San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-22

and was not cOltrnt till had explored
every Granny and familiarized myself with
| the mining art or science. Eager for infOr-
nation, read every book on the subject that
i could buy or borrow, and In a short time l
could have passed pretty stiff examination
| as an engineer.
must now pass over, at one swift bound,
a lapse of eight years. During that time, l
had exchanged the duties of clerk for that Of
assistant Overseer, and then, on the death OF
Mr.. Redruth, for those Of OverSeer-in-chief
Behold Inc, then, at twenty-five years Of
age, the mainstay of the Pendragon house
hold; changed somewhat, for
Mature doth subdue itself
To what II works on, like the dyer's hand;'
rough, robust, full of strength and its rude
pride. In my twenty-second year occurred
and event which was destined TO exercise no
little influence over my whole future life.
As 1 approach the chrOnicling Of this event
my heart beats and my hand trembles, and
the fitful passion of thOse far-off days awak-
ems troublously again.
was standing one day on the cliffs, close
to the mouth of the mine, when | saw two
figures coming from the direction OF the vii
lage. One was my cousin Annie, now q
comedy young woman; the other was young
George Redruth, whom had scarcely set
eyes upon since the time of his fathers
death.
They were talking earnestly and did not
seem at first TO notice me; but presently |
saw Annie give startled look in my direc-
ton, and afterward they approached tOgeth-
er. Now, / don't know how 1t happened
It was instinct | suppose, or something of
that sOrt-but never, from the moment of our
first meeting as boys, had been able to re-
gard George Redruth with any feeling but
one of excessive irritation and dislike. His
fippant patrOniZing manner had something
to do with it; so, perhaps. had his good looks,
for his worst enemy could not have denied
that he was SupeTbly handsome. As l
glanced at his pale, beautifully formed face,
at his slight graceful figure, at his elegant
dress, l was plainly conscious of my own
physical inferiority. Though was strongly
built and not ill-favOred, wind and weather
had worked their will on me, and l was
rough, l knew, as my daily occupation.
He strolled up careleSsly, swinging his
cane, and smoking cigar.
"Ah, Trelawney," he said, with a nod,
"your cousin Annie has been telling me that
there are complaints, again, about the out
lying shafts of the mine. So Pm going down
10 nave look ROUND.
Very well, sir" replied, wondering in
my own mind why Annie had chosen to
make herself the mOuth-piece of the men.
81 suppose it's safe enough" he said, after
moment You know, though 1 am a
mine-owner, l don't know much about the
business; used to leave all that to the gov
ernOr."
at is only right" was my reply, that you
should judge its safety for yourself. II any
thing happened, you would be responsible"
81 don't know about that" he said, sharp
ly; Il pay you for experimenting the work,
and II there's danger"
There iSp' interposed.
swell, then, 1 pay you for facing it and
reporting upon it. One can't be both en-
plOyer and servant tOOr'
was about to retort somewhat angrily,
for the manner Of his speech was even more
insufferable than its matter, when l met
Annie's entreating eyes. and refrained.
''Mr. George" she said, quickly, sis anx-
ious that nothing should 90 wrong"
"Of course l am" cried the young man,
with curious laugh. ~ know what flood
ing the mine means-any amount OF expense,
perhaps ruin; for if the sea once got fairly
in-whew! it would be a bad job for me-
Anu lOI lle men, Sdlu, lTOWnlng.
"And for the men, Of course; but it is their
living and no doubt they know how to look
after themselves. Be good enough tn make
all ready, Trelswney, for I'm going down at
once. l suppose there is dress handy?'
answered in the affirmative, and walked
Off toward the Office. Looking back over my
shoulder, | saw him glance after me, and
then, with cOntemptuOus laugh, say some
thing TO Annie. My blood boiled angrily,
and my cheeks grew crimson. / could have
turned back and struck him in the face.
Close to the Office, found my uncle, who
had just come up from underground, and
who was covered with the rust of the cop
peras earth. told him the young master
was going down, and he was delighted.
He's brave lad, Master large" he cried,
"a fine brave lad! ri gaw wi 'un. and shaw
'un where the wall be breaking down"
Presently. Redruth came along. and fol-
lowed me into the office, where several WOOL
on costumes were hanging. He laughed
gayly as he transformed himself into miner.
When the Transformation was complete, he
still looked the gentleman; and, In spite of
myself 1 still felt the irritating sense Of my
own inferiority.
My uncle led the way down the trap, show
ing infinite care and tenderness for the young
master, who followed him, while came last
The earth soon swallowed us, and the only
light we had was the light of the candles
stuck upon our persons and in our hats.
From ladder to ladder we went till we
reached the central platform, where we
paused to take breath. Then down We crept
again, till we reached the lowest galleries,
aud - ALL "a hU