Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-08

had endeavored to bring the young
couple together, an intention which the
young lady immediately OWNED and
understood, and straightway Mr.. Hunt
ley had his hands full.
"When q woman will-she will-you
may depend on it. And, when she
won't-she tcoR't-and there's an end
on it."
And every unappreciated, but appar-
emily innocent effort on the part of Mr..
Huntley, only made the demure maiden
shun Mr.. Trevor the more.
As 1 was saying, the party were seat
ed at dinner, an improvised table, laden
with good things, plenty of ice and
long necked bottles being predominant.
In the midst of merry laughter and gay
badinage, low, rumbling noise fell
upon their ears, followed by a loud
crash.
All sprang to their feet in an in
slant, the ladies pale and trembling
the men somewhat startled.
"What is it?''
Nellie's face was pallid, as she asked
the question. Without word Allan
Trevor sprang on his horse, and rode
away in the direction of the sound, fol-
lowed by a half dozen of the gentlemen.
In short time a horseman was seen
returning, galloping like mad, toward
them. TWAS Mr.. Huntley. He threw
himself from his painting horse, and
hurried forward-pale and agitated.
"It is the coal-mine, over therep he
cried hurriedly. "There has been an
Explosion; portion of the shaft has
fallen in, and nobody knows how many
are buried alive there"
A scene of excitement followed the
dreadful announcement. Some of the
ladies fainted-all well terrified; but
Nellie Huntley stood quiet, and out
wardly calm. When her father had
finished, she laid one small hand on his
arm: -
sect my horse. please, papap' she
said. Il want to go there. may be
of some assistance"
"Nellie, are you crazy, child? You
must not think of such thing"
"Yes, l know all that, papa, Pm not
going to think about tim going
right over there at once. Miss Rem
shaw and some of the ladies will &C
company me am sure"
Who would have believed it of those
gay ladies of fashion and frlvolity-
but not one forsook our little maiden
in her humane errand.
The horses we're hastily saddled-
the servant who accompanied them fol
lowed with ice and wine, in case some
unfortunate should be rescued, and they
set of,at once. f4E
Arriving at the spot, they found a
terrible scene of excitement. A crowd
had collected around the shaft. There
were women crying and wringing their
hands: woman on their knees beseech
ing Heaven for mercy on the dear ones
shut out from eyes by that awful bank
of earth. There were men standing sui
len and gloomy, with arms folded on
their breasts, and in their faces grim
despair-yhile the very air seemed
heavy with groans, and sobs and pray
ers, and calculations.
As our party approached, lull fell
upon the tempest of grief-something
seemed going on; group had gathered
around tall form and were begging
and expostulating. 1t was Allen IRE
vor. Nellie's heart stood still as she
heard his words, in a firm, clear tone.
"Do not try to dissuade me! am
convinced that there is hope, and if you
will only assist me, I may save some
life. There is an opening sufficiently
large for one man to descend with a
rope" @ n m
Before Nellie could approach him, he
had hastened to the pit; the necessary
preparations were made, and he had
disappeared from sight in the bowels Of
the earth. With horrible feeling at
her heart, Nellie sank upon her knees.
She dared not pray. She knew that at
any moment the bank of earth, stayed
in its progress, might easily become de-
tached, 1.-THE slightest jar would do it)
and would bury the mouth of the shaft
from view. This was the awful fear
that filled the hearts of all gathered
there. ,thkU a \
! 1t seemed hours-aees-that she
'knelt there. mutely imploring Heavens
mercy. At last Wild shout pealed up
on the air, the rope was pulled from be-
low. as though a weight were attached
to it. Slowly they drew it up, and so
one man was saved. In few words,
he explained the case The miners
were all disabled, and must certainly
have perished, but for the superhuman
efforts of Allen Trevor, who bearing each
man in his strong arms to where the rope
was waiting, proposed to fasten it to
their bodies, and SO they would be res
cued.
8 l cannot tell you, in detail, of that
heroic deed. One after another ofthe
miners was borne to the surface, some
bruised and bleeding, and some were
dying. All were received by our par
ty, and kindly and tenderly ministere6
to.
: At last there came mOment-if Mel
lie should live to see the next Centen-
nial, she will never forget that moment, !
when the last man was safely landed
and the rope came up alone. At the in
slant, a low rumbling soIRd was plain
ly audible; Nellie bowed her head.
: ''Oh, my God. what shall / do?'' she
walled wish sudden desperation she
sprang forward.
, Lower the lope once more" she
cried. In her heart she had determin-
ed. sif he does not come up this time,
L shall 90 down there myself. At least,
we can die together"
With deferential glance at the young
girl, the men obeyed her mandate,
while the others stood near, awed and
silent.
Sinking upon her knees, Nellie wait
o6 -, oxyf,,l ousnansa for that which |.