a pipe
again." said savagely.
"Now I'll tell you what it is" said
Jack, "You've been having tiff with
our Nelly"
81 haven't" | answered, my cheeks
burning.
, "Well, you know best about that"
continued Jack "but it's what guess,
, because you were seen talking TO her,
and she had crying fit directly after.
And when she heard from me that ii
was you who brought me up from the
pit, she fell on my neck and tainted"
/ Did she know it before ?" asked
f relenting.
. "NO.n
, "Thcn III just tell you all about hei
} and me-" | said.
t was long time telling it, but Jack
sat up AS if he was listening to a play
or sermon at chapel. ! gave him {
/ description of Nelly that would have
e done for the "Hue and Cry;" went in
r to all the feeling she had raised in my
| breast; told him how | had watched fol
her, thought of her, and dreampt other
> and finally ,recounted our last colloquy
' Jack never moved a muscle, and no
: till stopped for breath did he put in
| word.
+ Don't you think you've been II littl
4 fast, Charley ?" he then said dubious
y ly.
: "How do you mean?" | answered.
e "Why, in giving up so. Suppos
t when Nelly said she couldn't have you
IS you should had'put your arm aroun,
g her waist, and said she must ?"
d This view never struck me, and ratl
d or took me back.
X "But there was her promise to 20
It and her mother never to marry II phi
@ man." | argued.
= $50 there was. But did you nevt
: hearth promises were made to be br'
: KEN"
1t 81 can't say but have" muttcre,