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

not lift: she only suddenly drew her hand
from the clasp OF his, and darted towards
the door,
He followed and assisted her into the
carriage; then to her surprise, entered al
80 and closed the door
"Are you coming with meT' she asked
"lf you do not object lie answered, Il
will certainly assure myself that you reach
home safely"
She could not demur at this, but she
winged fervent prayer to heaven that
HUH might be safely gone 20 his morning
work. Ii he should still chance to be at
home. what would he say, what would he
think, to seeI her drive up with Roland
Tyrrell or course she meant to tell him
where and how she had spent the night;
but all the same, it must lie done with eau.
ton, not with such abrupt force.
She might have spared her fears, how.
ever, Tor Roland ryrrell was never a dali
man, nor one likely to tall into such a
blunder as this. When they were once
safely in the street that led straight to
Churchilrs cottage, he stopped the car
riage and got out
81 will bud you good-by here" he said
to Margaret, and extended his hand
She placed her own within it, out what
she said she did Lot know; she GUILD not
afterwards remember, though she vain.y
tried to think that il had been something
kind. 1t was much more likely to have
been something wholly common place and
unmeaning, for what else do any of us say
at those decisive moments of meeting and
parting which stamp themselves for good
or Ill upon the heart Then she drove on.
aud left him standing alone.
IL has been already said that the neigh
borhood in which the Churchlls lived was
principally inhabited toy the class who
found employment in the large mines and
their adjacent works, not tar distant
This part OF the town had not suffered in
the least from that destructive flood which
had almost swept away the lower portion :;
yet as Margaret drove towards the cottage,
she could not but observe signs OF unusual
connection IN the streets and about the
doors OF houses Knots of people were
gathered. talking excitedly; women ran
past with terror and dismay on their faces :;
even the children looked wild and horror
stricken.
what can possibly have occurred T.
thought Miss Churchill; and she was
not sorry, thatas she stopped the carrin re
at her own gate, man whom she knew
well rs connected with the mines came
hurrying past.
"one minute, Mr.. Waylandr she cried,
Tor he did not seem to notice her. "Pray
tell me what is the matter2 Somethiny
has happened surely"
Nothing much is the matter. Mis-
Churchill, he said farming around with a
face which b,lied his words. "Only there
has been an accident at the mines. Its
all right, dare say. You-you had bet.
ter 90 in
"lie hurried on, but Margaret stood still
panic stricken. She knew well what those
fatal words, accident at the mine"
meant She had not lived for wears at the
very verge without knowing tar more than
the outer world of the perils which beset
the workers in earth's mysterious depths.
1t never occurred to her Tor IA moment
that Hugh might be connected with the
accident, but her heart Stood still at the
thought OF the horrible possibilities of
suffering 20 near. She realized the agony
with which every woman around her WIS
asking, is it my husband, or my sou ?'
She even realized, or thought .he did. the
awful despair of those who we're buried
alive far beneath the green surface OF the
world. God help them 9 she said to her.
self aud then, a. she WAS turning to enter
the gate, she heard two persons speaking
a. they passed At rapid pace
Il thought ~ much one Of them said
lite all Cburchills iault. lie insisted in
pressing the work IN that direction: and
Il was only yesterday he volunteered to
direct ;l'e men himself He was "a head
strong fellow; but one can't help being
sorry Tor him aud this viii come hard on
bis sister,
IL dbl come hard on her harder even
than the speaker thought from it- horri-
bile unexpcctrdne-s. She recled back and
caught the low fence, white n- % sheet. and
trembling like an aspen. For moment
she tiled to -miIe--it was such utter folly