Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-07-10
DOWN THE SHAFT.


mirth.
you're not in earnest, Emmy?' he
pleaded. "lol can't BE- in earnest2 You
never would have accepted all my atten-
tions, and locked at me with such sweet,
smiling eyes, if you hadn't meant some
thing by it. may be only a coal hand,
that is true" he added. with da:k-red
flush mounting to his brow, 'but I'm
getting fair wages, and | could make
good and comfortable home for the
woman that trusts herself to me-"
''It's quite out of the question:" said
Ep1meline, decidedly
Hilford gnawed his under lip
''Thcn you meant nothing al, this
time" he sa d, in a depressed voice.
II meant to ENJOY myself nothing
more"
''Humph!' uttered Milford, sardon-
ically. THE spider cans to enjoy her
self when she lures ne wretched fly into
her net! The bea ltifu!, Kissing, dia-
mond-eyed serpent means nothing else
when it drags the palpitating bird to de-
struction! A strange sort OF diversion,
thatn
81 wish, Mr.. Hilford, if you're through,
you'd go about your busine IS" said
Emmeline, coloring and biting her lip.
''There's good many customers coming
In about this time of night, and I don't
think they'd be particularly edited by
your tragedy speeches.
"You think not, ehl" said Milford.
''Well, l will 60"
"Good-by!'' said Emmeline Lathrop,
much relieved at this prospect of being
so easily rid of her swain.
"Oh, l won't say Goodbye returned
Hilford with a light laugh. who
knows but that we may meet again2'
Emmeline sincerely hoped not And
just then some ladies came in to look at
ribbons and laces, and the pretty shop
girl found all her thought and time oc-
cupied.
And after all, what was the use of
troubling herself shout it? 1t was very
faolish of young Milford to attach so
much importance to mere Irritation
an exchange of the silly, smiling moth
ings which belong to the vocabulary of
all young people. Did he think that she,
with all her attractions, intended to be-
come that worst of all drudges-a poor
mans wife2
And when, few days subsequently,
she heard that Garrett Milford had left
the place, she was very glad.
~ don't really think that he would
have made me any trouble" she unused
''but there was look in his face that l
did not like. It's good thing that he
Is gone"
And once more Emmeline threw her
self into the gaieties of her light and
arothy life. She was young and beauti-
full. Why, then, should she not enjoy
herself2
To have half dozen lovers at once;
to be engaged three deep at every ball.
picnic or excursion; to muse on the
possibilities of a splendid match some
day, when she should have danced and
dreamed her till-this was her life.
So, one day, she accepted Ethelbert
Warren's invitation to 60 with him on
an excursion to the Vaudeville Noun
tain Glen.
"He's rich," said the little schemer to
herself, eff he is stupid. And money
means so much! Of course, it would be
pleasanter to go with George Sis son; and
George will feel dreadfully to be thrown
over; but poor, dear G, orge is only
steamboat clerk, at ten collars week.
Oh, dear, why is it that all the nice
young fellows are so horribly ineligible."
And no one accedtd more joyfuily to
the proposition to descend into the b ack
chasm of the Vaudeville Coal Mine,
s'just for fun" than did Emme inc
Lathrop.
"Have ever been down mine' No,
of cour not!'' the saucy teaaty cried
81 live above ground, thank you! But
of course it would be s, lendid frolic to
60 down the shaft, if al the rest of you
are going"
And they huddled together, screaming
and laughing, on the rude elevator as it
descended lower, and still more low, into
The black dep his of the earth, until the
all that Illuminated their f ,ces was the
Mrid light of the torches carried by the
men who n )mpanied them.
why" cried Emmeline, as at last the
elevator touched ground. and she sprang
off, ITS like n cathedral, with long
aisles, supported by columns of G .ittering
jet! Three hund red feet below the level
of the earth! On, it don't seem possible .
1t is grand beyond gil had dreamed of (!
yet oh, how frightfully gloomy! One
feels as if one wc:e under spell"
The little party scattered in various
directions under the cleaning arches of
coal, lighted here and there by the pitt
full glare of torches, and Emmeline found
herself in long, apparently interminabe
aisle, with its rudely- hewn sides glisten-
ing like bl ok diamonds.
Where am I2n she cried, little I'M
easily. "Have l 10 my way2"
From a pathway, which seemed to in
tersect the broader aisle at right angles,
q dark figure stepped forth, with light
sh ming like yellow st in the band of
the cap it wore.
''Step this way" said deep, subdued
voice.
And Emmeline gave little shrek.
''Is it Garrett Hilford9" she cried
"Here2"
"Iti Garrett Hilford, and here" he
answered, oomposedly. "How do you
do, Miss Lathrop9 Can show you around
my 9uarters2 We don't have many visi-
tors down here, ard so. of course. we
Are prof ortionately glad to see them"
'Wheie is the rest of the party?" said
Tmnel ne, glancing neryously in thl; d.
fection and that,