Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-22
ling, pray for me. If 1 never return, good

ted the rope about his waist, put the hat
with lighted taper over his thick curls,
and entered the yawning black cavern in the
hillside.
Strong hands slowly slackened the rope as
the strain upon it proved the courageous
man, they had dared to taunt, was steadily
advancing upon his perilous errand. For
ward, forward while the suspense of the
watchers became agonizing. Women faint
ed, strong men grew white, and sobs were
heard on all sides.
The rope slackened quickly Back, back,
with rapid feet, till he stood, white and
resolute, before them once more.
- The walls have fallen beyond the third
chamber" he said, :" and they areall there
The gas has prostrated them ard the en-
trance is partly filled up As far as | have
gone there Is no danger. ! want dozen
strong men, with car, and brandy, water,
and light. Who will accompany me %
" What would you do, Gardiner?'' Mr..
Gcrmaine asked
." | will go into the chamber and drag the
men to the entrance. They may be only
stunned or stupefed, not dead
a." But if you breathe the gas?''
- can die but once. Come, those who
are ready
The volunteers were beside him in mo-
mcnt, hundred where he had asked doz-
en-. Selecting what he needed. eoolly as if
it were an every day affair, Gardiner For
| sythe again entered the mine. 1t was so
far in his favor that the accident had occur
red in one Of the passages that did not run
under the level Of the ground, the third
| chamber being in the hillside.
By the light of the torches they carried,
his companions could see that the entrance
left by the fall was barely wide enough for
one man to enter, and already the gas was
escaping in dangerous quantities.
With no word beyond the directions need
ed, Gardiner Forsythe stopped to the entrance
that might prove his grave, to save the man
who was his only enemy upon earth. Every
man outside caught his breath in quick
gasp rs the candle in Gardiner's cap flicker
ed and went out, leaving deep black hole
the only object on which to fasten their gaze
\ quick jerk of the rope, the signal to draw
it back, strained every mans arm, and every
heart sank as the dead weight they dragged.
In the mouth of the chamber the rope was
frightened, proving some object blocking the
narrow entrance.
Three men advanced, and slowly drew ont
the burly figure Of Herman Clarke. appa-
rentlv dead Following staggering and
CHASTITY, Gardiner Forsytbe crawled out.
- Take him outside he said. Give
me your flask Dyer. Now, the rope
| again ="
Three times the rope was hauled out,
each time tied around senseless figure, but
the third time no living face followed the
still white one.
d" He has gone in once too often, whis-
pered one
- The gas is increasing. 1t will he death
soon to stay here, said another.
I'm going for Mr.. Forsythe,' said
third, - and we will 20 in once each till all
are out. Shall he save three, and we shirk
from one?"
In the meantime at the mouth of the
mine. the groups Of miners were working
faithfully over the senscless figures the car
brought out. one at a time, to the fresh out
er air. Fannie Germaine, white and with
dead weight on her heart, was active in this
work, chatting the cold hands, pouring bran
dy in the white lips, working steadily and
faithfully.
Cropping, seeing the still figures before
them, as only men accustomed to the dark
ness 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 fatal chamber. One by one
the strong men reeled away from the dam
gerous work, til the last passed Gardiner
| Forsythe'S tall. senseess form to the waiting
group without.
Twelve men were drawn from the mouth
Of the mine. and four were saved from death,
by unremitting effort. Herman Clark was
one Of the four, but it seemed for long
time as if the hands that had lifted him
from his living grave were still forever.
Hours passed while Gardiner Forsythe lay
in the death-likc stupor, that seemed bat
the forerunner of actual death. The faint
/ breath that crept up to his white lips, the
feeble hutter Of the heart, scarcely percepti-
BILE, encouraged those who worked for his
life to perseyere, long after the physicians
had given up all hope Of the eight who had
been drawn out before him.
And in those hours, strong men bending
over the white face, spoke their contrition
for the injustice done him.
- thought he was coward Fred
said, hot tears falling as he spoke, =. and
he faced death to save the life of the man
we said he feared" =
8" If he will only speak to me once more, -
Herman Clark whispered, turning feebly on
his own stretcher, " to say he forgiveS me, III
spend my life proving how | honor him."
They carried him to Mr.. Germans, still
living. but so fcebly there was little hope to
dwell upon. and darkness fell upon the
houses Of the mouners, upon the deserted
picnic grounds, upon the porch where Fan
ME had tested about her national colOrs.
But the lights burned brightly in the large
room where friends and physicians clustered
around the low couch, where Gardiner For
sythe was gasping and struggling his way
back to life again.
Near his head, tanning him softly under
the doctors directions, Fannie watched his
face with the agony Of loving suspense and
fear, til the great blue eyes opened and
rested upon her Then a smile came over
the white lips. and Gardiner whispered -
. Fannie Were they all saved?'
They were all taken ont, dearest, She
said, trying to speak calmly, with hysterl-
cal desire to scream out her gladness
" All taken out. Thank God - he whis-
pered again. - Fannie-Herman Clark p
" Is DONG well, barulner. 10 NOT uy 70
talk of it all, now. Sleep. | will sit by
YOU
And Gardiner slept, while one after an
other crept away softly, till only Fannie
watched beside him.
Kneeing beside him she wept glad tears.
as she prayed in earnest thankfulness, and
felt in her heart the proud consciousness
that the day had righted her lover in the
worlds eyes.
And she was right. In the house owned
by Gardiner Forsythe, sweet faced lady
presides, and little children call the tall blue
eyed man father. He is still engaged in
mining interests, and his superintendent is
still Herman Clark, but it would 60 hard
with any man, who dared in Tollman' Run,
call Gardiner Forsythea a coward Godey's
Lady's Book.