The Mineral argus., 1885-03-12

me, Mr.. Losford?" she said gently. and
with something Of appeal in her voice.
"Not without . rope" he answered
calmly; I'VE will bring one up to-mor-
row."
morrow" cried Gertrude, with
sudden heat, II want it now. Bob
would get it for me in o moment il i
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 fin
ished. 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-
NAMED in that position a. il entranced,
scanning the depth below, sheer three
hundred feet, and then o green hedge,
and then, far beneath, pale blue Crum-
mock Water. With q quick shudder
he passed his hands across his eyes and
recoiled, white to the lips.
II cant get it for you," he said hoarse.
~, falling back, while the others looked
ut one another in establishment.
And Qnite right, Itee, Ar 4Issss4sf4ertaa; !;
don't try any such foolhardiness, I 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 il fell
from her daughters lips as she turned
away. The next instant he was his old
calm self again, but he 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 to 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 a
budding romance had come to an end
over the little blue flower which nestled
so harmlessly in Gertrude's fair hair.
Yet mothers are sanguine, and Mrs.
Godwin's face grew scarlet with anger
when the spray appeared again at dinner
cOnspicuously 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 said, pet
tishly, after helping the soup. ado
you know, Violet?"
Miss Marston did not Bob was not
wont 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 the masters |
car. Mr.. Goodwin rose quickly.
MY dear, this is bad news. There |
has been fall at the lead works."
How unfortunate! 1 am thankful |
the men were not at work. Or even |
worse, We might have been viewing
them, as Robert has been plaguing us
to do. and been all crushed together
like any common laborers! Shocking!
But where can Robert be?"
II am afraid, maam," put in the but.
Ter in . low voice which every one
heard well. with preternatural distinct.
ness, shat Master Robert-leastwise
he went that way when he came back
is in there. John has gone to the vii
lage for help"
There wss Q dead silence round that
fair show Of linen and glass and CLEAN.
ing silver, q 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 heart
was sound within her, signed to Ger.
rude to let her go. Anything was bet
ter than inaction.
Mr.. Godwin's wad-hole and works
we're hardly quarter Of . mile from
he house, though hidden from it by o
steep shoulder of the hill. He guessed
1T once that the boy, anxious to exhibit
to the ladies the wonders of the wad-
lole, had taken the private key, which
lay upon the study mantel-
piece, and had gone, it might be, to
make some preparation, whereby his
larling effects would be enhanced. A
servant seeking him when dinner was
'eady, discovered the accident, and, af-
er giving the alarm in the servants
,all. had gone on to the village.
as there any hops?" said Gertrude,
n low voice, with Violet Marston's
rand tight clasped in berI Are they
ligging?"
The faring light OF the pine-knot
ire, just kindled in the little inclosure
It the mouth of the hole. fell upon q
core or two of strange looking figures,
'hiefy women. Some we're moving to
md fro before the blaze, but most of
hem stood still and impassive. The
Inning clothes of the men proclaimed
heir trade, rs they brushed, all dis
motions forgotten, against the gay
lresses of the house party.
"NO," replied her father, with groan.
Tho props at this end are gone, and
he men say the whole hill is coming