The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-12-11

ner Justice, an unwonted <slur.
where is Robert" she said, pc
tishly, after helping the soup. I'D
you know, Violat?" 'sw
Miss Marston did not. Bob was M
wont to be punctual, and she was abor
to say SO when the butler, who had bee
called from the room entered hastil
and whispered something in the master
car. Mr.. Goodwin rose quickly.
! "My dear, this is bad news. Their
has been fall at the lead works."
/ "How unfortunate! I am Thankful
the men were not at work. Or eve
worse, we might have been viewin
them, as Robert has been plaguing u
to do. and been all crushed togethe
like any common laborers! Shocking
But where can Robert be?"
II am afraid, ma'am," put in the but
Ter in low voice which every on
heard we'll, with preternatural distinct
ness, chat Master Robert-leastwis
he went that way when he came back
is in there. John has gone to the vii
lage for help"
Thsfe wss dead silence round tina
fair show of linen and glass and CLEAN
ing silver, as if the hand which warned
Relshszzar had appeared upon the wall
Then Gertrude glided to her friend
side, and put her arm round her. The
gentlemen hurried from the room, bu
almost as soon as they reached the seen,
the women appeared there also. Thu
poor boys sister could not be restrained
and Mrs. Goodwin, whose woman's hear
was sound within her, signed to Ger
trude to let her go. Anything was bet
ter than inaction.
Mr.. Godwin's wad-h hole, and works
were hardly quarter of a mile. from
the house, though hidden from ii. by i
steep shoulder of the hill. He guessed
at once that the boy, anxious to exhibi,
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 accident, and, at
ter giving the alarm in the servants
hall. had gone on to the village.
SIS there any hope?" said Gertrude,
in low voice, with Violet Marston's
hand tight clasped in herr. "Are they
digging?"
The faring light Of the pine-knot
fire, just kindled in the little Enclosure
at the mouth Of the hole, fell upon a
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 impasslve. The
shining clothes of the men proclaimed
their trade, as they brushed, all dis
tin ctions forgotten, against the gay
dresses of the house party.
"No," 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
Keawick."
Gertrude was turning to the group
Indignantly. but ore was before her.
"Now, men, can handle a pick,
though I 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 because
they were towards"
The cold impassive face was aglow
with energy and excitement. Was it
dertrude's fancy, or was it that word
n his voice really struck her like a
whip.
"The hill is on the move, master, and
be be dead, too" said the foremost
man. but shame-facedly.
Hush, his sister be there!" put in
softly.
There was an ipstant's hesitation
while all watched the big miner; then,
'fter glance at their faces:
"sWe're with you, MASTER" cried he,
'iezing the tool at mis- feet like q giant
The spell was broken; and who then
10 reckless as the Cumberland men?
Losford soon had to check them, and
'ssist the foreman to compel them to
,nderpin, and take other proper pre-
,autions as they worked. In time,
more focked from neighboring pits to
he spot, and the task was carried on
~ gangs. Notwithstanding Mr.. and
drs. Goodwin's entreaties, the poor girl
most concerned would not leave; and
lour after hour, while seemingly count
ess loads of earth were wheeled or car
led from the deepening entrance, she
walked to and fro, or lay with Ger
rude's hand in hers on the wraps laid
n corner formed by two walls. How
ach shining worker was gazed at as he
anne from the darkness into the blaze
f the fire and deposited his load
Whoever worked by spells, the figure
Gertrude knew best did not appear.
sut, when the faint lingering hope was
wing away, one of the other men stay
az in the house came quickly up to
Toilet.
miss Marston, do not be too san
uine. There is hope yet, however.
The fall is only partial, and he may be
n the main workings. Some of the
nen fancy that they have heard him
Violet made no reply. She was Sob
ing on Gertrude's shoulder.
is anyone hurt?" asked the latter,
agerly.
mo, hardly at all. few cuts from
tones"
Another hour passed, while the |
rowd thickened and listened all breath1 |
essly to the dull, mufled sound of the |
ools and the creaking Of the barrows.
! fresh gang was at work, and they
anne out more quickly. The sky was
rowing gray, and mems faces looked
D, too, as the fire burned with q. paler
ght and the hilltops came out in cold
lajesty.
Suddenly the tools ceased; "a barrow
n its way out stopped inside the en-
rance. The crowd outside drew closer
nd breathed more quickly, and women.
id their faces as the sound of low
voices came from. the pas
sge. Then little crowd of men
ressed out, and in their midst Walter
'osford, stained and ragged, with the
oy's form in his arms. He laid him
uickly on the wraps by. the women.
he blood was trickling slowly from
,e cut In his own fore head, and his
zee, where it was not lead-grimed, was
allid with fatigue.
HE has ONLY tainted I" he said An The