West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-05-09

her in my old friends motherly care,
promising 10 come back 90 them as soon
as all possible help had been given to the
unfortunate people, many of whom were
hstill half buried beneath the ruins Of their
homes.
feared TO face Ina, knowing what her
first words would be, and the terrible an
swer L must give 10 them, and strove to
forget the inevitable pain by hurrying
from place to place, assisting rs best
could those in need of help. IL was
very desolate scene, amid all the beauty
of purple mountains and blue sea, that
Christmas day sun shown down upon.
The little city lay in ruins, with scarcely
house still firm ON its foundations.
The cathedral alone seemed to have es-
capped, and its bells kept up a monoton-
Gus ringing, and the chanting came down
to us in snatches OF melody, the blessed
Christmas hymns sounding unutterably
sweet and comforting amid all the pain
and desolation.
At last some ono suggested that the
cellars of the Francia were very large and
solidly built, and probably many people
were in hiding there, waiting 10 be re-
leased; so party, including myself, be-
! gan removing the tons. of fallen stones,
bricks, ETC., and after great labor sue.
ceeded in making an opening into the
first cellar. We soon found our labors
were not in vain, for we could hear voices
long. before any one became visible, and
mt last we reached them.
There were two cellars, one openf nj
of the other We had succeeded in
| reaching the inner one, and found il
crowded with people. Many Of the hotel
servants had gone there on the first alarm,
and few of the visitors had been guided
10y them, or had found their way there
also; and as these people were gradually
lifted out through the hole we had made,
what was my amazement to recognize
Ina's father among them
/ rubbed my eyes, and thought the
agony of the night must have turned my
brain. But no, there he was, covered
with dust, indeed; and with bleeding
face and hands, but alive and compare
lively uninjured.
"Thank Heayenp i exclaimed as /
seized his hand. ''Dare = believe my
eyes after having seen you swallowed up
close TO my feetl Thank Heaven, for
Ina's sake"
''Ina, he answered huskily; ''where is
my childG"
"She is safe. found her after YOU
disappeared, and she knows nothing of
that horrible time She is with friends.
l will take you to her. But cannot un-
derstand--"
''My being in that celarl" he inter.
rupted. mo, | am not surprised, for
can scarcely undersf and il myself / only
know that lost my consciousness in that
terrible moment when the ground opened
and slipped in. When / came to my
self was lying on the floor Of the cellar
with many people around me, and they
said that one of the earthquake shocks
, had shaken down the outside wall Of the
outer cellar, throwing in great quantity
of earth and stones, and with them my
unconscious self. was stiff and bruised
but otherwise uninjured. That is all ]
know
At such time all conventional barriers
are forgotten, and as Inas father and
wrung each others hands and looked
straight into each others eyes we under.
stood each others hearts better than il
we had been friends for years of every
day life
need not dwell on the JOY Of father
and daughter, as Ina, rushing into his
arms, described the sudden blow that
tore her away from him as they tottered
down the staircase She remembered
nothing more after this blow until she
found herself with Mrs. Doonc. and
learned from her how she had been res.
cued.
We returned TO England together, and
found courage as we stood before "The
Vision, which held the place Of honor
in their drawing room, to tell Ina the
story Of my dream and its strange fulfill
ment, together with my luclxlcss search
for her all the past summer. 'Since that
night have loved you, dear. Can YOU
love mel' / asked as / finished my tale,
and Ina, rs she turned that beautiful
haunting face toward me with n smile
which was, indeed, like benediction,
whispered "Yes!"-- Onoe Week.