The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-03-22


him so inpatiently to obey, that, after a
second hesitation, he did 60, guessing, in
part, at least, the cauee OF her anxiety.
Perhaps lie vas not sverse TO sharing in
the excitement himself tall events. he
whipped up his horses with laudable zeal,
and, in a very few minutes, they reached
the mine.
Driving past the large works, where the
sound Of machinery had, for the present.
stopped, and pact the deserted Offices, OF
which Hugh's was one, they came to the
opening OF the principal descent into the
mine. IL was not here, however, that a
terrible aud significant scene was enactinr
Farther away to the right, new shaft
had been lately sunk, and entirely new
excavations understanding which, As
Margaret well remembered. Hugh had
bern iull Of interest aud hope. Several
Older engineers had opposed the move
but he had carried everything before him
with the company, and already the mos,
favorable results had been anticipated. lie
had brought home triumphantly several
rich specimens OF ore, aud spoken gaily of
the chagrin Of those who had prophesied
utter failure for the project Now-was
this 10 be the end
1t certainly looked So Around the fatal
spot was gathered crowd of r.anv men
and notla few women; the former locking
As men only Look in the face of some ter.
rible tragedy; the latter, for III c most part
waiIing loudly, or sobbing dry scbs with
that restraint of grief which is more terri
bleto behold than GRIFFIN its abandonment
Margaret alighted here aud made her wav
through the throng To where the supe,in-
tendent was standing, just at the mouth
OF the opening.
Mr.. Beresiord," she said touching his
arm, 'is 1t true that Hugh il in there?"
"Good Heavens, Miss Churchill !" said
Mr.. Beresiord turning round with a start.
us 1t possible you are here2 Ny dear
young lady, this will never do. Come
away instantly p
SIS Hugh there2" she reiterated, look.
ing at hla with her pale set face. Tell
mo the truth at once. must know"
wei, then-yes he is there r. he said
desperately. Now for Gods sake come
away This is no place for you"
Sne paid no heed to his adjuraton. She
only caught his arm, and asked another
question through her white lips
"ls there any hopeY'
We trust 90" he said eagerly. We
never give up hope until we know the
worst. We only tear it now. You see it
has not been an hour since the wall fell
not in the path; but, as we'll as we can
Judge, IN the rear of the mining party
and we have had a large force at work
ever since. Listen, aud you can hear the
ring OF the pickaxes T.
She listened with sickening heart and
though her ears were not trained she could
family catch IA dull aud muffled sound,
which told OF the vigorous stroke of many
arms. Once more she heard him urging
her to come away, but she only shook her
head No earthly power could have
forced her from the spot where Hugh was
huried-alive, and yet dead There are
some things so horrible that the imagina-
ton refuses to grasp them This was one
OF them to Margaret. Though she sat
(for her trembling limbs refused to support
her, and Mr. Bere-iorG placed her on "A
stone not Tar away, like pale image OF
despair, breathing the free air OF heaven
while was shut from it in the black depths
OF the earth, she could not realize the aw-
iul horror pressing on her They came.
and went aud talked, around her. As men
do under stress OF great excitement; but
she did not heed them. She WAS trying to
wrest her mind from the upper world aud
take It into his dark prison but il tcouhl
',,t 90, It reeled on the very brink Of un-
consciousness when she tried to picture
him grasping, dying-so near her, yet, o
Heaven! 30 far away
She felt as icit had been hours that sb,
had sat there, frozen mo stony stiffness
10y the very magnitude Of her anguish, yet
keenly alive TO every sound that bore rela-
ton 10 him, when faint cheer from the
men below Chat is, cheer which sounded
faint 20 those above) announced That they
had reached the victims OF the accident.
ln @ second. Margaret -prng to her iect
but Zoo second also, strong arm held her