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

mirth.
you're not in earnest, Emmv2' he
pleaded. "l Oh can't be in earnest2 You
never would have accepted all my atten-
tions, and looked at me with such sweet,
smiling eyes, if YOU hadn't meant some
thing by it. l may be only oakland,
that is true" he added. with dark-red
flush mounting to his brow, ''but I'm
getting fair wages, and l could make a
good and comfortable home for the
woman that trusts herself to me-"
''lt's quite out of the question:" said
Emmeline. decidedly.
Hilford gnawed his under lip.
"Thcn you meant nothing all this
time?" he said, in repressed voice.
Il meant to hoy myself-nothing
more"
"Humphr' uttered Hilford, sardon-
ically. The spidr means to enjoy her
self when she lures the wretched fly into
her net! The beautiful. Kissing, dia-
mond-eyed serpent means nothing else
when it drags the palpitating bird to de-
struction! A strange sort OF diversion,
that"
81 wish, Mr.. Hilford, if you're through.
you'd go about your business" 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 Hilford.
'.Well, 1 will 60"
'.Good-by." said Emmeline Lathrop,
much relieved at this prospect Of being
% easily rid of her swain.
"Oh, won't say good-by" returned
Hilford, with a light laugh. who
knows but that We may meet again2"
Emneline 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 Hilford to attach so
much importance to mere fiirtation-
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 wife?
And when, few days subsequently,
she heard that Garrett Hilford had left
the place, she was very glad.
81 don't really think that he would
have made me any trouble" she mused;
"but there was look in his face that 1
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
frothy life. She was young and beauti-
full. Why, then, should she not enjoy
herselfl
To have half a 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 fll-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, ''if he is stupid. And money
means so muchl Of course, it would be
pleasanter to 60 with George Sisson; and
George will feel dreadfully to be thrown
over; but poor, dear George is only
steamboat clerk, at ten dollars week.
Oh, dear. why is it that all the nice
young fellows are so horribly ineligible2"
And no one acceded more joyfully to
the proposition to descend into the black
chasm of the Vaudeville Coal Mine,
'.just for fun," than did Emmeline
Lathrop.
"Have I ever been down a mine' No,
of course not" the saucy beauty cried.
81 live above ground, thank you! But
of course it would be a splendid frolic to
60 down the shaft, if al the rest of you
are going"
And theyhuddled together, screaming
and laughing, on the rude elevator as it
descended lower, and still more low, into
the black depths of the earth until the
yellow shine of day had vanished. and
all that illuminated their faces was the
lurid light OF the torches carried by the
men who accompanied them.
Why" cried Emmeline, as at last the
elevator touched ground, and she sprang
off, Its like a cathedral, with long
aisles, supported by columns of giittering
jet. Three hundred feet below the level
of the earth! On, it don't seem possible !!
1t is grand beyond all I had dreamed of!
yet oh, how frightfully gloomy! One
feels as if one were under spell"
The little party scattered in various
directions under the cleaning arches of
coal, lighted here and there by the pitt
rul glare of torches, and Emmeine found
herself in a long. apparently interminable
aisle. with its rudely-hewn sides glisten-
ing like bl ok diamonds.
''Where am ~: she cried, a little un-
easily. "Ilave I 10 t my way?"
From a pathway, which seemed to in
terscct the broader aisle at right angles.
dark figure stepped forth, with 4 light
sh ming like yellow stlr in the band of
the cap it wore.
"stcp this way" said deep, subdued
voice.
And Emmeline gave little shrick.
els it Garrett Hilford2" she cried
ssHere?"
'Itis Garrett Hilford, and here" he
answered, composedly. GLOW do you
do, Miss Lathrop2 Can I show you around
my quarters2 We don't have many visi-
tors down here, aud so, of course, we
are prorortionately glad to see them"
"Where is the rest of the party? said
Emnel;ne, glancing nervously in this d.
1ectiol and that.