The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-01
THE MANIAC MINER.
"Won't you take me down with you
to-day, piease2"


Bruce Malcolm looked at the delicate
figure, sweet face, and dainty garments
of the girl who had addressed him, IN
establishment, and then at his muscular
frame, clad in a coarse, red flannel shirt,
heavy pants, and long, thick, solid boots
The contrast almost made him smile. e
single grasp of his iron hand would have
crushed her as easily as butterfly; and
the one who descended the deep shaft,
braved the fire damps, and threaded the
intricate underground passages of the
mine, must have both nerve and sinew,
and great power of endurance. 1t was
the work Of during men, not shrinking
girlhood.
Bruce Malcolm was q gentleman, as
well by nature as education. The posi-
ton he held as superintendent was re
sponsible one. The safety of all Deepen
ded upon his care and forethought, and
he had never yet permitted any to thrust
themselves into danger. How, then,
could he do SO by the girl whose father
had placed her under his especial charge
while he was absent upon brief voyage
of exploration up the coast.
Certainly, Mr.. Malcolm. Take me
down; want to go 80 very, very much.
I have heard SO often of the wonders
have seen 80 many of the specimens that
have been brought up, am determined
to examine for myself"
81 would be happy to crafty your
wish, Miss Whiting, but you do not re-
alize the danger; and how could meet
your father if anything should happen
to his motherless child e.
ooh! there can be no great danger.
Do you not go and return safely every
day."
eyes, I have done so; but who can
tell when may make my last trip? I
beg of you, Miss Blanche, to postpone
this visit until your father returns. With
his consent, will crafty you"
'sBut he will not be back for some
days then he will be in a hurry to get
home. My summer vacation is almost
ended, and I shall soon have to return
to the confinement Of school, and how
the girls will laugh if I go back without
having seen anything of mining opera
tions. Do, Mr.. Malcolm, take me with
you. You cannot imagine what great
favor it will be-"
He stood with folded arms, with his
eyes intently fixed upon her face, bud
ding into rare beauty-the soft, waving,
gold-brown hair the liquid, hazel eyes;
and the lips like half-blown carnation
freshly dipped in dew-but his thoughts
were elsewhere. The image of the girl
was indeibly photographing itself upon
his heart /; but his mind was hastily run
ming over the danger of the descent of
the shaft and drift; was calculating, as
he had never done before, the chances
of accidents, of premature explosion of
blasts, the unexpected falling of rocks,
the gathering of various gases, and the
thousand and one other things that rem
the best circumstances.
But his constant attention and skill
had guarded against most of these things
had robbed them of their terrors-
he wavered as he looked upon the beau
tiful and pleading face upturned to his
own and still more so when the soft
hand was laid gently on his arm, and the
sweet voice asked again, "Will you not
take me, please, Mr.. Malcolm?"
81 do not know how to answer" he
replied, shaking his head doubtfully.
''What is there to fear with you2"
That direct appeal to his manhood
settled the question. How could he re-
fuse when she trusted 50 implicitly to
his strength and courage? 1t was fiat
tering to his pride, and Bruce Malcolm
was particularly sensitive to such things
He was an oak that would lovingly &C
cept the twining dependence of the ivy,
and glory in the might Of his arms to
defend.
eyes," he said, with his honest manly
face cleaning with satisfaction-'syes,
Miss Blanche, you may go with me /;
and while am seeing that everything
is in order for our decent, you go and
prepare yourself. You will have no
difficulty in procuring suitable attire
from some of the women, and please to
remember it is rough work, and not q
holiday picnic, we are going on
He turned away from the house
to the main shaft, and examined the
windlass, the rope, to see that it was not
frayed, the iron upon the bucket with
great minuteness-made the most par
ticular inquiries concerning the state OF
affairs below-what work was doing
whether or no the pumping engines were
steadily doing their work-the wind
sails all drawing, and if there were any
blasts charged.
''Then you think there is not the
slightest possible danger ~ he said to
the man that was next to him in author
ity.
-''Not the slightest, sir. The mine was
never as safe since I came in it,
tWlay want particularly to know is
that our young lady is determined tc
visit it, and I have foolishly consented
to take her."
''She viii be as safe as in her OWL
fathers house. I will go below and see
that all is right"
''Do SO. By the way, how is Rob
Is he. any betterl'