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

| ledIlul udnSeT, Iulnh IndG L, WHO walt
here to pray for you, have two lives
love at stake; that if you come not back
| shall be for life widow as well as or
phan. God bless you, my own dear Lowell
Now, kiss me, and gor
He drew her to him, kissed her once,
and then opening the door of the shed,
said to the women outside:
Look to Miss Haines; she has tainted
Now, men, let me down as quickly as
you can. know what l have to do"
Mr.. Heath was outwardly as quiet and
calm as when he entered the hut; but
the men noticed that he had bright,
steady light in his eye; that while before
he might look like a martyr walking
firmly to the stake, now he might have
been soldier leading forlorn hope.
AS he was lowered down into utter
darkness, the Clergyman might truly be
said to have no fear. He knew his fear
ful danger, he knew that every instant
threatened death, but he knew too that
Laura loved him and was praying for
him. He too prayed that he might be
spared to enjoy his great happiness.
Descending toward the bottom, the
smoke was almost sitting, and would
have been quite SO but for the wet cloth
pressed against his mouth and nostrils.
The safety lamp which he carried, by
the sharp, faring explosions within the
wirework, as well as his difficulty of
breathing, told the infammable nature of
the atmosphere about him. The bottom
reached, to his great JOY he found the
entrance to the workings clear of debris.
So sitting did he feel the air, that he lay
down and crawled along on his breast.
But few PAGES and he felt a door. He
gave low, muffled cry, which was an
swered by dull knocking within.
Thank God! Mr.. Haines was alive,
sheltered in the small room from the vi
olence of the first blast The thought
of Laura's delight gave him new strength
and revived consciousness which but a
moment before seemed fast deserting
him,
Feeling upon the ground, for he had
extinguished his lamp for greater safety,
he found that some pieces of the root
had fallen and blocked the door. The
thought of Laura gave him strength to
remove them, and as he removed the
last, he felt the door pushed open from
within, life seemed to leave him, and be
became unconscious.
Terrible was the suspense upon the
surface after the clergyman had disap
peared. No one spoke. Presently the
rope stopped. Now was the question,
was he insensible already The men
stood by the rope ready to run it ovel
the sheaf as quickly as possible, and al
stood breathless. In a moment there
was faint but decided jerk of tbs
rope.
Thank God!" broke from all the by.
ISLANDERS, and the rope was Stacked tc
allow the adventurer to proceed into the
workings. And now Laura, recovered
from her fainting, Joined the grouI
about the shaft. She dropped dowr
: upon her knees, and with her face palt
} as marble, her lips moving in prayer, bu
no sound issuing from them, she watched
the mouth of the shaft.
, One minute, two, three passed; ant
then the men began to murmur among
themselves that the clergyman mus
< long ere this be insensible, and that the.
3 ought to bring him up before the dreaC
l explosion came. Another minute, ant
3 then the foreman spoke:
"It's no use, miss; he must be insensi
3 BILE now; the choke-damp will hav
done it,"
e A sharp spasm of anguish passed owe
: her face, then her lips moved "On
minute more" 1t seemed IN age. l
= passed; and then the foreman reluctant
8 ly gave signs to the men to prepare t.
hoist. Just at this moment one of tn
l men exclaimed, "She shakesm A paus
was followed by astrong pull at therope
A deep suppressed cheer broke from tn
l throng.
/. Quick, lads! quick but steady" tn
D overseer cried, and the rope ran rapid,
over the sheaf, pulled by so many will
0 ing hands that it was impossible to tel
: whether one or two bodies were attached
q 1t was moment of fearful suspens G
Laura had risen now, and stood will
t both hands pressing her hair back iron
4 her temples. Her breath came in shor
s gasps, and her figure swayed to and fro
n The rope runs rapidly over the shea1
and the overseer, bent over the mouth G
e the pit, peers intently into it. At last h
e exclaims:
= Il see him, see him! Thank God
o there are two! Steady, men, steady
# They are both insensible. 1t is the mas
|. ter sure enough"
Ready hands lift the bodies from til
s shaft, and the doctor, who has bee
o standing in readiness, puts his ear t
It their hearts. Thank God, they are bot
d alvem
l., Despite their own dead in the pit,
cheer broke from all, and Laura Haine
: falls insensible by the side of the rescue
n two.
J. The rector is now married and he
e come to look upon his early theories 6
u ridiculous delusions, and is now ready
. affirm that a woman makes not one b
q the worse clergyman's wife for bein