Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-10-17

really think the fellow is down-piL all this
time, I'll go down wi yo'! John Bo vles
isn't the chap to sec his worst enemy die
/ i eoaI-pit.
The overman's questioning received
more attention. A few minutes sutliced to
alarm Bowes lie put flask Of brandy
in his pocket, saw his Drvy lamps were
in perfect order, and examining thorough
ly his map of the mine, went down with
Rex
They went first to the great hall, and
Bowles left there light and map.
Every twenty minutes, Rex, yo'll come
back here-nl the seams run fro this
place yo'll take that side, I'll take this;
ift' chaps int pit, we il find him fore
long.
They came hack once, and separated
again; then, before Rex had fniSl ed his
second exploration, Bowles heard his voice
frantically calling for help. In few mo-
ments they ran against each other.
Bowes Bowles! Your brandy flask =
the man is on his face in Patrick's old
seam and, great lHavcns Will is right
there are more rats round him and over
him than you can count.
Bowlcs pushed Rex aside and ran inst.
He knew every turn of the pit as IL police
man knows his beat; and when Rex arriv
ed he had raised the man and was trying
to pour brandy down his throat. From
every Granny and dim recess CLEANED the
half-sagacious eyes Of the cruel pit-lat,
bold with hunger and numbers. and scarce
ly to be driven away, even by blows.
He's gotten bis death. I'm feared
They carried MIN quickly to the hall,
and laid him down us tenderly as if lie
had been sick child. Then Rex uttered
Il cry of horror. 1t was evident the last net
of the unfortunate creature had been to
turn on his face. in order to protect it,
when he had no longer strength to fight
his accumulating loes.
Sec here Bowps and here!-and here.
My God, what brutcs men must be 10 do
such II cruel deed!
Easy. my chap-easy; he's much to
blame himself Anybody living near coal-
pits knows that it's n dangerous gate to
take yo're own way in mine. was all
o. two years learning tn old an new seams
why, there's nigh on forty miles o pas
say Is II SO II pun CllI al V"5lI'i.t'
1t was nearly dark when Rex solemnly
took his way home. The thought OF what
he had left under the sheds made him not
only sorrowful, but angry; and the groups
of pit boys playing in the black streets, or
fighting out with knotty fists some under
ground quarrel add I'd to his anger. He
soon came to the village ale-house. Upon
the patch of blackened grass in front of it
Il group of colliers sat, each one with his
favorile bulldog between his legs. They
were Dragging Of their proves, and tax
ing bets upon next Saturdays fights.
Rex strobe in among them like an ac-
cusing spirit. Dave Hartly, yon man that
came 10 seek you yesterday morning is
dead. John Bowles and found him in
Patricks old corner. The rats had begun
TO cat him!
The poor rats Hunger maun be Il fear
full thing if it gars them to eat II constable!
You are as big u brute us your dog,
Dave. You'd better never speak to me
again.
IN set my dog on thee, thou proud tyke,
if thou talks to me that gate.
Rex raised his hand, dropped it, and
walked rapidly away.
The news made small impression upon
the group. 'Twere only constable.
Constables we're the natural enemies OF
t colliers. If the man would 90 down-pt,
; it was none of their business to hinder
| him; none of them had received orders to
| leave their work and conduct him through
the dangerous underground city. They
had no fear Of punishment until the law
5 could define not only the guilty party but
the fault and the coroners verdict of ac-
, cldental death made their consciencrs quite
: comfortable. Dave Hartley, indeed said
: it was far too mild, and that they ought to
! have decided that he died by his own
tIaltne>s.
: But when Saturday came most the
( men had something else to think of than
bulldogs and bets. The fever had spread
. like plague. Scarcely II cottage bad es.
r capped. Strange hands were working in
3 the pit, and Rex and those still well had
! enough to do to give the barest attention
10 tile dead and dying. Rex seemed tC
S know neither fatigue or end Of resources
7 lie went from house to house, controlling
| the raving men, helping the women, nur.
( sing the children. BY some persuasion he
/ got doctors, and induced bakers to bring
, bread to within little distance of the in
ected village. In short he was the human
: arm on which two hundred families
! leaned.
! This did not seem u good time for the
: growth of love; and yet in the short. sol
emn meetings he and Bessie had at Low
ther stie-whcn lie took her news of her
, parents, dried her tears, and comforted
her with growing hopes-love found al
= 1.-The food it needed. Bessie became very
} dear to Rex, AMI Rex to Bessie; and
though no promise had been asked or Civ
! en- they knew very well that they be
t onged to each other forever.
But time and The hour run through The
| hardest days. The fever died 1T last, an,
those who had escaped from its clutches
= were beginning to creep into the wintel
l sunshine again. win Hewitt was talking
of going to work. How he had lived three
mouths without it, he could not tell, anC
= Rex would not suffer him to ask One
: evening Phabe was slowly "tidying up,
= and VIII and Rex sat looking into the fire
$ and all of them were silent and thought
full. Presently VIII took Il queer-lookina
d white paper out of his Bible. 1t was d
y vided into squares, each square containing
: IL little figure; and was plan OF the Meth
e odisl services in the Whitehavcn Circuit
e Mr.. IluddIeston's going to preach TO
night, wife; Id fain 60.
Thou can't 90, Will.
- will looked ut the paper longingly, anC
folded it back with n sigh.
Al