Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-07-17

OF tile cnanDer the rope was tlSnteneu
proving some object blocking the mar
row entrance,
Three men advanced, and slowly
drew out the burly figure of Herman
Clark, rk,apparently dead. Following him
staggering and CHASTITY, Gardiner For
sythe crawled out.
"Take him outside" he said. "Give
me your flask, Dyer. Now, the rope
again!' - I.1-7 pa os 4
Three times the rope was hauled out
each time tied around senseless figure,
but the third time no living face follow
ed the still white one.
"He has gone in once too often, 'whis-
pered one.
"The gas is increasing. 1t will be
death soon to stay here" said another.
''I'm going for Mr.. Forsyth said a
third, Sand we will go in once each, till
all are out. Shall he save three, and
we shrink from one?" .,.' ..
Cropping, seeing the still figures before
them, as only men accustomed to the
darkness of the mines could see them,
the band of workers inside passed one
after another of the senseless miners
through the narrow opening to the IA
tai chamber. One by one the strong
men reeled away from the dangerous
work, till the last passed Gardiner For
sythe's tall senseless form to the wait
ing group outside. aruGI T, 1l0a o.
''That is the last grasped the miner,
as he crawled cut, white and faint, and
it is well it is. In five minutes no man
can go in there. No, not if it was his
mother he would save.'' 'i lo ta-~
d Twelve men were drawn from the
mouth of the mine, and four were saw
ed from death, by unremitting effort.
Herman Clark was one of the four, but
it seemed for long time rs if the hands
that had lifted him from his living grave
were still forever. Hours passed while
Gardiner Forsythe lay IN the death-like
stupor that seemed but the forerunning
Of actual death. The faint breath that
crept up to his white lips, the feeble
fiutter of the heart, scarcely preceptible
encouraged those who worked for his
life to preseve, long after the physicians
had given up all hope of the eight who
had been drawn out before him. If
And in those hours,strong men bend
ing over the white face,spoke their con-
triton for the injustice done him.
81 thought he was a coward Fred
said, hot tears falling as he spoke, land
he faced death to save the life of the
man we said he feared.''
eff he will only speak to me once
more" Herman Clark whispered turn
ing feeble on his own stretcher, @to say
he forgives me, I'll spend my life prov
ing how I honor him. .-......-
They carried him to Mr.. Germaine's
still living,but so feebly there was little |
hope to dwell upon, and darkness fell
upon the houses of the mourners, upon
,he deserted picnic grounds, upon the
porch where Fannie had tested about |
her national colors. But lights burned |
brightly in the large room where friends |
and physicians clustered around the
low couch, where Gardiner Forsythe |
was gasping and struggling his way
back to life again.
Near his head, tanning him softly, ,un-
Ter the doctors directions, Fannie
his face with the agony of low
ng suspense and fear, Till the great blue |
,yes opened and rested upon her. Then
. smile came over the white lips, and
Gardiner whispered
.'Fannie were they all saved?' E.
''They were all taken out, dearest"
aid she, trying to speak calmly, with a
iysterical desire to scream out her glad
ness.
"All taken ont. Thank God!'' he
whispered again. "Fannie-Herman
Clark -gs- .. aT.r. ......-.
g sis doing well, Gardiner. Do not try !
% talk of it all now. Sleep. will sit
)y you.'' ~ b.IJa O. l-a.. ---.+s.ta
And Gardiner slept, while one after
mother crept away softly till only Fan
lie watched besides him.
kneeling besides him she wept glad
ears,as she prayed in earnest thankful |
hess, and felt in her heart the proud
that the day had righted
Ter lover in the worlds eyes.
And she was right. In the house own
ID by Gardiner Forsythe, sweet faced |
ady presides, and little children call the
all blue-eyed man father. He is still
Engaged in mining interests, and his
is still Herman Clark, but it
would go hard with any man,who dared
n Tollman's Run,to call Gardiner For
'ythe a coward. ..... e..