Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-28
examining his sbambIes and his unnat-

powers were now quite eXhausted-"an and
no signs of help, no hope Of rescue.
do not say so, Grace. Rescue In
time is certain, and, therefore, while
we live there is hope"
"Ay," said Burnley. "fOr you tew, but
not for me. Vow telt the men that I
fired t. mine, and if one Of those men
gets free. they'll tear me limb from
Jacket Why should [ leave one grave
to walk into another? But for VOW [
should have been away six days agone."
man." said Hope, cannot you see
that my hand was but the instrument?
1t was the hand Of heaven that kept you
back. Cease to blame your victims. and
begin to see things as they are, and 20
repent. Even if you escape, could the
white faces ever fade from your sight,
or the dying shrieks ever leave your ear,
of the brave men you so foully murder
ed? Repent, monster. repent"
Burnley was not touched, but he was
scared by Hopes SOlemnlty, and went
to his own corner muttering, and as he
crouched there there came over his dull
brain what in due course follows the
horrible meal he had made-a feverish
frenzy.
In the meantime Grace, who had been
lying half insensible, raised her head
slowly and said, in low voice, water,
water"
"Oh, my girl" said Hope, in despair,
"I'll 90 and get enough to mOisten your
lips; but the last scrap Of food has gone,
the last drop Of oil is burning away,
and in an hour we shall be in darkness
and despair"
NO, no, father" said Grace, mot
while there is water there, beautiful
water"
Esp+ ,, y ,1,,;,,1v ~ nj ~, eI+o,od.
it is foul. it is poisonous"
mot that. papa, said Grace, ''far be-
yOnd that-iOOh! See that clear river
sparkling in the sunlight how bright and
beautiful it shines! Look at the way
ing trees upon the other side. the green
meadows and the bright blue sky, and
-there-there-ar the great white
swans. No, no; / forgot; they are not
swans; they are ships sailing to the
bright land you told me Of, where there
is no suffering and no sorrow"
Then Hope, to his horror, began to
see that this must be theVery hallucina-
ton of which be had read, sweet illu-
sion of green fields and crystal water,
which often precedes actual death by
thirst and starvation. He trembled, he
prayed secretly to God to spare her, and
not to kill his neW-fOund child, his dar
ling in his arms.
By-and-by Grace spoke again, but this
time her senses were clear. How dark
| it's grown!" she said. "Ah, we're back
again in that awful NINE" Then, with
tie patient fOrtitude of a woman when
once she thinks the will of the Almighty
is declared, she laid her hand upon his
shoulder, and she said, sOothingly,
Dear father. bow to Heavens will"
then she held up both her feeble arms
10 biTo-"L iSC mo fatbnT-f01. 9c0 are Ia
der
With these firm and patient words,
she laid her sweet head upon the ground,
and hoped and feared no more.
But the man could not bow like the
woman. He kissed her as she babe him,
and laid her gently down; but after that
he sprang wildly to his feet in a frenzy,
and ragged aloud, as his daughter could
no longer hear him. No, no." he cried;
this thing cannot be; they have had
seven days to get to us.
"Ah, but there are mountains and
rocks of earth and coal piledup between
us. We are buried alive in the bowels
Of the earth.
well, and shouldn't l have blasted a
hundred rocks, and picked through
| mountains, to save hundred lives, or
| to save one such life as this, no matter
whose child she was?
All! you poor scum, you came to me
whenever you wanted me, and you new
er came in vain. But now that want
| you, you smoke your pipes, and walk
calmly over this living tomb l lie in.
"Well, call yourselves men, and let
your friends perish; am man, and l
| can die"
Then he threw himself wildly on his
! knees over his inSensible daughter
"Eut my child! Oh God! look down
upon my child! Do, pray, see the hor-
r0r of it. The horror and the hellish
| injustice! She has but just found her
father. She is just beginning life; it's
not her time to dieI Why, you know
| she only came here to save her father.
| Heavens blessing is the right OF plOuS
| children; it's promised in Gods Word.
| They are to live long upon the earth,
| not to be cut off like criminals"
| Then he rose wildly, and ragged about
| the place, flinging his arms on high, so
| that even Burnley, though his own rea-
| son was shaken, covered away from the
| fury Of a stronger mind.
Men and angels cry out against it,"
he screamed. in madness and despair.
| Can this thing be? Can Heaven and
earth look calmly on and see this, h0r--
| rOr? Are men all ingratitude? Is God
| all dpdtby?"
A blow like hammer striking a
| church bell tiHkled outside the wall,
and seemed TO come from a great dis
! lance.
To him, who, like the rugged Elijah.
! had expOstulated so boldly with his
Maker, and his Maker, who is not to be
irrltated, forgave him, that blow seem
ed at first to ring from heaven. He
| stood still, and trenbled like leaf; he
listened; the sound was not repeated.
All" said lie, 1T was an illusion, like
hers"
But for all that he seized his hammer,
] and darted to the back of the hall mount
ing on huge fragment of coal, struck
the seam high above his head. He gave
! two blows at lOngish intervals, and then
| three blows in quick succession.
Grace heard. and began to raise her
| self ON her hands in wonder.
Outside the wall came two leisurely
! blows that seemed a mile off, though
they were not ten feet. and then three
blows in quick succession.
My signal echoed" yelled Hope. "DO
! you hear, child, my signal answered.
| Thank GOdl thank God! thank God!"
He fell on his knees and cried like a
| child The next minute. burning with
hope and joy, he was by Grace's side,