Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-21

steps anu now II Dc treVen&eu on YOu!.'
So saying, Pc glaze struck a blow
which would have fe.led an ordinary
man. But Tregear was quite a match
for him, and the two fought s.ong and
desperately, until separated by She rural
policeman. who threatened them with
legal proceedings. =
Of course Margaret was one of the
lirst to hear OF the battle. Distressed
beyond measure she went to her lovers
parents where she found him in most
unpresentable condition. A few words
soon explained the position of affairs,
when Margaret burst into tears and
blamed herself for showing preference
SO stupidity = .H%.
Margaret, "repHed herlover, "Io not
fake it 20 heart. I'd rather he fighting
him again than to see your tears"
'Let me alone minute. Let me over
come this.''
Eyes, dear hearth said Mrs. Tregear,
don't We take on in this way. These tin
n1en are regular visitbers; but this Tom
poglaze is the greatest fighter that ever
/ see"
"Yes Margaret, that's true, / knew
that the day gained your love I should
find an enemy. But cheer up, cheer
up! fancy he will not attack rue again
in hurry, for / know he does not at
1bis moment look a bit handsomer than
I do"
And so saying he laughed the matter
tightly away, until MarAaret too began
20 smile through her tears.
On the following day, when the two
rivals went to the mine, their appear
ance caused many jeerlng and contemp.
tuous remarks, for the tinmen, were in
hopes Of goading them to renew the
battle. Polglaze had, however, found
an adversary worthy Of his strong arm,
and was not SO ready to strike the first
blow as he had been the night before.
He contented himself, therefore, with
doubling his fists and saying that the
time of vengeance would come.
Months passed away, however, Ire
mont recovered from its unwonted ex-
element, and matters took their usual
course. The mines were worked, old
seams We're used up, and new veins
opened out; but, Though the battal had
not been renewed, Joseph Tregear and
Tom Polglaze had not yet shaken hand
This caused Margaret no small anxity,
for down there in the bowels Of the
earth an unseen blow with pick might
destroy the happiness Of her life. She
often begged Tregearto leave the milles,
but he said be had good prospects of be-
Ing appointed engineers assistant, and
as for Tom Polglazes threat-why, he
had not the slightest anxiety on account
of that.
At length a new shaft was to be
opened, and the two young men, being
the steadiest hands in the mine, were
cnI
toiled together for few weeks without
alone, far from any other workman.
Margaret was wretrhed. but to all he~
supplications Tregear still said that he
had no fear In her distress she spoke
to Polglaze and asked him to shake
hands with Tregear. He refused, but
he pressed his rough hands to his tenn
Piles and said, II loved you then, I love
you now, as much or more than Joe
Tregear."
A day or two after that both men were
again at work together, and silent As
death in their solitary shaft. They we're
suddenly startled by falling stone. A
few lum ps Of earth then came tumbling
down, and the whole shaft seemed to
tremble.
The works were giving way. The two
men looked at one another for d mo-
ment with blanched faces. Tt was the
first time they had looked into one an
others eyes since that fatal day, EXCEPT
to dart fatal elances Of scorn and hate.
They ran to the ke5ble and gave the sig
ndl to be drawn up. They were touching
one another now, their hands a|mo t
<}ssped together on the rope. Their very
breath seemed to intermingle. It was
terrible after such course of hate to be
brought together under such crcun
stances. AS they were both shouting to
Ge drawn up the rope tightened and
strained, but the kebble would not
move. More earth now fell, but stlll
he kebble remained at the bottom OF
the shaft. Whilst shouting louder and
louder tor help the terrible truth flashed
through their minds that there was only
one man at the wind!ass, and that he
alone was unable to raise them both,
and all this time the shaft was trembling
and eartn and stones falling.
AS they stood there in the kehble,
their bodies and hands touching, and
glancing into one another's eyes, the
awful thought came to them both in an
instant that one Of them must die-nust
die to save the other-his enemy.
One Of them must debut who
should it be?
they again looked at one another, and
there was an eternity in the glance.
Then one of them let go the rope and
dropped out Of the kebble, which i'm
medjately began to rise. VINO was it?
The willing martyr WAS Tom Polglaze.
Tell Marget," he shouted, as the
kebble rose above his head, "tell
Mare'et I did it to save her pain-to
save you whom she loves; I forgive you!
but be sure and be good to -"
The shaft gave way, and nothing pre-
sented itself to Tregear's gaze but mass
of slate and rubbish. Tom Polglaze was
in eternity, as noble q soul as ever died
for any cause that ia dear to man; as
devoted as any martyr, as generous
souled as any patriot-though only Il
poor miner.
1t was long before Joseph rregear
and Margaret Powell recovered from
that shock. They mourned the brave
dead as brother, and a neat little
stone, overlooking the village church.
yard, long afterwards reminded the tin
men of fremont of the noble deed Of
selfsacrifce Of q hero who was one of
themselves.
An International Episode.
From the Washington Star.
Last evening the neat little Grace
Episcopal church, south Washington,