The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-20

"Should you reallyP Well. then. moth
ing is easier. l have been down fire.
quentiy. Papa can get the manager to
make things as comfortable as possible.
When shall we gop
Tomorrow" said. "Will that
dor'
"Famously." replied Annie. "Walter
shall accompany US, and May will come.
unless she Is afraid to leave her child
rem. She generally makes her will on
these occasions; buff her husband goes,
she always goes with him."
There Is no danger, suppossr' !
asked.
mot the least. Ours Is most good
tempered mine, and never blows any.
body up"
So it was arranged that the next day
we should descend; and ut the time APP
pointed we were encased in nondescript
garments, and had piece Of candle
given us and q lamp. Then we got in.
to bucket or box, and in two seconds,
and one turn of an enormous wheel. we
were in the first gallery. Looking up,
the daylight was like pin-hole. be-
gan to get frightened.
Come along, if you please, ladies'
said the manager; ''this way"
We followed along the coal-seami
passing into air-tilled compartment
which were closed behind US, and some
times crawling beneath little tunnels q
coal on our hands and knees. We gcI
farther and farther away from the err
trance, and at length we came to aplac,
where great block of coal was hanG,
ing over, just ready to drop. I hurrie.i
past in real terror. We saw mon die.
ging as they lay extended on their back i.
The heat was awful. Every now ami
then laden truck would come along,
running by itself on trans, and we hs'1
to get out Of the way. 'Tn 60 back.
whispered to the manager. LET n 9
go; the others can proceed. am ter
ribly frightenedr' was really crying
with terror by this time.
''All right, num-" he replied. q do
not reproduce his accent Here he
called to young miner, and requested
him to lead me to the cage, and accom-
pany me to the bank.
never felt SO thankful as when We
had passed the impending mass of coal.
Even as we gazed bit fell of. I took
his arm, and We hurried ON to the shaft.
The young man said little. We reached
the bottom of the shaft In safety.
turned to thank him. The lamplight
fell upon his face. 10 WGs Tom!
! neither cried nor screamed. I
couldn't speak! put out my hand. He
took it in his own--in both his own
and. dirty Us he was, he stopped and
kissed me once, twice, thrice! Was
not dirty, too? And / rejoiced in his en-
brace.
At last found my voice and told him
all; and he stood and listened, as the
great black tears rolled down his cheeks,
there at the bottom of the upper
seam.
ITO think that misdoubted you and
caused you all that misery! But I fanci-
ell more than I heard that evening. and
then--O, Kate! have behaved like
brute! But if you'll forgive me"
Forgive him-dearest Tom! Ofcourse
I forgave him on the spot, and kissed
him of my own free will for the very
first time in my life, I believe, and at
last we were quite, quite happy.
The establishment Of my friends, and
Of Bessie when she heard Of it. need not
be described. All clouds had at length
been cleared away. Tom and I are
married now. Bessie and Mr.. Temple
were married upon the same day. l
have never been down q mine since
then, nor will let Tom go. ! amquite
satisfied to have received my dear hus-
band once ''out of the depths"