National Republican., 1884-09-13
Nv.


| caught cold, and went bluudoring about
the back yard coughing like an old man,
or leaning against tho rock at the end OF
the garden, too weak to get round tho
promises without taking good rest by
tho way. The pig suffered very much
q good-tempered and feeling follow,
took the animal indoors one
night on tho Hibornian system,
when 1t had shivering fit that nearly
brought the house down, aud screamed so
loudly to get out again that Folspar
thought there was murder doing somo-
whore in the valley, and ran for tho ono
policeman Of the plaoe-who'd gono ten
milos over tho hills to supper party, and
could not be brought back to duty un dor
good six hours.
THAT pigs going to die, Peggy" said
Luke, when he saw her again did you
ask your grandfather whether ho'd mako
o bid for him 2"
"Yos and he said he wouldn't have
him at any price"
Hes very i'll" he said. "Do you know
what I'm going to do2"
mo" said Peggy, little alarmed. for
Luke was not particularly wise when tho
impulse seized him.
"Ive got some dynamite charges from
the quarry, and I'm going to blow him a
sty out of the rock-a good big hole, whore
ho can get in out Of tho snow and the
wind, poor beggar."
"Oh, You must not do that"
why not? It's my rock. It's part of
the freehold" he said, with q laugh not
quite 80 hearty as usual.
"Yes, it's your rock, but you'll blow
tho freehold down, Luke"
"Ah! l had forgotten that"
The house was condemned months and
months ago. only grandfather kept it to
himself. And the surveyor says it'll have
to be rebuilt, or he won't answer for tho
consequences. That's why grandfather
wanted to sell it in hurry"
Eyes; know. I've had notice instead
Of your grandfather" sold Luke, rue
fully. "Your statements quite correct,
lass"
And what's to be donoP"
."I don't quite see. / shall have to
chuck up the freehold, l expect"
But tho next day the blind pig was SO
very Ill, and the mist came swooping in
such bitter gusts down the valley, that
Luke Shands resolved to carry out the
original intention.
1T will bring the house down, too, l
dare say-and don't care if it does he
added, "the darned old lucifer-box that
it is. Yes, I'll chance it."
So Luke Stands, in desperate kind of
mood, full of anger against his house anL
of sympathy for his pig, laid his plans
and his dynamite, and went to work in
business kind of way, having done good
service in the quarrios at times, of aud
on, for change. Hero he lighted his
fuse, and retired q little way down the
valley, leading his quadruped at the end
OF string, and there waited the result
with grave oomposure. But Luke's luck
kept pace with him. The report came,
and tho crash Of cliff wall followed, and
the pig died Of fright there and then-
turned over on his side and gave up the
ghost forthwith.
That's settler" said Luke; then he
marched back, and found the house stand
ing. with only the roof blown triae
askew, and looking as if it had got
cooked hat on. And the hole he had
blown into the cliff was black and cav
ernous, and seemingly without end-and
what was the most remarkable part of the
whole occurrence, 1t had oil gone inward
as though the charge had shattered thin
crust Of limestone and driven q way into
the heart OF the hills.
BLESS and save us, thisi queer start"
said Luke Stands.
| u IL ~ y 10
1t was queerer start than Luke imag-
ined, than Felspar had imagined. than
scientific folk had imagined, until they
came down presently in twos and threes,
and accounted for it clearly and graphic
ally, and said that it was just what might
have been expected. Luke had not ex-
pected anything, and it was not until he
had lighted q candle and passed into the
hole that he discovered he had blown
passage into cavern, long and tortuous
| atnI y,,,,,,
and now down to an extent that, on the
spur of the moment, he thought he would
pursue no further.
why, here's lady's chapel all to MY
self in my back garden" ho said, with
one of his hearty roars, and then he was
startled by the rays of his candle light
falling on what looked like lace curtain
with tints aud traceries from roof to
| floor.
"rhat's very queer" said Luke.
But the first scientist who came to SEQ
| this-and he was handy on the spot, and
had been foraging about Felspar with o
hammer for the last week-said:
That's one Of the grandest stalactites
have ever seen in my life"
And the cavern was full Of stalactites
and stalagmites of all shapes. sizes, and
colors, when ono came to explore 1t care
fully.
You'll exhibit this" said one of tho
wise men. "Have tho gas laid on and
charge so much head"
Cant afford it," said Luke.
"Oh, but you'll have plenty of people
hero presently. shall write an account
in The Universal Geological Chronicle. Is
this your propertyW
eyes, SIR"
"You're lucky fellow. Do you know
tho man who owns the cavern in the
Crockaway Hillsp
1--WE heard of him."
Hes worth 100000"
Luke sat down on his garden palings
and felt as if he should faint away on the
spot.
you don't say SOL" he said.
"But / do"
you'll excuse mo. sir, but must run
and tell Peggy"
And away Luke started down the val
ley at pace that might be set down as
headlong, and Prof. Tregufiin seized the
opportunity to chop off one small stalag-
mite that he was sure would not be missed,
and which would add considerably to tho
character and tone Of his own private col
lection.
There is not much moro to bo told.
Shnnds cavern was soon famous in tho
Felspar district, hal its place in guido
books, became feature of interest in the
locality, and WAS lighted up by gas pres.
emily, having little gasometer all to
itself, on tho site where the blind mig
died. And all ut Luke Stands expense,
when Luke began to get rich man. and
that with some degree of rapidty. Tho
last castor Monday before Matthew Brants
well died 5000 oXcursionists came to Fell
spar valley from the now station a milo
and half away, and most of them paid a
shilling apiece admittance without a muir.
MUIR After that Matthew Brautwell died
OF tjeundice, and was buried with his
forelathors.