San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-17
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.


CLEAN from the spot where the men were
gathered. At last it disappeared from sight,
and knew that, if life lasted, George Red,
ruth was saved!
Then clambcred on the ledge beside my
uncle, who was still lying in the same posi-,
ton, with his head Leaning back against the
dripping wall
took his hands IN mine, and pressed them
eagerly. As did 50. | saw, to my horror,
that the breast of his mning-shrt was satu-
rated with blood, that his face was CHASTITY
white, and that there was on his lips a light
stain of red.
"Are you hurt?" | said, with my lips close
to his ear.
He inclined his head gently, and groaned
as If in great pain.
1t was neither the time nor the place to
question him further; but pressed his hand
again in token of sympathy. Our eyes met,
and his were full of some strange speeches.
sorrow.
Presently, 1 saw the rope descending,
weighted with a small bar of iron; .dOwn it
came till 1t touched the waters edge. |
leapt down, and wadimg out, drew it toward
the ledge.
Uncle" cried, see lit is your turn!'
And pointed upward.
lie shook his head feebly
Ma, ma, lad he said. Lea me here to
diep'
1t was not to be thought of. Wildly, In
dumb show, besought him to make an eff
fort to ascend, and at last he aSs"nted.
"Pll try, lad; I'll try!" he said But |
doubt my back be broke. a lump q rock
fell on me as | We're carry ing y0ulIG mraSteT
here"
looked at him in surprise. TO tell the
truth, had had wild suspicion, ever since
the news Of the accident. that 1t might have
been cauSed:by foul play on my uncle's part.
/ knew him to be mad with trouble, and if
by any chance he had discovered young Red
ruth's quit, God alone knew what he might
have done. But il lie spoke the truth, and
knew well thai he was not man 10 lie, |
had deeply wrDnged him. InStraI of at
tempting to destroy he had actually imperiI-
ed his own Lille to save the betrNpr of his
daughter honor.
Gently and tCnderly, secured the rope
around him, but he mOaned with pain as 1
raised him to launch him upward. As the
rope frightened, he uttered a cry of agony
However, il was too late TO avoid the risk,
and it was the last chance.
Supporting him in my arms as long as
possible, saw him drawn upward. When
his full weight fell upon the rope his agony
grew terrible, and think, he tainted away;
for he hung in the air like dead man. with
limbs and arms pendent | watched him
rise slowly, and felt 10 little anxiety lest the
rope should yield beneath his weight; for he
was heavy man, compared to whom George
Redruth was very feather.
However the rope stood the test, and he
was drawn safely up the abyss. After long
interval, during which waited in sickening
terror, with the waters laundering and the
rocks quaking around me, the rope again de-
scended. seized it, secured it under my
armpits, and, giving the signal, was drawn
upward.
On reaching the bottom platform, L rested
a moment; then signaled again, and rose
once more into the air. By this time the
lights in my hat were eXtinguShed, and
was in total darkness; but as l gained the
middle platform, half dozen hands were
stretched out to grasp me, TILL, tottering and
trembling, / stood upon my feet
Wildly and jOyfuIly, the men surrounded
me- almost kissing me in their rapture at my
temperance. | looked round for George
Redruth. He had recovered from his faint
ness, they said, and had been helped by two
of the men up TO the mouth of the mine. But
lying on the PLATFORM his head supported on
Michael Penmaurs knee, was my uncle,
white and bleeding like man whose time
had come.
knelt by his side, and took his hand. He
looked up into my face: and | saw that his
eyes were filmy and dim The air of the
mine, even up there, was fetid and foul, and
saw that he breathed with difficulty.
Hugh, my ladr' he said family. Come
clOse-I want to whisper to zee. Can you
forgive mer'
Forgive your' l cried, greatly moved.
'What have to forgiven
listen, lad, and I'll tell 'eer'
He paused, his head fell back, and |
thought that he was gone; but the next mo-
ment he recovered, and gaZed into my face
again. Just then the two men who had gone
up with George Redruth re-descended, and
one of them held out to me flask of brandy.
took it eagerly, and held it to my uncle's
lips. He drank little, and the spirit SEEM
ed to revive him.
Hugh, are you thar, my lad?''
"Yes," answered, fairly sobbing.
as that your hand in mineT
Eyes, yesp
Put down your head, and listen. l be
dying, sure enough, and afore die want to
ha' your forgiveness. They would ha' hung
zee lad, for what did. Twas that killed
the Overseerp
had guessed as much, but when the truth
came from my uncle's own lips, started in
horror. lie clutched my hand, as II fearing
that would shrink away.
"'Twere all on account o. my Annie, my
poor little lass. We met out on the cliff be-
yant the mine. and taxed him wi bringing
her trouble upon her, and he said summat
that made me numbering mad. He said she
were light lass, light and bad; and, Lawd
forgive me! afOre L had time TO think, 1
struck at 'un wi my knifel Then he stag
gered back-'twere on the very edge of the
crag-and the earth seemed 10 give way I'M
der him, and he went over-screaming-he
went over TO his death on the rocks below.
That was how ii cam about! didn't mean
to kill 'un, but 'twere done like flash o.
lightning-and the next marning-the next
marning-they found 'un lying, dead and
bloody, on the shore"
The confession came in stifled whispers,
often so faint that could scarcely hear; but
other nors hoard aud understood II as vol q q