The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-13

lie SWearST Dy ner now. L uUn ',
really how that came about, sir, for L
was not there, but when was dressing
the Colonel he said to me, John, she's
the grandest girl in England, and an
honor to her sex, and thereis not drop
of Bartl,y's blood in her."
"Oh, he has found that OUT said Wal
ter. "Then I'll go to him like bird,
dear old fellow. So that is what he
wanted to tell me-"
"No," said John Baker, gravely.
"No!" said Walter; what then?"
Its trouble"
TROUBLED" said Walter, puzzled.
SAY, my poor young MASTER" said
Baker, tenderly; sore trouble as faith
er's heart won't let me or any man
break to you while he lieves to do it. 1
know my master. Ever since that fell
low BARLEY came here we have seen the
worst of him; now we shall see the best
of him. Go to him, dear Master Wal
ter. Don't waste time in talking to old
John Baker. Go to your father and
your friend"
Walter Clifford cast look of wonder
and alarm on the old man, and went
down at once to the drawing-room. His
father was standing by the fire. He
came forward to him with both hands
and said:
"My sOn!"
Father" said Walter, in a whisper,
"what is it?"
"Have you heard nothingY"
Nothing but good news, fatlser-that
you approve my choice"
"Ah, John told you that"
Eyes, sir"
"And did he tell you anything else?"
mo, sir; only that some great mis-
fortune is upon me, and that have my
fathers sympathy"
"YOu have" said the Colonel; "and
would to God had known the truth be-
fore! She is not Bartley's daughter at
all; she is Hopes daughter. Her virtue
shines in her face; she is noble, she is
self-denying, she is just, she is brave;
and no doubt she can account for her
being at the Lake Hotel i'm company
with some man or other. Whatever that
lady saws will be the truth. That's net
the trouble, Walter; all that has become
small by comparison. But shall we ever
see her sweet face again, or hear her
voice?'
Father" said Walter, trembling, you
terrify me. This sudden change in yOur
voice that never heard falter before;
some great calamity must have happen
ed. Tell me the worst at once"
"Walter," said the cid man, "stand
firm; do not despair, for there is hope
"Thank God for that, father; now tell
me all"
"Walter, there has been an explosion
in the mine-a fearful explosion; the
shaft has fallen in; there is no getting
access to the mine, and all the poor
souls confined there are in mortal peril.
Those who are best acquainted with the
mine do not think that many of them
have been destroyed by the ruin, but
they tell me these explosions let loose
poisonous gases, and SO now those poor
souls are all exposed to three deadly
perils; ch0ke-damp, tire-damp, and
starvation"
."It's pitiable," said Walter; "butsure-
ly this is calamity to BARLEY, and to
the poor miners. butnot to any one that
l love. and that you have learned to re-
spect."
"My son." said the Colonel, solemnly,
"the mine was fired by foul play"
SIS it possible?"
ut is believed that some rival owner,
or else some personal enemy of William
Hope, bribed a villain to fire some part
of the mine that Hope was inspecting.
Great heavens" said Walter; "can
such villains exist? Poor, poor Mr.
Hope; who would think he had an enc
my in the world?"
"Alas!" said the Colonel, "that is not
all. His daughter, it seems, overheard
the villain bribing the ruffian to COM
NIT this foul and terrible act. and she
flew to the mine directly. She despatch
ed some miners to seize that hellish vii
lain, and she went down the mine to
save her father"
"Ah!" said Walter, trembling all over
"She has never been seen SINCE"
The Colonel's head sank for mo-
ment on his breast.
Walter groaned and turned pale.
"She came too late to save him; she
came in time to share his fate"
" pallOr Overspread his face, his fore
head, and his very lips.
The Colonel rushed to the door and
called for help, and in moment John
Baker and Mrs. Milton and Julia Cliff.
ford were round poor Walters chair
with brandy and ether and salts, and
every stimulant He did not faint away;
strong men very seldom do at any mere
mental shock.
The color came slowly back to his
cheeks and his pale lips, and his eyes
began to fill with horror. The weeping
women, and even the stout Colonel
viewed with anxiety his return to the
full consciousness of his calamity. "Be
brave" cried Colonel Clifford; "be sol.
dier's son; don't despair; fight; nothing
has been neglected. Even BARLEY is
playing the man; he has got another
engine coming up, and another body OF
wOrkmen to open the new shaft as well
us the old One."
"GOd bless him!" said Walter.
"And l have an experienced engineer
on the road, and the things civilians al.
ways forgot-tents and provisions of all
sorts. We will set an army to worp
sooner than your sweetheart, poor girl
shall lose her life by any fault of ours,
"My sweetheartp cried Walter, start.
ing suddenly from his chair. There
don't cling to me, women. No mar
shall head that army but me. My sweet
heart! God help me-she's my acJe."