The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-12-11

nigh unthankful hearts, they lived for
themselves only.
One afternoon Adam Rlwley had Just
pariaken OF very comfortable tea
which his wife had prepared for him.
Poor Mrs. Higgins pale and anxious
face, which he caught eight of as she
returned from her scaniy marketing,
had by no means disturbed his enjoy.
ment of it, and with the same unmind.
fulness regarding the wants of others,
he prepared TO set out for his work
again.
You'll about have time TO shell the
peas and get the supper on afore I'm
back, were his parting words TO his
helpmeet, and with no thought beyond
the present the speaker started.
The following quarter OF an hour was
passed in fetching the horse and cart
from Farmer Kirby's. Then Adam filled
his cart with the 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 tug at the reins, announced
that something was wrong; but this
failed to rectiiy matters, for the horse,
suddenly checked at the moment OF
stepping, 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 fcuffiing
as Adam eAerted all his strength to get
Derry to his feet; but the ground, which
was composed of loose sand, was uufa-
yorable for this purpose, and the horses
struggles brought him nearer to the
pits 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 az, his
agonized tones died away without re-
sponse.
She'll be over as sure as fate, and
drag me in, he gasped, frantically, feel
ing his strength failing with each plunge
of the horse. While large beads of
perspir0tion stood on his intensely puck
cred face, his thopghts few to old
Deborah, who was sitting in her kitcll-
en-, calmly Smelling fine gathering of
marrowfats, little guessing the peril
just then happening to her husband
within short distance from her dwell.
ing.
Having finished, che rose from her
seat as some one hastily passed her open
door, and, in another moment, che heard
Mrs. Fiegins 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 Rave they got to talk about me
forR' she murmured somewhat gruf1y
as, proceeding to the door, she was going
to close it; but her attention was arrest.
cd by what appeared to be the outpour
ing Of all her neighbors, as though,
moved by one mind, they rushed in the
direction of the chalk pit.
Mrs, Higgins alone stood stationary,
and her couutenance paled when she
saw the look of fear that overspread old
Deborah's face as she inquired;
What's the matter-what's they all
gone down there for9'
'Ob, Mrs. Rawley, don't be frighten-
cd; the horse has fallen down, and your
husband can not get him up again and
we'--
Her listener stayed to hear no more.
With wild scream she ran off, and
reached the ecene Of the accident Just
as, with an awful crash, the horse van
isbed 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 creature
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 spoken
the speakers looked around with bewil.
dered 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 beng away in the fields.
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 des.
perate effort TO reach her husband.