The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12

who would join them in week, should
make flying visit through New En-
gland, and then go to Europe to remain
until winter.
Gwen have a Jolly time Miss Cor
son said. She would not tell the name
of the friend who was to join Them
If you knew her, you would like her
already; if you don't, you will like her
when you do" was the rather ambigu-
Gus answer the young men got to their
repeated inquiries.
On the fourth day of their stay, the
artist went out to make some sketches
of the beautiful scenery in the neigh
borhood. His daughter accompanied
him with her book, but soon strayed
away, and was separated. Our mas
culine friends, firm believers in the
maxim that L" the early worm gets
caught arose at eleven, and strolled
out for smoke. Rambling aimlessly
through the woods, they finally emerged
through an open space, and found
themselves at the bottom of quarry,
and in the presence of scene which
batfled their understanding.
At one end of the quarry, which was
some 200 feet long, was huddled to-
gether a crowd of the workmen, pale
with terror and almost speeches.
their eyes riveted in fixed intensity on
the furthest wall of the immense gran
lite basin in which they stood. Norton
had just perpetrated a witticism, but
the laugh died away on his lips.
"What is the matter?" he asked
hastily.
THE menlooked fiercely at the "city
SWELL" whom they hated; but one OF
them, forgetful of small animosities, in
the supreme terror of the moment,
snatched him by the arm" Look" he
said, there's the largest blast in five
years-it will be off in minute. God
help the ladyr'
Charley looked In the extreme end
of the quarry, on a ledge some thirty
feet above the level of the quarry bed
Il young lady in white was lying asleep,
with book half fallen from her hand
she had evidently come down from the
road but few feet above, and the work.
men under the ledge had not seen her:
not more than two yards beneath hel
the snake-like fuse, much longer than
usual, to guard against danger from the
large blast, trailed its length over the
rocks.
He saw it all in moment.
"That Corson girl, by Georgen
A bucket of drinking water stood
near him. Selling this in a moment he
was over the intervening space, and
just below the blast at the foot of the
incline. The workmen, strong rough
men, who knew the terrible agency he
was about to defy, thought him mad.
The silence in the quarry was deathly
no one spoke; they scarcely breathed
momentarily they expected to see
launched into eternity that couple--the
one so unconscious of her peril, the
other so fearlessly trying to save her.
Only the footsteps of the climber were
heard, with their ghastly echoes re-
Elected from the granite walls. The
slope from the bottom was quickly
mounted, until he stood eight feet from
the charge, at the foot of perpendic-
ular wall. Here he paused moment.
There was no crack or crevice in the
wall; the treacherous fire above could
be seen slowly crawling toward the
blast. A half minute more and all
would be over. He was thinking how
to act; he was only smoking his cigar,
but what a SILVER that wreath sent to
the heart of the strongest who watched.
A moment only he paused, then placed
the bucket at his feet, stood on 1t, and
stretching his body to the utmost
reached the top, hooked his feet in the
bucket handle, and, with strength he
had never known before, drew himself
and the bucket up, until he stood quiet
ly over the burning fuse. STOPPING he
poured a mere cupful of water on the
powder, and it was out. He had saved
her life
The workmen, God bless their honest
souls, went mad. Cheer after cheer
went up, such as those old stones had
never heard before. The hated "city
chap" of yesterday was the hero of to-
day. Poor fellow! he was martyr to
their enthusiastic admiration. Finally,
Norton came to the rescue, and he es-
capped with that individual.
When the two friends were alone to.
gether, they clasped hands as old
friends only clasp.
"Charley, it was a noble act" was
all that Norton said.
"Do-o-n't, Jess; you'd have done the
same, if you'd been in the front"
They walked along together, putting
their cigars in silence.
"Don't say anything about this,
Jess" said Charley, when they reached
the inn, "not to her at any rate
mean Miss Corson-I hate gratitude
our whole summers fun would be
spoiled"
"All right. If you don't want me tc
| won't" answered Norton, rather sur.
prised.
"Thank you, Jess" said the other
heartily.
When the young men had left, the
quarrymen looking for Miss Corson
saw she was gone. That young lady
had been awakened by the shouting
and not knowing but what they were
making fun of her, and suddenly re
membering that she was in a position
which some of her backbiting friends
who liked to criticise her actions would
style unladylike, quickly made her wa!
back as she had come.
Norton kept his promise. The weel
slipped by, and Miss Corson neve