St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-20
her hospitality from, to do her justice, an

''Where is Roberto" she asked pettishly,
after helping the soup. do you know yio-
let9n
Miss Marston did not Bob was not wont
to be punctual, and she was about to say SO
when the butler, who had been called from
the 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! / am thankful the
men were not at work. Or even worse we
might have been viewing them, as Robert
has been plaguing US to do, and been all
crushed together like any common laborers
Shocking! But where can Robert be?"
81 am afraid, ma'am.n put in the butler
in low voice which every one heard well,
with preternatural distinctness, ''that Mas
ter Robert-leastwise he went that way when
he came backs in there. John has gone
to the village for help.'
There was dead silence round that fair
show of linen and cleaning silver, as if the
hand which warned Belshazzar had appeared
upon the wall. Then Gertrude glided to her
friends side and put her arm round 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 restrained, and Mrs God
win, whose woman's heart was sound with
in her, signed to Gertrude to let her CO.
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 be enhanced. A servant seeking him
when dinner was ready discovered the acct
dent, and, after giving the alarm in the SER
wants hall, had gone on to the village.
''Is there any hopel" said Gertrude, in
low voice, with Violet Marston's hand tight
clasped in hers. ''Are they digging?"
The faring light of pine-knot fire, just
kindled in the little Enclosure at the mouth
of the hole, fell upon a score or two of
strengthening figures, chiefly women.
Some were moving to and fro before the
blaze, but most of them stood still and i'm
passive. The shining clothes of the men
proclaimed their trade, as they brushed, all
distinctions forgotten, against the gay dresses
of the house-party.
sNo,'' replied her father, with 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.f
Gertrude was turning to the group indig
nantly, but one was before her.
''Now, men, can handle pick, though
am Londoner. Ten wounds to every
man who joins me! Don't let them say that
the Cumberland men left their masters
guest to perish because they were towards"
The cold impressive face was aglow with
energy and excitement. Was it Gertrude's
fancy, or was it that word in his voice really
struck her like whip.
1.-THE hill is on the move, master. and he
be dead too" said the foremost man, but
shamefacedly.
''Hush, his sister be therep' put in
woman softly.
There was an nstant's hesitation while all
watched the big miner, then, after glance
at their faces:
''We're with you, masters" cried he,
Selling the tool at his.feet like giant aroused.
The spell was broken; and then who so
reckless as the Cumberland mens Lasford
soon had to check them, and assist the fore
man to compel them tc underpin, and take
other precautions as they worked. In time,
more men focked from neigboring pits to
the spot, and the task was carried on by
gangs Notwithstanding Mr.. and Mrs. God
wins entreaties, the poor girl most concern
ed would not leave; and hour after hour,
while seemingly countless loads of earth were
wheeled or carried from the deepening en-
trance, she walked to and fro, or lay with
Gertrude's hand in hers on the wraps laid in
a corner formed by two walls. How each
cbi pip Of ha
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
staying in the house came quickly up to vi
olet.
''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.
SIS any one hurt!" asked the latter eager
mo, hardly at all. few cuts from
stones.''
Another hour passed, while the crowd
thickened and listened all breathlessly to the
dull, -muftied sound of the tools and the
creaking of the barrows. A fresh gang was
at work, and they came out more quickly.
The sky was growing gray, and the mems
faces looked so, too, as the fire burned with
apaler light and the hilltops came out in cold
majesty.
Suddenly the tools ceased; barrow on its
way out stopped inside the entrance. The
crowd outside drew closer and breathed more
quickly, and women hid their faces as the
sound of voices low murmuring came from
the passage. Then little crowd of men
pressed out, and in their midst Walter Los
ford, stained and ragged, with the boys form
in his arms. He laid him quickly on the
wraps by the women. The blood was trick
ling slowly from a cut in his own forehead
aud his face, where it was not ead-grimed,
was pallid with fatigue.
''He has only fainted,'' he said, as the
doctor bent over the boy.
"Just So" said the latter cheerily. ssHe
only wants glass of sherry"
Gertrude rose from the boy to thank the
bearer, her eyes dim with happiness, But he
had turned away.
1.-The worst time was just before they
broke in, Gerry. ] thought the earth must
fall again, or something happen to prevent
them reaching me-" confided Bob to her
when she visited him next day in his room.
The whole matter was to master Bob one for
pure congratulation, and he spent his time
in rehearsing graphic account of the adj
venture for the benefit of his DANES house.
''But that fellowL osford is no end of trump.
He's been up to say goodbye, and 1 told
him what an ass I'd made myself about him.
That's a comfort. / heard his voice first of
all, do you know, and Mrs. Goodwin says
they wouldn't have got me out if it wasn't
for him.,
Thd likligood Of this alternative appeared
to give him unmixed satisfaction.
II don't think they would" murmured
Gertrude, eagerly presenting him with a