The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-06-20

companion, and rolled down the slope.
TWAS still burning, and picking it up he
held it alott and tried to discover their
situation
The survey was not a pleasing one
They were In a narrow chamber whose
circular sides rose solid and unbroken,
save where the slope of sand down which
they had come ran up into gloom. st.
Clair tried to climb this, but could not,
the sand affording no hold for foot or
hand
After few fruitless efforts he sank
back, and while fiere light came to his
eyes, looked at the grim walls and the
slOping sand.
"a nice tomb this, surely" he said.
Il have the pleasure, Miss Beltone, of
knowing that l have brought you to
deaths door"
There was a touch of the old battle
tone In his voice, but il was subdued and
had touch of pathos. She noticed the
change, and while sad smile fitted
across her face answered in a sweet, wo-
manly tone:
mo, no, Mr.. st. Clair. You must not
say that. You did not bring me here"
81 know" he answered, all the battle
tone gone from his voice, and all the
pathos deepened: al know, with a wo-
mans usual generosity, you try to shield
me from blame"
Il do not believe that you are to blame.
l wished to explore this cave, and should
have come alone had you not expressed
a desire to see it."
He looked curiously at her, and she
met his gaze with a steady, fearless ex-
preston, a strange, deep CLEAN in her
eyes, and suddenly it flashed across this
mans soul that he loved the beautiful
woman before him. There was some
thing in his eyes, a subtle light. an out
fash of soul, that told Miss Beitone ali
that the instant had revealed to him, and
the magnetic thrill struck sharply on
the chords of her hidden womanliness
and gave strength and being to an an
sWering passion. His duller nature
could not read the change in her face, as
her delicate and powerful intuition had
deciphered that in his, and with a moan
that sounded strangely like sob, he COW
cred his face with his hands, which were
free, he having set the torch in the sand
when trying to ascend the slope.
AS he stood thus, he felt her hand
touch his, and as he let it loosen his hold
on his face, it nestled into the released
nand and hung there. There was some
thing in the touch that he could not un-
derstand, and he uncovered his face and
looked at her,
There was a glory in her eyes, a color
on her face, that he could comprehend
now, and with wild cry of Joy he drew
her to him, and kissed her sweet, warm
mouth. But the terribleness of their po-
sition soon forced itself on him. and let |
ting her go he stamped his foot fiercely
on the floor
1T shall not be-" he said, savagely.
what shall not be, Hubert ?"
4 fha II,
his name, and it sent a thrill through
his soul.
"What shall not be? This cave shall
not be tomb for u.s." and Selling his
torch, he made a rapid survey of the
rock walls of their prison. They were
smooth and unbroken, and gave little |
ground for hope, and his survey finished,
he began sounding them, but the sharp
sounds of his blows told only of solid |
masses of rock. Still he did not give up |
the test, went slowly along the wall, and |
just ere he reached the sand slope again |
his ear detected a change.
With heart throbbing and ewes that
fairly glared in their intentness, he gave
the rock sharp blow little further on,
and a dull sound answered it, followed
by the dimly heard dropping of some
fragments, and with wild cry he flung
himself against the place he had struck,
and suddenly disappeared amid a mass
of dust and fallen fragments.
He shook himself clear of these, and
rose to his feet, for he had fallen, and
turning, saw that he had broken through
thin partition of brittle stone dividing
the chamber they had so strangely be
come prisoners in, from one similar in
form, but instead of the sand slope, hav-
ing solid gallery leading up from it.
Slowly they followed this, and emerg-
ed at last in forest of glittering stalag-
mites, and passing these came to a great,
square-shaped chamber, similar to the
one they had passed through when en-
tering on their explorations.
"Oh, if this was only the one where
my handkerchief is" cried Miss Bel
tone.
st. Clair raised his torch high above
his head, and let the light run over the
shining stone, and far away fluttering
like white bird, on its black staff, shone
the dainty, lace-circled bit of cause.
There, there" he said, jOyfully, point
ing it out to her, and they slowly moved
through the narrow spaces until they
reached it.
He took it from the pinnacle, saying,
81 shall always keep this, for it was the
banner of hope that gave our love fu-
ture, and it has been blessed by the
touch of your hand"
They were soon at the entrance of the
cave, and beneath them lay the valley,
glorious with sunsets rich colOrs.
May our lives be as beautiful" muir
INJURED Miss BeltOne, and st. Clair's deep
voice answered, "Amen"