The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-08

for me, Mr.. LOSfordP" she SAID gently,
and with something of appeal in her
voice.
"Not without rope" he answered
calmly; 1--WE will bring one up to-mor-
row."
Tomorrow - cried Gertrude, with
sudden heat. ~ want it now. Bob
would get it for me in moment, if
asked him, Mr.. Losford."
"Bob's head is perhaps steadier than
mine," answered the other, keeping ut
a safe distance from the edge. He was
in no way discomposed until, as he
finished. his eyes met the girls full of
contempt and anger. Stung by the
look he took hasty step toward the
edge of the cliff and bent down to make
the attempt. For a moment he re-
manned in that position as if entranced,
scanning the depth below, sheer three
hundred feet, and then q green ledge.
and then. far beneath, pale-blue Crum-
mock Water. With a quick shudder
he passed his hand across his eyes and
recoiled, white to the lips.
81 can't get it for you," he said
hoarsely falling back. while the Others
looked at one another in establishment
"And quite right, too, Mr.. Losford;
don't try any such foolhardiness, beg"
cried Mrs. Goodwin loudly. Loudly, but
not SO that he failed to hear the one
word Coward" or to distinguish the
tone of contempt in which it fell from
her daughters lips, as she turned away.
The next instant he was his old calm
self again, but be knew that he had his
dismissal.
AS for the bit of blue gentian. Bob
brought it up in twinkling. and chat
tered on in such way as 10 earn every
ones gratitude. Yet it was dull party
that wendell its way down the hill, and
clear it was to more than one that bud
ding romance had come to an end over
the little blue flowers which nestled so
harmlessly in Gertrude's fair hair. Yet,
mothers are sanguine, and Mrs. God
wins face grew scarlet with anger when
the spray appeared again at dinner con-
spicuously fastened in the bosom of her
daughters dress.
If it was only an awkward hour at
dinner that Mrs. Goodwin feared, Fate
was to save her hospitality from, to do
her Justice, an unwonted slur.
"Where is Robert?" she asked. pet
tishly, after helping the soup. "Do you
know, Violet P"
Miss Marston did not. Bob was not
won't 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 had been plaguing us
to do. and been all crushed together,
like any common laborers! Shocking!
Bat where can Robert bep"
81 am afraid, ma'am," put in the
butler in a low voice which every one
heard well, with preternatural distinct
ness, 'that Master Rohert-leastwise he
went that way when he came back-is
in there. John has gone to the village
for help"
There was a dead silence round that
fair show of linen and glass and gleam-
ing silver, as if the hand which warned
Belshazzar had appeared upon the wall.
Then Gertrude gl;ded to her friend s
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 wo-
mans heart was sound within her,
gned to Gertrude to let her 60. Any
thing was better than inaction.
Mr.. Godwin's wad-hole and works
were hardly quarter OF mile from
the house. though hidden from it by a
steep shoulder of the hill. He guessed
at once that the boy anxious to exhibit
to the ladies the wad hole, had taken
the private key, which generally lay
upon the study mantelpiece, and had
gone, it might be, to make some prep
erations, whereby bis darling effects
would be enhanced. A servant seeking
him when dinner was ready discovered
the accident, and, after giving the
alarm in the servants hall, had gone on
to the village.
'Is there any hopeP' said Gertrude.
in low vo ce, with Violet Marston's
hand tight clasped in hers. 'Are they
digging?''
The airing 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 oil them stood
still and impressive. The shining clothes
of the men proclaimed their trade, as
they brushed, all distinctions forgotten,
against the gay dresses of the house
party.
mo-" replied her father. with a
1.-The props at this end are gone, and
the men say the whole hill il coming
down. We must wait for help from
Kesw OK"
Gertrude was turning to the group in
dignantly, but one was before her.
"Now, men, 1 can handle pick
though am Londoner. Ten pounds
to every man who joins me! Don't LEI
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 il
Gertrude's fancy. or was it that that
word in his voice really struck her like
whip?
s'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 a
woman. softly.
There was an instant's hesitation
while all watched the big miner then,
after glance at their faces: