Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-11-12

ulCHOugl IL nau changed her fecllngS
toward him, had not improved his
chances of being loved. True she nc
longer talked gayly or lightly, her color
went and came if she chanced to meet
him suddenly; but lie told himself this
was gratitude, not love; and although
sometimes the thought would come that
she might perhaps marry him through
gratitude, he would dismiss the idea
with anger. She could not love him,
and he would not accept from gratitude
what he could not gain from love,
not even from the hand of Laura
Haines.
Under these circumstances, the Rever-
end Richard Heath began to revolve in
his own mind whether it was really
necessary for a rector to be married at
all. He could not have the woman he
loved. No, he really got on very well,
and he was not at all sure that a clergy
man was not more useful as single man
than he would be if married; at least he
had more time to himself.
The rector's reasoning was clear, but
he was at fault. Laura Haines had
seen that the rector admired her, but al
though she liked him, she never allowed
the possibility of her loving him. Like
most other high spirited girls, she felt
the want of master spirit-some one
she could look up to. The rector was
good and clever, likely to make hus.
band whom any woman might love and
honor. But his manlinessp How could
she respect man who could not ride,
nor swim, nor pull an oar, and who had
to be picked out of the water by q
womanp
The rector was walking in his garden
one Saturday morning, for once moi
thinking of Laura; LIE was arranging the
heads of his next mornings sermon
when he was startled by dull, heavy
muffied explosion in the valley, and saw
a cloud of smoke ascend from the hollow
in which was Mr.. Haines's colliery
He ran straight down to the pit. Scarce
ly five minutes had elapsed since the ex
plosion, but already the miners wives
and families were gathered about tht
shaft. Women were there wringinl
their hands and screaming wildly; some
sat in stony despair, gazing at the fata
shaft, others had tainted, and happily
oblivious for a time to their misery, lay
unheeded by the excited, frantic crowd
There are nigh sixty men and boy;
down, sir" replied the overseer to th'
rector's inquiry. 81 have just conn
from the other shaft: about twenty bav'
come up there, bnt 1 fear there is nj
hope for the rest. The rope is down now
but no one has pulled it. The force o
the fire was this end. fear there is NJ
hope"
At this moment a boy ran up anC
spoke to the overseer. The man stag
gered back.
my Godw he exclaimed -''the mas
ter is down! and nothing can be done
Look there!" and he pointed to ligh
smoke wreathing up from the shaft
"she's afire now, and she may blow an
moment. 1t would be madness to d
anything"
The men standing around murmure
an assent. Anything that men can dc
miners will dare to rescue comrades; bU
this was too much. At this momer
there was a stir, and the men drew bac
to let Laura pass. Her face was as pal
as death, and her hair had broken froI
its bands in the speed with which sh
had run.
II hear my father is in the pitt" sh
gasped out; "is it trueP"
A dead silence answered her. Sh
sank down in despair, and then risin
she exclaimed wildly:
"He may be alive still! thousand
five thousand dollars to him who got
down and brings him up!''
"It is impossible, Miss Laura," sal
the overseer; ''the pit is on fire; she wi
blow again in minute or two"
80 men!" she said frantically; 20
be men, go down and see if any liv'
Five thousand dollars to him wh
goesw
The men drew back, but one or tw
spoke together, and were coming TO
ward when the women rushed upo
them.
mo, Jamie-no, Willie; you don
go. Our two boys are down now; yo
shan't go; l will not let you; what
money, nowp" and clinging to the me
they dragged them back.
Laura sank back in despair; 81
could not press the point. During tt
colloquy, Mr.. Heath had earnestly que
J toned the boy, and now whispered
; the overseer. The latter gave start
| surprise, and made gesture of refusa
| Then Mr.. Heath spoke aloud:
II shall have my way. | am God
minister have no one in the world
lament me. 1t is my duty to try,
, least Get the rope ready at once, al
lend me thick cap to protect my hea
and flannel jacket"
Laura Haines had started up and e,
: claimed, mo! MOI" then she had bee
silent. Without word, she stood m
tionless while the Clergyman put Il
miners clothes over his own amid dea
silence from all around. Mr.. Heath W,
very pale, but perfectly calm. When
= was ready, and while the men we