The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-05-13

le2ltl cSLHt O3Gk O1l uck C4c1l C0tc IS
and the light of hope and comfort
Enlightened her eyes again Often
as passed up the road TO my work.
Just in the edge of evening 1 used
70 stop before the cabin and listen
while all unconscious OF anyone out
side she sang old melodies, the clear.
sweet voice hosting up the mount
aims across the snow ike the notes
of lost bird, and making the work
OF the loLg night pleasanter, as re-
remembered.
The cold months OF the winter
rolled on into the dangerous spring
-aneerous in ali mines. but doubly
so In ours because the rising waters
of Snake river were only kept from
flooding our galleries by an artifi-
cial barrier of earth and rocks We
watched wit anx;ouseyes as, inch by
inch. the waters fed by the mountain
snow, steady crepi up higher; the
owners had pronounced it safe, and
We bad to believe them
Such was the situation OF things.
when one night, early in April, l
pushed up the rocky path TO my
work. and, turning the edge of the
pines saw Mary McGinn standing
In the door of her poor shsniy, sha-
ding her eyes with her hands and
watching Philis stubby little figure
trudging away IN the after-glow.
As / came up, unnoticed, spoke
to her and marked the light OF vel
come in her eyes Is she held out her
hand to me.
~On, SIR" she said, looking up in
to nv face. as Il reading every
thought Il have wanted TO see you
all day. l heard some Of the men
saying, at the store last night, that
the mines were unsafe while the riT-
er was so high. I asked Phil. and
be laughed at me- But oh, sir, Is it
true?"
1t wa. hard for me even 10 at
tempt = lie to her, yet could | tell
the truth Just then?
bolton and the engineer both pro-
nounce them safe / said gravely !;
and they should know better than
the rest OF US
She read my face while listening TO
the words.
"But you +? you do not2" she cried.
/ struck my tin pail against the
post and drew a long breath.
Mary" | said, with tenderness
new to me, Il am not satisfied. but
I hope for the best
She stood there as If the news had
touched her very life.
Poor Philr almost in a whisper,
-and all / can do Is to pray for
him.
/ bent lower and closer to hear the
words.
%And viii you forget al the 9TH
ers p
/ asked. longingly. -It makes
men stronger to thing some one re-
members them at home
She looked up into my rough face
q moment with tear dimmed eyes,
then place both her little hands in
mine
Il have always remembered you.
she said. and. as a shriil whistle
came down the frosty sir, recalling
me to duty, | followed the impulse
of my heart and kissed her cheek,
new flushed with red. What l saw
in the blue eyes is hard to tell, but
turned away hsppier-without
knowing why-than / had been in
many years
Twenty of us went down in the
cage that night together, and l re-
member yet the last grand scence as
We sank slowly into the shaft The
sun was Just going down behind the
ridge, and the distant snow-crowned
peaks stood out ike cathedral spires
against the rosv sky, while across
the valley a bridge of golden wire
seemed suspended in the alr; and
then We dropped away into the black
damp depths below.
After seeing that the men were
well at work. 1 led small party up
into one of the side tunnels to fix
some props which had fallen down
II was hard work. pressed togeih-
er as We were in that narrow space
and breathing the hot. damp air, the
room lit by the small oil lamps
fiiekering on each miners cap. They
took turns with the timbers. and Tor
3ver an hour nothing was to be
beard save the heavy breathing OF
The men. and occasionally a low
spoken order.
/ thought over my little talk with
Mary as | stood there leaning against
he rocky side, and was building air
,astles and making her their queen,
when suddenly we were startled at
hearing swift footsteps echoing along
he tunnel. and the next moment,
With a face ghastly white, under
he glare of his hai-lamp, McGinn
burst il among Us.
Run r he cried. Run, lads,
or the stables , Snake river has
broken out :"
With pale faces and cries Of fright
he men dropped everything to
plunge into the darkness. and We
Hood there alone. needed to ask
10 questions. / was miner enough
% understand it all.
Come, Phil l said. for the boy
'tood there painting for breath ,"~we
must get out of this !"
He look up, startled, a, hearing
nv voice.
'-You hear,p be cried. why didn't
Tou 90 with them? Don't wait. sir.
must cut the barricade.n
Like q fash the whole situation
,urst upon me. and my cheek paled
Il the thought Every life in the
zine depended upon that Impul-
lively ! stepped forward and clapp-
q nv hands on his shoulder.
Il had forgotten" / said. aWe
sill go together, my lad
Hand-in-hand, 10 steady our steps
'ver the wet rocks. We went down
nto the main gallery; feeling our |
Eay in the intense blackness, hear