The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-10-09
saw the look of fear that overspread old
Deborah's face as she inquired

saw the look of fear that overspread old
Deborah's face as she inquired
whats the matter what's they all
gone down there forl
ooh, Mrs. Eawley, don't be frightcn-
ed; the horse has fallen down and your
husband cannot get him up again and
We"
Her slistener staid to hear no more.
With a wild scream she ran off, and
reached the scene OF the accident Just
az, with an awful crash, the horse van
ished over the pits mouth, dragging
along with him old Adam.
The half howl, half shrek, which
broke from his wife's lips, long rang in
the ears of those who heard it.
"My Adam my Adam oh, let me
get to him !" and had it not been for
kind but vigorous arms, the poor crea-
ture would have thrown herself into the
pit in her agony.
"Nay, stay yc here he'll be ali
right"
But as the soothing words were spok-
en- the speakers looked around with be-
wildered faces, as they saw no possible
way Of making good their promise, for.
to use their own expression, "the men"
were all away.
Not man was within call the cot.
tages were peopled by women and chill
dren at this hour of the evening, the
bread-winners being away in the fields.
"If he's alive now, he'll be kicked to
death tefore he can be got out" walled
Deborah, as the horse gave a restless
plunge, and once more she made desper-
ate efforts to reach her husband
All unkind behaviors and past disa-
greeableness were forgotten by the poor
woman's neighbors, as they wound their
arms strongly about her, striving by
word and deed to moderate her anguish.
"Oh, if the men would only come !"
and springing on high railing, Mrs.
Kean-who had already sent her chill
dren scramblng off in all directions in
search of them looked wildly towards
the fields, as she waved her handker-
chief high above her head and shouted
frantically for help.
How slowly these moments of never
to-be forgotten agony crept by, as, bend
ing over the pits edge, Mrs. Rawley lis
tened for any sign or sound to denote
that her husband was living but only
the plunging of the horse was to be
heard, and. in the violence of her sor-
row, the distressed woman might have
broken from her companions and cast
herself into the hollow beneath, had not
prolonged shout from Mrs. Keen been
followed 10y an assertion which sent a
thrill of hope through every heart.
They're coming hold up, Mrs. Raw
ley . Wen soon have him out now :"
she exclaimed, and still continued to
wave her handkerchief
Ere many seconds had passed half a
dozen swarthy men their faces illum
mined with the rays Of the setting sun
bounded over the hedge and rail to the
scene Of peril.
Their brawny hands and arms were
soon earnestly engaged in the work of
rescue and while the women comfortel
old Deborah, her husband got out Of bis
very dangerous position.
He made no movement as they bore
HIM TO the surface, and then to his cot
tage, where it was found that life was
not extinct. He was fearfully bruised
and shaken, however, AVID was some
weeks in recovering his usual health
This incident wrought an entire
change in the old couple. Whether tho
attention and sympathy of the neighbors
had anything to dc with it cannot be
said but it is very certain that few are
proof against kind words and loving
deeds sneers and reproaches may hard
en-, but who can resist the sunshine of
lovel
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