The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-04
NUMBER IL.

Ddck, p. were MS parting "DIuS 10 MS
helpmeet, and with no thought beyond
the present the speaker started.
The following quarter of an hour was
passed lin fetching the horse and cart
from Farmer Kirby's. Then Adam filled
his cart with a collection Of rubbish,
and, leading old Derry by the bride,
proceeded leisurely in the direction of
the chalk pits.
Steadily and quietly the willing ami
NAL plodded on, past the Lime Cottages,
down the curve of the road, to within
few feet of the deep hollow in which the
load he was carrying was to be depos-
tied.
But suddenly loud whoa = accom-
panied by a tug of the reinS, announced
that something was wrong, but this fail
ed to rectify matters. for the horse, sud
denly checked at the moment of slipping,
was unable to recover his footing. and.
after one or two Intellectual attempts, his
knees doubled under him and down he
went
Then began a struggling and scuffiing,
as Adam exerted all his strength to get
Derry to his feet but the ground, which
was composed of loose sand, was Un-
favorable for this purpose, and the horses
struggles brought him nearer and nearer
to the pit s edge. In bewildered dismay
the old man gaZed affrighted around. as
he endeavored to pull the animal back.
In vain he shouted and called for help
no living creature was visible, and no
sound broke the stiffness as his agonized
tones died away without response.
''She'n be over as sure as fate-and
drag in, - he gasped frantically, feeling
his strength failing with each plunge of
the horse. While large beads Of perspi-
ration stood on his intensely puckered
face, his thoughts flew to old Deborah.
who was sitting i'll her kitchen, calmly
shelling fine gathering Of marrowfats.
little guessing the peril then just happen
ing to her husband within a short dis
tance from their dwelling.
Having finished. she rose from her
seat rs some one hastily passed her open
door. and in another moment she heard
Mrs. Figgins's eldest girl explaining
something to her mother
The tones were hurried and the sounds
confused and she might have paid little
heed to them had not her own name
fallen, with familiar distinctness. on her
ears.
'What have they got to talk about me
for p she murmuTed somewhat grufliy,
as. proceeding to the door, she was going
to close it but her attention was arrest
ed bywhat appeared to be the outpouring
of all her neighbors, and as though NOV
ed by one mind they rushed in the direc-
tion of the chalk-pit.
Mrs. Higgins alone stood stationary.
and her cOuntenance paled when she saw
the look of fear that oveTspread old De
boTah 5 face rs she inquired:
What's the matter-what' they all
gone down there for -
oh Mrs. Rawley, don't be frighten-
ed the horse has fallen down. and your
husband cannot get him up again-and
We"
Her listener stayed to hear no more /:
with a wild scream she ran out. and
reached the scene of the accident just as.
with an awful crash, the horse vanished
over the pits mouth, dragging along
with him old Adam.
The half howl, half shrek. which
broke from his wife's throat. 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 ye here he'll be all right. =
But as the soothing words were spo-
ken. the speakers looked around with he
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 a man was within call the cot
tages were peopled bywomen and children
at this hour Of the evening, the bread
winners being away in the field.
IF he's alive now, he'll be kicked to
death before he can be got ont, = walled
Deborah, as the horse gave a restless
plunge. and once more she made desper-
ate efforts to reach her husband.
All unkind behavior and past disa-
grceables were forgotten 10y 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.
Keen-who had already sent her children
scampering off in all directions i'm search
of them-looked wildly towards the
fields. as Sic waved her handkerchief
high above her head. and shouted franti-
cally for help.
How slowly those moments OF never
to-be-forgotten agony crept by. as. bend
ing over the pits edge. Mrs. Rawlev
listened 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 east
herself into the hollow beneath, had not
a prolonged shout from Mrs. Keen been
followed 10y an assertion which sent
thrill of hope through every heart
They re coming hold up, Mrs Raw
lev! well soon have him out ROW - she
exclaimed. and still continued TO wave