Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-11-12
NUMBER AZ.

young Hollis and burwells. Inc men
of fashion OF the village. with their coats
off worked under Plummer. tho black
smiths orders. They had rugged up a
pulley to let rope down.
Colonel Caldwell. on his knees, shout
ed into the hole. "Mr Harbour"
No answer.
"Do you hear me, sirP"
The silence was like death. The wom-
en- shuddered.
Gould the first fall have killed himf"
said Caldwell. looking up to DR.. Peters.
Hardly; the shaft Is narrow. His fall
would be broken"
Docs anybody know how deep II isP"
Old Mr. Holt pressed forward 1T was
reckoned sixty feet in my time"
There was young girl standing apart
from toe others. She noticed that the men
uncousciously spoke in whispers, as in
the presence OF the dead She came near
er.
"He is not desdw she said. God could
not do that. Lower the rope"
They did 80. The iron bar at the end
knocked against the sides, the stones and
clay ratified down. But no other sound
came up from the yawning pit
The Judge leaned over. MIR. Hsr-
bour. II you cannot speak, take the rope
and give il a Jerk"
There was moment OF absolute silence;
but tie rope hung loose.
The Judge stood upright. 1--WE are TOO
late. Doctor"
mo, no. We forgot Tbs shais is. no
doubt, full Of foul gases. Tie man is
stupefed. A bunch OF hsy, quick"
The hay was lighted and sent down. 4.
was at once extinguished.
81 told you so. More. More Wemust
burn it,"
They began TO let down Burning bun
dies OF ii. The process was slow; the
hay had TO be brought from distance.
"In The meantime" said the Doctor,
Harbour will die. Somebody must 90
down"
Not a man spoke. In lhe digging of
well the year before, ihree laborers had
been killed by the fre-damps. They had
all seen their limp bodies as they were
dragged out. The horror OF ii was upon
them still.
Somebody must CO." said Caldwell
looking around feebly. A woman laid her
hand upon his arm. "YouP Poor child!
What could you do9 Mother, take Miss
Clevedon away. This is no sight for
her. Come! come! Who is going"
lam ready" Aman stepped forward.
He wore ragged evening suit carried
himself like O soldier. There was dread
ful pallor on his face, which ugly blotch-
es made more conspicuous.
The Judge hesitsted, the ropes in his
hand "Yes-ah-you mean that you
will 60 down the shalt ?"
"Of course. Go onP' holding out his
arms. There's no time TO be lost"
The Judge looped the ropes about bis
waist. "You-you understand the risk, |
suppose? 1t ia a good deal to lake for a
stranger. You know Mr. Harbour, ,proba-
blyt"
The man nodded. Il Knew him. Now
lower me. When jerk the rope once,
lower me further; twice. pull me up snd
quickly"
They lowered him. In moment the
rope was ierked violently twice and ne
wa. dragged up. breathless and livid.
You seer' said Caldwell. ave must
burn hay. No man will throw away
his life IN this way"
John had revived by this time. There
is no time TO burn hay. Lower me again.
am ready. will not come up so soon
again"
The rope went down again. Minute af-
ter minute passed before the signal was
given. 1t was feeble then, two faint pulls;
but the weight was double on the rope.
"He has tied on the bodyw they NUT
tered, tugging away.
Two bodies-two dead bodies as ii
seemed--were brought out and laid on
the grass.
Strangely enough. it was Nicholas Har-
bour who revived first. His youth and
temperate life told in his favor. When
he opened his eyes, Sarah Cleyedon was
chafng his hand. When be stood up. she
held il still, as though she had been his
wife, and did not blush before all the
people. 1t seemed natural and right in
the sight of God that it should be so.
"Who was il that saved me'" he said.
The crowd drew back. The stranger was
lying on the grass. his rags covered with
clay and blood.a darker pallor on his face.
But there was in it look which had not
been there Tor years; look which be-
longed to the innocent boy which he once
was.
The clergyman was seized with a great
trembling; he pushed them aside, ran,
and threw himself down beside bin, held
him 10 bis breast. rubbed the cold hands.
They did no: warm in his.
An hour ago he could have saved this
man, soul and body. Now
"I Am afraid it's of no use," said Mr..