River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-08

l. Aul aITdlu, llld tlil, pun III bHo Uut-
Ter in low voice which every one
heard well, with preternatural distinct
ness, "that Master Robert-leastwise
he went that way when he came back
is in there. John has gone to the vii
lage for help"
There IVES 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 glided to her friends
side, and put her arm round 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 restrained,
and Mrs Goodwin, whose woman's heart
was sound within her, signed to Ger
trude to let her go. Anything was bet
ter than inaetion.
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 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, af-
ter giving the alarm In the servants
hall. had gone on to the village.
as there any hope?" said Gertrude,
in a low voice, with Violet Marston's
hand tight clasped in herr "Are they
digging?"
The fiaring light of the pine-knot
fire, Just kindled in the little inclosure
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
tipctions forgotten, against the gay
dresses of the house party.
"No, replied her father, with groan.
"The props Mt this end are gone, and
the men say The whole hill is coming
down. We must wait for help from
Keswick"
Gertrude was turning to the group
Dlu12udnbly, DuU OEt was DtIOI0 IlcI
"Now, men, I can handle a pick,
though I am Londoner. Ten pounds
to every man who joins mel Don't let
them say that the Cumberland men left
their masters guest to perish because
they were towards"
The cold impressive face was aglow
with energy and excitement. Was it
Gertrude's fancy, or was it that word
in his voice really struck her like a
whip.
"The hill is on the move, master, and
he be dead, too" said the foremost
man, but shame-facedly.
flush, his sister be there!" put in a
woman softly.
There was an irstant's hesitation
while all watched the big miner; then,
after glance at their faces:
"We're with you, MASTER" cried he,
siezing the tool at his feet like a giant
aroused.
The spell was broken; and who then
so reckless as the Cumberland men
Losford soon had to check them, and
assist the foreman to compel them to
underpin, and take other proper pre-
cautions as they worked. In time,
more focked from neighboring pits to
the spot, and the task was carried on
by gangs. Notwithstanding Mr.. and
Mrs. Goodwin's entreaties, the poor girl
most concerned would not leave; and
hour after hour, while seemingly count
less loads of earth were wheeled or car
ried from the deepening entrance, she
walked to and fro, or lay with Ger
trude's hand in hers on the wraps laid
in a corner formed by two walls How
each shining worker was gazed at as he
came from the darkness into the blaze
of the fire and deposited his load
Whoever worked by spells, the figure
Gertrude knew best did not appear.
But, when the faint lingering hope was
dying away, one of the other men stay
ing in the house came quickly up to
| Violet.
Miss Marston, do not be too san
guine. There is hope yet, however.
The fall is only partial, and he may be
in the main workings. Some of the
men fancy that they have heard him
knocking"
Violet made no reply. She was sob
bing on Gertrudes shoulder.
as anyone hurt?" asked the latter,
| eagerly.
"No, hardly at all. A few cuts from
| stones"
Another hour passed, while the
crowd thickened and listened all breath
lessly to the dull, muffied sound of the
tools and the creaking of the barrows.
A fresh gang was at work, and they
came out more quickly. The sky was
growing gray, and mems faces looked
so, too, as the fire burned with paler
light and the hilltops came out in cold
majesty.
Suddenly the tools ceased; barrow
on its way out stopped inside the en-
trance. The crowd outside drew closer
and breathed more quickly, and women
| hid their faces as the sound of low
murmuring voices came from the pas
sage. Then little crowd of men
pressed out, and in their midst Walter
Losford, stained and ragged, with the
boys form in his arms. He laid him
quickly on the wraps by Che women.
The blood was trickling slowly from
the cut in his own fore head, and his
face, where it was not lead-grimed, was
pallid with fatigue.
He has only tainted, he said, as the
doctor bent over the boy.
"Just sol" said the latter cheerily.
"He only wants glass of sherry"
Gertrude rose from the boy to thank
the bearer, her eyes dim with happiness.
| But he had turned away.
"The worst time was just before they
broke in. Gerty. l thought the earth
must fall again, or something happen
to prevent them reaching me-" confided
Bob to her when she visited him next
day in his room The whole matter
was to Master Bob one of pure congrat-
ulation, and he spent his time i'll re-
hearsing graphic account of the adj
venture for the benefit of his DANES
house. But that fellow Losford is no
end of trump. He's been up to say
good bye, and told him what an ass
I'd made myself about him. That's a
comfort. heard his voice first of all,
do you know, and Mrs. Goodwin says
| that they wouldn't have got me out but
for him."
The likelihood of this alternative APP
peared to give him unnixed satisfac-
ton.
IL don't think they would" muir
INJURED Gertrude, eagerly presenting
him with large bunch Of grapes from
Siderable. "Tn get you some more,
Bob
"You bet your boots they wouldn't.