Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-05-01

pening to her husband within a
short distance from her dwelling.
Having finished, she rose from
her seat as some one hastily passed
her open door, aud, in another mo-
ment, she heard Mrs. Figgins's
eldest girl explaining something to
her mother.
The tones were hurried and the
sounds confused; md she might
have paid little heed TO tlIeth had
not her own name fallen, with fa-
fnlliar dlstinctness on her ears.
"Wbat have they got 10 talk
about me for p she murmured
somewhat grnffiy, as, proceeding
to the door, she was going to close
it; but her attention was arrested
by what appeared tc be the out
pouring Of all her 1eighbors. as
though moved hy one mind, they
ftfsbsd iii the direction of the
chalk K. pit.
Mrs. Higgins alone stood sta
tionary, and her countenance pale5
when she saw the look OF feaf .Eat
osefspread old Deborah's face as
she inquired
whats the matter what's they
all gone down there for g.
sob, Mrs. Rawley, dou't be so
frightened the horse has fallen
down, and your husband cannot
get him up a2ain-and we"
Her listener stayed to hear no
more with wild scream she ran
off, 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 bali 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.
May: stay ye here he'll be all
right"
But as the soothing words were
spoken, the speakers looked around
with bewildeled 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
cottages were peopled by women
and children at this hour OF the
evening, the bread winners b,ing
away In the fields.
"lf he's alive now, he'll be kick
ed to death before he can be got
ont, walled Deborah, as the horse
gave a restless plunge, and once
more she made desperate efforts
to reach her husband
All unkind behavior and past
disagreeables We've forgotten by
the poor wnman's DeiShbors 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 u high
railing, Mrs. keen-who had al
ready sent her children scamper-
ing 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 frHntlcaily for help.
How, slowly those moments OF
never TO be forgotten agony crept
ty, as, bending over the pits edge
M,s. Rawley listened for any sign
or sound to denote that her hus
band was living but ouly the
plugging "t the horse was to be
beard, and, in the violence of her
sorrow, the distressed womSn
might have broken from her com
pahiohs and cast herself into the
hollow beneath. bad DOT a pyolong-
ed shout from Mrs. Keen been fcl
lowed by an asse, ton which sent
thrill OF hope through every
heart.
They're coming :! bold mp, Mrs
Rawley we'll soon bnve him oui
uow y she exclaimed, and still cou.
timed to waive her haudk g, chlef
Ere many seconds bad passed,
balf IA dozen swarshy men---their
faces iiumlred With the rays OF
the setting suu-b"unded over the
hedge and rail To the scene of peril
Their btawny hands aud arms
were soon earnestly engae. d in the
work oil rescue; aud while the wo
men conforted old Deborah, her
husband was get off his very dan
ger"us position.
He pade no movement as they
bore him to the surface, and then
to his cottage, where it was found
that life was not extinct. He was
fearfully bruised and shaken, how
ever, aud VAS some weeks in re-
covering his csual health.
This incident wrought an entire
change in this old couple. Whether
the attention and sympathy OF their
Deighbors had anything 10 do with
il, cannot be said but it is very