The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-07

at their daily toll of digging out and
breaking the black Jumps of coal that
were intended to find their way to the
bright world above.
"There they are" exclaimed our fair
companion, vivaciously, Hooking. with
their red. bobbing lights and shadowy
forms, like so many fiends of Pandemon-
ium! Would you like to go down among
them, Mr.. Maples?'
eff you are satisfied where YOU arr.
Miss Stuart, l will venture to say have
had enough" was my reply. with kind
of shudder.
80 for that matter l am willing to let
you have your own way now" she re-
joined, with a light, careless laugb
"You have braved the danger so far like
a gallant soldier and are now entitled TO
your discharge"
Il see that in your thoughtless way
your are still disposed to make sport of
my natural caution" replied, little
severely; "but ! would very much like
you to comprehend that reasonable eau
ton is not cowardice, nor in anv degree
allied to it; and to prove it in nv own
person, | now throw down the gage to
dare anything that either you or any
ambitious friend of yours may have the
courage to try"
Even in the dim light could see that
my sharp words had sent deep color
into her pretty face; and, after a mo-
mentary hesitation, she faltered:
81 crave your pardon, Mr.. Naples, if
my light, fippant remarks have wounded
your feelings"
"All is already forgotten" cordially
replied, extending my hand, which was
accepted in token of amity.
An exclamatlen from one of our two
companions at this moment drew our at
tention to him. He was looking down
at the miners through field glass, and
his words were:
'Ha! What culpable imprudence! One
of the miners has struck match to light
his piper
(Which one" demanded his compan-
ion, in a quick, excited tone. "Show
me the man and ! will have him dis
charged forthwith
Just as he spoke, and while he was in
the act of reaching out his hand for the
glass, binding sheet of fame was seen
to envelop all below; rush of foul,
heated air threw us down upon the rocks,
and a crashing explosion, like thousand
thunders, completely stunned us and
shook down the rocks around us like u
terrible earthquake.
When l came to my senses all in the
blackncss of that rayless abyss l heard a
low. wailing moan of terror and despair,
accompanied with the words:
"Oh, my God! my God! what has hap
pened and where am I?''
1t was the plaintive voice of Sibyl
Stuart, and | was grateful to God that
she was still alive.
l knew where we were and what aw-
full thing had happened, for my recollec-
ton came with my consciousness. Reach
ing out my hand touched her and in a
soothing tone said:
"There has been terrible explosion,
Miss Sibyl, and fear that many lives
have been lost; but, thank God, we still
survive, and hope you have escaped in
jury"
80 merciful heaven, comprehend all
nowr she moaned. Forgive me, dear
friend! Forgive me!'
"For what?'
Making light of your forebodings.
and bringing you here to your DOOM.
"All is forgiven and forgotten, dear
girl; shall think of nothing now but
how to get you out Of this horror alive.
The foul air here is almost suffocating.
Where are our companions"
She hurriedly called them by name,
but received no reply.
l thought they might still be uncon-
scious on the ground, and began to feel
out for them.
They were only few feet from us
when the explosion occurred; but as
reached out for them now in the dark
ness my hands came in contact with
huge rock on the very spot where they
had been standing. In a moment COM
pretended the horrid truth; they had
both been crushed to death under it.
l hurriedly made known to my fair
companion the startling fact, and added:
sit may be that we two, of all within
the mine, are the only ones that Provi-
dence has spared"
80 heaven!' she groaned, "spared,
perhaps, for more terrible death! For
how can we ever find our way up
through this awful darkness to the world
above?'
owe will try, at all events, and while
there is life there is hope" rejoined. in
cheerful tone, though with no cheerful
feelings, for thought the chances were
all against our ever seeing the light OF
heaven again.
Taking the hand of my fair companion
that we might not become separated in
the awful darkness, began to carefully
grope in the direction which supposed
would retrace our steps, The air was
very foul with poisonous gases, and at
times it seemed as if it would paralyze
our lungs to inhale it.
We soon came to broad chasm, and
had l not been feeling my way inch by
inch, SO to speak, should have plunged
headlong into deathpit, and dragged
Miss Stuart down with me.
could not tell the width Of tine assure
in the darkness, but evidently we could
not cross it, for when lay down on the
edge and stretched forth my hands
could not touch the other side.
"Alas! we are doomed to perish here,
and it is all my wicked doing" said the
self accusing girl. when announced to
her the reason that we could advance no
further in that direction.
may. dear Miss Sibyl; will not hear