The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-30

''GOne around OY Cne blaCK cArCn,
suppose. Hilford answered. ':1t's quite
curiosity, that Black Arch-at least, SC
the above ground people seem the think.
Would you like to see it2"
81 must 60 back to the Others" said
Emmeline, hurriedly.
"We can meet them presently" said
Garrett, with the utmost composure.
Follow me, please. It's only q few
rods"
He walked on, and Emmelinc, after .
few momentss hesitation, reluctantly
followed.
Whit else was there for her to do, but
to keep in sight of that faint yellow star,
where all else was hideous blackness?
But after she had walked quite a dis
tance through sinuous pathways. some OF
which were scarcely wide enough to
admit os the passage of the human form,
she suddenly stopped.
Il will 60 no further, she declared.
Garrett Hilford looked around.
"Just as you plea:e," said he, with c
sinister smile.
Take me back to the mouth of the
mine," she cried. "All this time you
have been leading me astray."
He leaned against the almost perpen.
dicular low wall of the mine, with folded
arms.
well" said he, ''why should I mott
Didn't you lead me astray once, and laugh
ut me- afterward, as if it were |; capital
joke! Do you think there is no such
thing as retaliation in this world? Is
it a pleasant sort of a thing, this being
deceived and made game of. do you think,
Miss Emmclinc Lath"op:"
A deadly chill seemed to enfold the
girls heart. She ga'rcd for breath. In
this sepulchral gloom. this terrible iso-
lation, what was to become of her? she
asked herself.
''Hush." he said, lifting his finger in a
listening attitude. do you hear that
creaking sound 1t is the chains of the
elevator going up. Your friends have
finished their survey. They are going
back again. Up to this time they nave.
not missed you. Yes. shriek-cry out
until you have strained your lungs to the
utmost Do these black walls return you
any answer? And who is there to hear
you-the mules, champing their feed in
the furthermost sockets of these aisles2
TIE few Swcdes working beyond, who
cannot understand q word OF English Z
No, Miss Lathrop, you are ut my mercy
at last You amused yourself with my
anguish once; can play with your fears
now
~ am not afraid of you" cried Emme-
line, feigning valor she was far from
feeling.
You are!n he rcortcd, sharply. II
see it your eyes. hear it il your voice,
and it fills me W tn delight
''Why should be afraid! have dont
YOU no harm, she asseverated.
''No harm" he bitterly repeated.
''You nave blightcd my lif4! You have
ruined my future. You have destroyed
my faith i human nature! Is that what
you cali no ha:m?"
She sunk on her knees, with wildly.
clasped hauds.
"Le mere full" she walled. "Be gen.
crous. Take me to the mouth of the
mine! Signal them to return for me-"
II will not" he said. savagely. ''Doe.
the wolf give up the prey upon which his
teeth have already closcd2 Does death
give up its victim9 have sworn to be
revenged. and will keep my word"
She turned and fed from him at the
top of her spe d, shricking as she went;
and, oh, 10Y! at the first turn of the black
pathway sne met men, hurrying toward
her with torches.
She had been missed at last; they had
in quest of her.
''Whv did YOU allow yourself to get
from us?' asked they, reproach-
fully.
But she could not answer with sob,
and tears.
IL thought was lost" she faltcred
Il was so frightened"
''Thcre was nothing to be frightened
about" said the superintendent. "Iou
could not possibly have got lost. Carr!
Hilford is working there somewhere, and
he would have set you on the right path.
He is poor. lovc-crazed fellow, but he
would have been civil enough"
-"razcd!" repeated one of the
ladies'. ''How very romantirn'
He's been disappointed" explained
the man. ''aud he has never gotten over it.
He works when he feels like it, and when
he don't he lis at full length in the
straw we keep down here for the mules,
and stares at the roof of the mine"
Emmeline listened in silence; but if
an arrow had pierced it, the pain in her
heart could not have been keener.
Three weeks later she a'tonishcd all
her friends by accepting George Sis'on
as an atfianced husband.
81 love him." she said, simply, "and
be loves me. If we are to be poor, we
shall at least be happy"
For that half-hour in the Vaudeville
Mine had wrought complete change in
Emmeline Lathrop's frivolous nature.
She had put the tawdry tinsels OF life
behind her, md looked its realities in the
face. She had comprehended-alas, too
late for poor Garrett Hilford's happiness!
that a mans heart is not thing to
play with .-He'en Forrest Grapes.