The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-07
ANNIE LAURIE.
BY ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS.
From Harper's Magazine.]
III.

Ill.
Two-and twenty were the years OF the
way it went. The night was warm, for
it was June. The moon looked as it
looks to the young and to the loving
On the edge of the old pit they stood
together-they two, she who was living
and he who was dead-and gszed down.
It was in use then; the derricks were
busy, the abyss was dry; they had grown
up with it; they were not afraid OF it,;
they wandered about it with the affection
ate familiarity that we give to usual
things. It was pleasant place to be alone
in on a summer night, and she wore a
white dress, and he liked it; the moon
shone in her face when she lifted it to
him, and they walked and talked little
while: and when she said she must go
home, for her father would be in need
of her, he had said, 81 love thee, An
ME-" and she had answered
"Here we are !" said Washington
Rock.
"Here we beP' cried the boy.
"We GOMEZ painted the Finlsnder.
But Martin Derrick had let go her
hand, and made on, and got among the
men.
With the supple motion and the prac-
tised power learned of two-and-twenty
years,her heart rebounded. Her lips NOV
ed; no sound came from them; but af-
terward she remembered that to herself
she said "George, want to save this
man. Help me, won't your" Then she
drew her hood back from her face, and
walked quietly in among the men-went
straight to the edge of the pit and looked
down.
Half q dozen sprang to hold her; it
was deadly slippery, and the wind blew
so! They cried out that it WAS all up
with him-that they had done their best;
that Madison Rock had clambered half
way down; that two Scotchmen had tried
that it was so glazed over, and death to
go; that nothing could be done. Mr..
Derrick himself admitted that he feared
the worst, but he busted himself in Civ
ing short, sharp orders - something
about ropes, and the stairway in the rock.
The men obeyed or made feint of obey
ing the master, but they glanced at An
ME Laurie.
She shuddering upon the pits edge,
stood during all this protest, silently
looking down.
"But the man is not in the water" she
said in low voice; she is clinging to
the rookie holds to the quarry. He is
alive. He can be saved"
HE has slipped" somebody whisper
ed behind her-"he has slipped from
there, to there, since we first saw him."
San there's fifty foot of ice'water in
the pit"
"Gin / war fifty years younger, I'd
win doom for the mon me ain sell, by me
lane p cried old Dawse. stamping the icy
snow.
GAY, sy,"muttered voice; "but would
ye send yer lad? Come, now; that's the
question:
The little boy who had run with the
Finlsnder stood by, silently. He had
the muscle and eyes of children who
work in the stone. yards; he was compact,
like miniature man, and observed
everything. He did not speak, but went
and stood by the old Scotchman; he drew
himself up to his full height, and locked
his hands behind his little back.
"Charley," said the father, "if there's
anything lad can do to save the mon,
I'll no forbear ye."
'Pd just as liets," said Charley.
A sort of huzzs arose at this, stihed,
below breath lest the outburst should
startle the poor wretch below. Annie
Laurie, who had till now remained peer
ing over the pits edge at the sickening
sight, turned with the instinct of gen.
eral for the nature and the value of mo-
ments, and suddenly leaning over threw
the full force Of her powerful voice off
and down into the pit.
"Have hopper she cried. "Have cour-
age Hold on for your life Hold on
The Stoneport quarrymen will save you
Hold on Hold on =
"There, boys" she said, turning about;
"Pve pledged you to it.
aye hae no BARNS to feed like We"
said one Of the Scotchmen who had tried
the descent and failed TO make it.
"Give me The rope r. cried Annie Lau-
rie, towering in a passion. "Put it
around me, some of you, and let me