Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-10-06
sspIT,s FIREDs PITS FIRED. .''
A THRILLING STORY.

It was five and-twenty years ago, and !
was FIVE and-twenty years old then,
working as regular pitman on the day
or night shift. Dirty work. Of course.
but there was soap in the land even IN
those days; and when | came up. after
good wash and a change, | could al
ways really enjoy read such times as
| didn't go to the night school, where.
always having been a sort of reading
fellow, used to help teach the boys ;
and on Sundays used to go to the
school and help there.
Of course it was all done in a rough
way, for hands that had been busy with
a coal-pick all day were not. you Will
say, much fit for using pen at night.
However. used to 60, and it was there
| found out that teaching was a thing
that paid you back hundred per cent in
terest. for you could not teach others
WitIout uttiCiiiiiS youio0H.
Butt may as well own tit was
the teaching at the Sunday School |
used to look forward to- for it was there
used to see Mary Andrews, the daugh-
ter of one of our head pitmen. He was
not so very high up, only at the pit vii
lage he lived in one of the best houses,
and had about double the wages of the
ordinary men.
Consequently. Mary Andrews was a
little better dressed and better educated
than the general run of girls about there
and there was something about her face
that used, in its quiet earnestness, to set
me anziously watching her all the time
she was teaching, till used to wake up
of sudden to the fact that the boys in
my class were all at play. when, flush
ing red all over my face, Iused to leave
off staring over to the girls part of the
big schoolroom, and try to make up for
lost time.
can't tell you when it began. but at
that time used somehow to associate
Mary Andrews pale, innocent face with
everything did. Every blow l drove
into a coal-seam with my sharp pick
used to be industry for Mary's sake. Of
an evening, when washed off the black
: and tidied up my hair, it used to he so
that she might not be ashamed of me if
, we met; and even every time | made
my head ache with some calculation out
: of my arithmetic-ten times as difficult
a because | had no one to help mel used
to strive and try on TIL conquered, be-
cause it was all for Mary's sake.
Not that dared to have told her so.
thought, but somehow the influence Of
Mary used to lift me up more and more,
> till | should no more have thought Of
t going to join the other pitmen in pub
| lie house than of trying to fly.
1t was about this time / got talking
e TO young fellow about my age who
: worked in my shift John Kelsey his
!. name was, and I used to think it pity
|. that fine, clever fellow like he was
v handsome, stout, and strong. should bt
% SO fond of the low habits, dog-fghtine
Q and wrestling, so very popular amongs1
= our men, who enjoyed nothing better
! than getting over to Sheffield or Rother
Ii ham for what they called a days sport
which generally meant unftness for worl
st during the rest of the week.
s. "Well, . said John, ..your ways seen
0. to pay you, and he laughed and wen
away; and thought no more of it til
90 about a month after, when found ou
that was what people who make use 0
b. plain, simple language call, in love
is and I'll tell you how found it out
: | was going along one evening pas
!, !, old Andrews house, when the door open
ed for moment as if some one was com
10 ing out; but, as if had been seen, i
is was closed directly. In that short me
to ment, though, had heard laugh, an,
OF that laugh was sure was John Kelsey
~ felt on fire for few moments, as
a stood there, unable to move, and then a
!. | dragged myself away the feeling tina
. came over me was one of blank miser
"a and despair. | could have leaned m
ls' head up against the first wall came t
= and cried like a child; put that feelin
he passed off, to be succeeded by one {
he rage. For, as the blindness droppe
S. from my eyes, saw clearly that nc
- only did | dearly love Mary Andrews
love her with all a strong mans fir
~ love, such love as one would feel wh
ed had till now made his sole companion
nd of his books,-but that | was forestal
is; ed; that John Kelsey was evidently
~ regular visitor there, and, for aught
He knew to the contrary, was her acknow
he edged lover.
his | did not like playing the spy; bu
s lea with faint feeling of hope on me TIL
". w. | might have been mistaken. wake
Vi past the house. and there was no mi
take; John Kelsey's head was plain
inc enough to be seen upon the blind. and
ing went home in despair.
~. III How L looked forward to the ne
md Sunday, half resolved to boldly tell NJ
and ry of my love, and to ask her wheth
and there was any truth in that which | il