Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-21


il up IN a twinkling, and chartered on in such
q way As to earn every ones gratitude. Yet
It was a dull party that wended its way
down the hill, and clear 1t was to more than
one that budding romance had come to an
end over the little blue flower which nestled
so harrnlessly in Gertrudes fair hair. Yet
mothers are sanguine, and Ms GodwiD'5
face grew scarlet with anger when the spray
appeared again at dinner conspicuously fast
ened in the bosom of her daughters dress.
II it was only an awkward hour at dinner
that Mrs. Goodwin feared, fate was to save her
hospitality from, to do her justice, an un-
wonted slur.
Where is Robertr she asked pettishly,
after helping the soup. do you know,
Violetln
Miss Marston did rot Bob was not wont
20 be punctual, and she was about to say so,
when the butler, who had been called from
he room, entered hastily and whispered
something in his masters ear. Mr.. Goodwin
rose quickly.
My dear, this is bad news. There has
been fall at the lead works."
How unfortunate! l am thankful the
Mtn were not at work Or, even worse, we
lhight have been viewing them, as Robert
has been plaguing us to do, and been all
crushed together, like any common laborers
Shockingl But where can Robert bel"
u am afraid, ma am" put in the butler in
low voice, which every one heard
well, with preternatural distinctness, that
Master Robert-leastwise he went that way
when he came back-is in there. John has
gone to the village for help."
There was dead silence around that fair
show of linen and glass and cleaning silver
Is If the hand which warned Belshazzer had
appeared upon the wall Then Gertrude
gl:ded to her friends side and put her arm
around her. The gentlemen hurried from
the room. But almost as soon as they
reached the scene the women appeared there
also; the poor boys sister could not be re-
strained, and Mrs. Goodwin, whose woman's
heart was sound within her, signed to Ger
trude to let her go. Anything was better
than inaction.
Mr.. Godwin's wad-hole and works were
hardly quarter of mile from the house,
though hidden from it by steep shoulder of
the hill. He guessed at once that the boy,
anxious to exhibit to the ladies the wonders
of the wad-hole, had taken the private KEY
which generally lay upon the study mantel-
piece, and had gone, it might be to make
some preparation whereby his darling effects
would he enhanced. A servant seeking him
when dinner was ready discovered the acci-
dent, and, after giving the alarm in the serv-
ants hall, had gone ON to the village
@ls there any hopew said Gertrude in
low voice, with Violet Marston's hand tight
clasped in hers. "Are they diggingr
The faring light of a pine-knot fire, just
kindled in the little enclosure at the mouth of
the hole, fell upon score or two of strange
looking figures, chiefly women. Some were
moving to and fro before the blaze, but most
of them stood still and impassive The shin
ing clothes of the men proclaimed their
trade as they brushed, all distinctions for
gotten, against the gay dresses of the house
party. -a# - & az. Z
"No," replied her father, with a groan
"The props at this end are gone, and the men
say the whole hill is coming down. We must
wait for help from Keswick"
Gertrude was turning to the group indig-
nantly, but one was before her.
"Now, men, can handle a pick, though l
am Londoner. Ten pounds to every man
who joins me! Don't let them say that the
Cumberland men left their masters guest to
perish becaus, they were cowards."
The cold, impassive face was aglow with
energy and excitement Was it Gertrude's
fancy, or was it that that word in his voice
really struck her like whipl
1The hill is on the move, master, and he be
dead too," faid the foremost man, but shame
facedly. u n
@Hush, his sister be there, put in woman
softly.
There was an instant's hesitation while all
watched the big miner; then, after glance
at their faces: IA . a @ a6
e "We're with you, master, cried he, seizing
the tool at his Feet like giant aroused d
The spell was broken; and who then 50
reckless as the Cumberland mena Losford
soon had to check them and assist the fore
man to compel them to underpin and take
other proper precautions as they worked In
time, more men focked from neighboring
pits to the spot, and the task was carried on
by gangs. Notwithstanding Mr.. and Mrs.
Godwin's entreaties, the poor girl most con-
cerned would not leave; and hour after hour,
while seemingly countless loads of earth were
wheeled OF carried from the deepening en-
trance, she walked to and fro, and lay with
Gertrudes hand in hers on the wraps laid
in corner formed by two walls. How each
shining workman was gazed at as he came
from the darkness into the blaze Of the fire
and deposited his load! Whoever worked by
spells, the figure Gertrude knew best did not
appear. But, when the faint lingering hope
was dying away one Of the other men stay.
ing in the house came quickly up to Violet
"Miss Marston, do not be too sanguine
There is hope yet, however. The fall is only
partial and he may be in the main workings.
Some Of the men fancy that they have heard
him knocking"
Violet made no reply. She was sobbing
on Gertrude's shoulder.
"Is any one hurts" asked the latter
eagerly. t"fs
SNo, hardly at all. A few cuts from
stones" 5.
q Another hour passed. while the crowd
thickened and listened all breathlessly to the
dull, mufiied sound Of the tools and the creak-
ing Of the barrows. A fresh gang was at
work, and they came out quickly. The sky
was growing gray, and mems faces looked
and the hilltops came out in cold majesty.
Suddenly the tools ceased; barrow on its
way out stopped inside the entrance. Tbs
crowd outside drew close and breathed more
quickly, and women hid their faces as the
,uund of voices low murmuring came from
The passage. Then little crowd of men
pressed out, and In their midst Walter Los
lord, stained and ragged, with the boys
form in his arms He laid him quickly on
the wraps by the women. The blood was
trickling from cut in his own forehead, and
his face, where it was not lead-grimed, was
palid with fatigue.
"He has only fainted," he said, as the doc
tor bent over the boy.
"Just sol" said the latter cheerily. "He
only wants glass of sherry"
Gertrude arose from the boy to thank his
bearer, her eyes dim with happiness. But he
had turned away.
1.-THE worst time was just before they broke
in, Gerty I thought the earth must fall