The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-02
INTERESTING STORY.
EMMELINE'S ORDEAL.

40 Ia L WOulu LINK Vi u COuIuOu SOuis
hand !" said Emmeline Lathrop, contemptu-
ously. 81 am surprised at your insolence,
Mr.. Hilford !"
She laughed lightly as she spoke, but to
Garrett. Hilford it was no matter of mirth.
You're not in earnest, Emmy?" he
pleaded. " You can't be in earnest? You
never would have accepted all my atten-
lions, and looked at me with such sweet,
smiling eyes, if you hadn't meant some
thing by it. may be only coal-hand,
that is true" he added, with dark-red
flush mounting to his brow, but I'm get
ting fair wages, and could make good
and comfortable home for the woman that
trusts herself to me-"
It's quite out of the question: said
Emmeline, decidedly.
Hilford gnawed his under lip
Then you meant nothing all this time ?"
he said, in repressed voice.
meant to enjoy myself-nothing
more"
Humph !" uttered Milford, sardonical-
ly. The spider means to enjoy herself
when she lures the wretched fly into her
net ! The beautiful, kissing, Acknowledged
serpent means nothing else when it drags
the palpitating bird to destruction! A
strange sort of diversion, that !"
az VII, Mr. Hilford, il you're through,
you'd go about your business, said Emme-
line, eoloring and biting her lip. There's
n good many customers coming in about
this time of night, and don't thiHk they'd
be particularly edited by your tragedy
speeches"
You think not, ell ?n said Milford.
"Well, will CO."
much relieved at this prospect of being so
easily rid of her swain.
"Oh, l won't say good-byl" returned
Hilford, with light laugh. "Who knows
but that we may meet again ?"
Emmeline sincerely hoped not. And
just then some ladies come in to look at
ribbons and laces and the pretty shop-girl
found all her thoughts and time occupied.
And after all, what wss the use of trou-
bling herself about it? 1t was very foolish
of young Hilford to attach so much import
ance TO n mere firtation-an exhange of
the silly, smiling nothings which belong to
The vocabulary of all young people. Did
he think that She with oil her attractions,
intended to become that Worst of all
drudges "a poor mans wife?
And when, few days subsequently, she
heard that Garrett Hilford had left the
place, she was very glad.
!" don't really think that he would have
made me any trouble" she unused but
there was look in his face that did not
like. It's good thing that he is gone"
And once more Emmeline threw herself
into the gaieties of her light and frothy life.
She was young and beautiful. Why, then,
should she not enjoy herself?
To have half dozen lovers at once; to
be engaged three-deep at every ball, picnic
or excursion to muse on the possibilities
of splendid match some day, when she
should have danced and dreamed her fill
this was her life.
So, one day, she accepted Ethelbert War
rens invitation to go with him ON the ex-
sursion to the Vaudeville Mountain Glen.
He's rich," said the little schemer to
herself, elf he is stupid. And money
means SO much OF course, it would be
pleasanter to go with George Sisson; and
George will feel dreadfully to be thrown
over but poor, dear George is only a
steamboat clerk, OF ten dollars a week. Oh,
dear, why is it that oil the nice young fell
lows are 80 horribly ineligible 2n
And no one acceded more joyfully to the
proposition to descend into the black chasm
of the Vaudeville Coal Mine, "just for
fun" than did Emmeline Lathrop.
"Have ever been down a mine? No,
Of course not !" the saucy beauty cried. ~
live above ground, thank you'll But Of
course it would be splendid frolic to go
down the shaft, if all the rest of you are
going"
And they huddled together, screaming
and laughing, on the rude elevator as it
descended lower, lower, and still more low,
into the black depths of the earth, until the
yellow shine of day had vanished, and all
that illuminated their faces was the lurid
light of the torches carried by the swart-
faced men who accompanied them.
Why" cried Emmeline, as at last the
elevator touched ground, and she sprang
off, !" it's like a cathedral, with long aisles,
supported by columns of glittering jet I
Three hundred feet below the level of the
earth Oh, it don't seem possible! 1t i,
grand beyond all had dreamed ofl-yei
III, how frightfully gloomy One feels as
;, one were under SPELL"
The little party scattered in various di.
rections under the cleaning arches of coal,
lighted here and there by the pitiful glare
If torches, and Emmeline found herself in
long, apparently interminable aisle, with
is rudely-hewn sides glistening like black
diamonds.
"Where am ?" she cried, little uneasi.
ly. Have lost my way? n
From pathway, which seemed to inter-
sect the broader aisle at right angles, a
dark figure stepped forth, with light shin
ing like yellow star in the band of the cap
it wore.
"Step this way" said deep, subdued
voice.
And Emmeline gave little shrek.
els it Garrett Hilford ~ she cried.
Here ?"
"It is Garrett Milford, and here" he an.
swered, composedly. How do you do,
Miss Lathrop? Can show you around my
quarters? We don't have many visitor
down here, and 80, of course, we are pro.
portionately glad to see them"
Where is the rest of the party?' said
Emmeline, glancing neryously in this di-
rcction and that
"Gone around by the Black Arch, cup
pose" Hilford answered. " It's quite a
curiosity, that Black Arch--at least, SO
the above-sround people seem to think.
Would you like to see it ?"
II must 60 back to the Others" said En-