The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-21

mesmeric glance.
1t was only glance, brief and silent
but in the fleeting instant Aggie knew
who had been the sender of the floral
gifts.
And in the fleeting instant two hearts
were revealed, each to the other-the
girl knew that she was beloved, and
Conrad Mortemar knew that his love
had not been in vain.
The elder cousin noted the glance.
and his nondescript gray eyes for a second
glittered with an oddly yellowsh light,
and the classic contour of his features
was distorted momently by an expression
of wrathful jealousy.
"Con has an incorrigible predilection
for solitude and his own society,"" he
said, with snee; behind his jetty beard.
81 am not such monstrous egotist my
self; l prefer the busy world and the
society of my fellows"
But there are always curious things
out in the county anyhow" said Master
Rolly, who had been industriously ex-
ploring moldering log, and who had
succeeded in capturing a gorgeous eft
which was still struggling rebelliously
in his inquisitive grasp.
at may hurt you, Rolly; do let 1t
CO." said Aggie, stepping hastily back
ward, as just then the reptile slipped
from his fingers and darted down the
old tree trunk toward her.
AS she stepped backward she uttered
a little startled cry, as the tufted grass
seemed yielding beneath her feet.
But as she sprung forward to regain
her failing foothold, there was dull
crunching and quavering sound, and
she felt herself falling helplessly down.
ward.
She flung out her hands in scared ap-
peal, only to clucth a gnarly lilac-twig,
which broke in her wild grasp; and
then, before her companions could real
ize what was happening in their sight,
she had vanished in the unguessed pit
fall, of an old well, over which the thin
and rot ell covering had been h dtn
beneath the tangled and tufted grasses.
A second of speechless CONSERVATION
was succeeded by what seemed an age
ofagonizing indecision and purposeless
activity.
Vainly they peered down into the
abyss, and vainly they called to her; the
black depths seemed bottomless. and
not the slightest sound came up to them
again.
''She is unconscious, or dead per-
haps," the elder cousin muttered, as he
stared into the pit, which indeed might
be the tomb of the bright girl who only
a moment before had stood there, happy
and smiling, before them in the sun
shine.
"lIe must go down to her. Conrad
answered, his voice steady, his face as
white as marble.
That would be sheerest Madness"
lDulI lCluliCus on NOulu only TlSh
your own life!-the old well must be
full of Doxious gasses And besides, we
haye no rope, no ladder"
1--WE have the driving reins," said
Con, who had already secured the stout
rcins, which ne was speedily knotting
together.
I'VE should be wiser to drive some
where for assistance" Burt objected.
There is no need for you to jeopardize
your own life."
Il am not coward Con answered
rebukingly,
Mr.. Burt is though" asserted Mas
ter Rolly, who in inanful tearlessness
was vigIlantly watching the proceed
ings.
just then faint call came up from
the black pit; the girl still lived; and he
who loved her best had still the privilege
of descending to her living tomb, for
rescue or for death beside her.
This thought possibly flashed through
the mind OF the elder man, for his pal
| lor changed to sallow red as he moved
back and allowed Conrad to descend un-
hindered to the luckless prisoner below.
Aggie, faint though She was with the
shock of the fall and choking with the
daGk and nusty air, was unhurt, and
/ had not been unconscious.
The springs of the old well had long
ago been dried; the bottom was clayey
and broad, the stony walls were cush
ioned with thickly growing grass and
mosscs, to which she had clung with
strength lessening the force of her fall.
And as she lay thee gazing upward,
she could clearly distinguish them above
her; she could see their disturbed coun-
tenaces, she could hear the steady VOC
of the one, and the less courageous tones
of the other.
Had she ever doubted, she would now
have known who loved her best.
And as she watched him coming down
TO her, even though there was vet peril
enough for them both, her heart was
filled with JOY which quelled every
fear. 1t was so sweet to owe all, even
life itself, to one so stanch and tender
and true!
"My own, my ownr' Conrad wills
pers, as for one brief instant he held
/ her to his heart before he sent her ON
her way to safety.
The elder cousin attempted cheerful
courtesy when at length the rescued and
the rescuer were safe and composed
once more on the upper earth.
you had better drive Miss Agnes
home in your cart, Con; can take
, car back myself" he said.
"What did he mean, anyhow?-he
said the cart was youIs," the inquisitive
Master Rolly queried, as he settled his