The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-09

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The airing light of pine-knot fire,
lust kindled in the little Enclosure at the |
mouth of the hole, iel upon score or |
two of strengthening figures, chiefly |
women. some were moving to and fro |
before the blaze, but most OF them stood |
still and impassive. The shining clothes !
OF the men proclaimed their trade, rs |
they brushed all distinctions forgotten, |
against the gay dresses OF the house /
party.
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
Kesw ok.
Gertrude was turning to the group in
dipnantlv. but one was before her.
SNow, men, | can handle a pick
though | am Londoner. Ten pounds
to every man who joins me! Don let
them say that the Cumberland men left
their masters guest to perish because
they were towards"
The cold impassive face was aglow
with energy and excitement. Was it
| Gertrude's fancy, or was 1t that that
word in his voice really struck her like
a whip?
1.-THE hill is on the move, master, and
he be dead, too said the foremost
man, but shame-facedly.
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:
Were with you, master " cried he,
! Selling the tool at his feet like a giant
aroused.
The spell was broken; and who then
so reckless as the Cumberland menP
Losford soon had to check them, and
assist the foreman to compel them to
underpn, and take other proper pre-
cautions as they worked. In time,
more men flocked from neighboring
pits to the spot, and the task was car
ried on by gangs. Notwithstanding
Mr.. and Mrs. GodwniS entreaties, the
poor girl most concerned would not
leave, and hour after hour, while SEEM.
ingly countless loads of earth were
wheeled or carried from the deepening
entrance, 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 shining worker was
ga ed 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 staying in the house came quickly
up to Violet.
Miss Marston, do not be too san
guine. There is hope yet, however.
The fall is only partial, and he may be
in the main working. Some of the men
fancy that they have heard him knock
ing"
Violet made no reply. She was sob
bling on Gertrude's shoulder.
''ls any one hurt?" asked the latter,
eagerly,
"No, hardly at all. A few cuts from
stones"
Another hour passed, while the crowd
thickened and listened breathlesSly to
the dull, muitied sound of the tools and
the creaking OF the harrows. A fresh
gang was at work, and they came out
more quickly. The sky was growing
gray, and mems faces looked so, too, as
the fire burned with a paler light and
the hilltops came out in cold majesty.
on its way out stopped inside the en-
trance. The crowd outside drew close
and breathed more quickly, and wom-
en- 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 boy $
form in his arms. He laid him quickly
on the wraps by the women. The
blood was trickling slowly from cut in
his own forehead, and his face, where
it was not lead-grimed, was paliid with
fatigue.
He has only tainted" he said, as the
doctor bent over the boy.
''Just sou said the latter, cheerily.
she only wants a glass of sherry"
Gertrude rose from the boy to thank
his bearer, her eyes dim with happiness.
But he had turned away.
1.-The worse time was Just before they
broke in, Gerty. l thought the earth
must fall again, or something happen
to prevent them reaching me-" con-
tided Bob to her when she visited him
next day in his room. The whole mat
ter was to Master Bob one for pure con-
graduation, and he spent his time in
rehearsing a graphic account of the adj
venture Tor the benefit OF his DANES
house. "But that fellow Losford is no
end of trump. He's been up to say
good-by, and tod him what an ass
I'd made myself about him. That a
comfort | heard his voice first of all,
do you know, and Mrs. Goodwin says
they wouldn't have got me out but for
HIM"
The likelihood of the alternative APP
peared to give him unmixed satistao-
ton.
| IL don't think thnu ,unrId :, MN.