Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-11-06

you have plenty OF pluck. You may not be
Sir l.ancelot, Drasdyl; but 1 think you
are safe 4"
viii not presume To say whether Ethel
was pleased or displessed. when at dinner
Goidon announced his intention OF remain
ing. Young ladies' faces are not supposed
to tell tales. and Miss Cramcr only smiled,
and ate her salmon in silence.
Two weeks passed. and Drasdyl was still
at Craigmuir. lie was pIcasan; and joval
as ever. He shot with Reggie, and rode
with Ethel he listened to her music. and
added magnificent bass to her singing ;he
consulted with her eravey about her
aquarium; and sympathized with her when
the big fish ate up the minnows; in fact. be
dad every thing but make love aud really in
those days Ethel began to doubt VIII, h. 40
bad ever done that at all. Another man,
under such circumstance, would bave been
apt to make himse II bore; but this gen
tleman had too much good taste and bal
anec to err on the side Of sentimentality.
Perhaps on some very rare occasions the
love songs were sung con eTpreSsione-but
that was all; and even then they were gen.
orally ended with such comcal parodirs ne
made the expressions some what question
able. For two weeks, as have said, this
went on, and was very amusing but on the
third week Ethel found ber Sir Lancelot.
Craigmuir was in a mining district, and
the nearest village was populated by mi
ners. who worked IN the coaLnines. The
principal shait was usually known by the
name Of The Devils Mouth. and for some
time had been in very dangerous condi-
ton Once or twice the work men had
been warned. by falling stone aud rubbish,
that 1t was unsafe but day by day il had
been elected. until at last IL was absolute.
IL perilous
One evening. Ethel. her brother, an her
guest. were sitting together round iL, Ere
when one OF be eer,aals rushed into the
room in horrible excitement,
Its gone At last. ~ she said 'Db. Lord
Mr.. Crancr. part Of the Devils Month ia
fallen in, aud there are. at least, City men
buried alive
The two gentlemen were on their ice, iu
AZ instant, and ieft the house.
For sLiie Ethel could only ask qaes
,,o1,, and pace the floor ia restles ter.
ror; bat al la.i she stopped caImer vuh a
new resolution.
Let me have he carriage a, orcc, .hC
said, To the servant, 'anI tell the house
keeper TO provide some coverings and pre-
pare to 90 with me to the mine -
Her commands acre obeycd. and by the
time tine cal rage was brought she was ready
to enter it. Arriving at the shaft. she found
, 1t necessary TO ORDER the driver to stop.
Around the pits mouth were crowded. the
wives. mothers. and children OF the miners
praying. screaming. and wailing. wriugiag
their HANDS and beating their breasts. Wo
men with babies ~ their arms. and little
children clinging TO them old women sob
bing over their sops sisters wailing for their
. brothers. Fifty-some crushed. some
buried alive. Ethel leaned back against
the eu-hiors OF her carriage and burst into
= tears bUt after awhile she looked up az ain
. She could sec Reggie IN the crowd and,
yes. there was Gordon. She bent forward
eagerly. she bad never seen the man lace
in such a glow OF energy before. lie had
thrown of bis coat, and was working rith
the might Of n lion; his supp.e slcngth
!, stood bim IN good stead. H., c,uid lift ag
much three men and his rich. powerful
=. voice was heard issuing cool. quick order,
all sides. He seemed to inspire the
!, people with hope and courage; and even
Al a.
4 look at him and wonder al his calmness.
At last there rose a shout Ia falling. y
great rock had been held by the side Of tha
4 shaft, and hal prevented its being filed
=, more than few yards. BY The side Of this
rock there Wa a space large enough to ad.
-. nit Of a man Swinging himself down by
means ~ rope. Once below. be might
q, learn tha extent Of the injury done, and a.
81, si.l ihe living men TO ascend. Who would
go; Women busbed their weeping and
,, hid their faces. Who would go? Men
turned pale. ard looked INTO each Others
B, eyes ~i'l toe fearful qnestioning.
A Il, j. almost certain death" said ~ oil
miner. "fhy rock may hold on. or Fl, nay
BE- hli--tbe Lord Almighty only know. which
it will do, Yoo see il has prevented n,ucl
rnhbisb dropping. aud the dam,co g. nu
+. so great a. vc iulsineI There are u.
e many workcr, ti- mine auI ths re..
d holds, the usr wno goes down mas sss
r them all. ii % iali.---r the old maa t5oi
b; Of his bat and h,- voice sunk "GoI ba,r
mercy 0n his soul ."