The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-05-01

| A4N 10 ~ SSOH WI ~ S"tiOt'"4IEtt ~"
he succeeds SO well that Christie
is surprised when she finds that
they have reached their destination
so quickly had the time passed.
The rest ofthe company have
arrived before them, and the hours
fly by pleasantly amid gay ijcsts
and laughter, and the merry games
youth delights in. The improvised
collation. spread upon the smooth
green sward has been partaken o.,
and they were considering what
next to 10, when suddenly a loud,
long rumbIing noise falls upon
their ears.
All spring to their feet. Living
near the coal-nlineS, us they all do,
they well know what must be tho
origin Of that ominous sound.
About.t quarter Of n mile away
is IN extensive coal mine. Several
years ago an accident had occurred
tIere which lad occasiOncll Il sad
!uss Of life, and now they feared
another had taken place. In q
short time their surmisCs are COn'
iirned by boy, who, running Ia
The village 10 proctHe assistance,
pauscs long enough 10 tell them,
in answer 10 their questions, that
there had been IN explosion, and
that a portion Of the shaft had
fallen in.
"We ought to go" exclaimed
Prescott Dome; "wc may be able
TO help i'll some Way
Ina fewer moments than it
takes 10 write it the picnic party
is broken up, toe gentlemen going
with Mr.. Doane to the scene Of
the disaster while the ladies gather
together, n pale and frightened
group, TO await their return.
An hour passed. Suddenly
Christie starts 10 her feet.
II can stand this suspense no
longerl ! am going 10 the mine;
who will come with me? Wenay
be able 10 do some good, five are
not men.
And little Christie fully means
her brave words. No expostula-
tons can move her from her pur-
pose, though one other compan-
ions will accompany her.
The scene they witness when
they reach The mine might well
shake the stoutcsthe
Gathered in a crowd about the
shaft, men, women and children.
rsnd the mir with their hoarse
sobs and cries. Something is evil
IDENTIFY going forward, though the
new commers cannot tell what, un-
| till, with Il wild shout tho crowd
suddenly surge aside, and then
they can discern that some brave
man las descended the broken
shaft and has succeeded in fasten.
ing about tho body Of one Of the
miners, who is even then being
drawn. toEthe surlaeesbv the strong
hands above They nn hear the
comments aroUnditllem and asccr-
tain=tllat, though stupeffed blythe
gas which lie las inhaled, tile res
cucd man=isz unsurt..SuddenlyZ
Eamiliar namo falls upon Christic's
ear; and with q strong lleart-thrill
which shows her Though she has
never realized il till now how
dear Prescott Doane has grown to
her, she learns that it is he who, at
the risk Of his own precious life
has done what 10 other dare
undertukG-to go down into the
broken shaft through the slight
opening there was left, and which
any moment might be choketl by
Il fresh avalanche OF earth.
With a low cry, she covers hei
face with her hands. None is
needing her or her companion,
Every eye is strained toward the
aperture, where after long and ter
rifying delays, one after another o.
the buried men are once more
brought to the light of Gods day
Some are bruised and bleeding, but
none are dead, though such Ind
not been the ease had not hell
thus reached them.
At lust there came Il moment
when Christic's heart almost ceas
oil TO beat. The last of the iniurcC
men has been saved, and the ROPE
comes up-cmpty!
Where is Prescott? Can it be
that after succeeding III his nOblt
work, he has himself slccunlbet
10 the sitting atmosphere?
sob, Father in Heaven! SAVE
him | save himw
Christie's voice rings out LOUD
and clear us she pushes forward
with the desperation Of despair Il
1.-THE mouth OF the shaft.
Clover the rope again; if HI
does not come up this time, mus
so down myself
The rough men gazed at he
pityinSly ind respectfully as the,
obcycd.
"poor thing" they murmurel
ats his wife. How she loves him
Christie hears; but in tina
solemn moment no blush stain!