Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-06-22
land u suddenly on the shores Of etern

sion, but pretty Slbyl Stuart was full Of
talk and animation, Tattling on from one |
thing to another never seeming to care /
for a reply but apparently satisfied to |
hear the sound of her own voice. Was
she really needless of any possible danger,
or was this light chatter done to cover
serious fancies and nisgivings1 | could
not belieye the words came from a heart
a light and free as they seemed to repre-
sent
Reaching our first landing, we began
our exploration through long dark gal
ieries, where every here and there, I.
heavy prop supported the rocky root, with
the thin layer Of foundation supported in
turn IN the same manner, still below US,
tier on tier, that the Yielding Of any
weak spot far down in those awful depths
might precipitate thousands OF square
feet into one shapeless mass and bury US
forever from human sight.
Still as there was no more danger APP
parently Of this occurring now than at
any time Within the past twenty years,
there VA, Ap good reason for my taking
the subject into consideration, except
that Of my being still haunted by that
presentimcnt of evil Of which l have
spoken.
Our guide led the way to some moving
lights winch we could see sparkling In
! the profound darkness, and we soon
| found ourselves at the top Of another
shaft where another descent Of hundred
and fifty feet was made in a bucket
aftenwhlch followed some rough CLIMBING
over rocks and fssures, with here and
there descent by ladders, which proved
both precarlous and tiresome, till at east
we stood upon a hedge from which, q
! hundred feet still below us, we bcheld q
hundred moving li4 hts, and heard tho
| peculiar sound OF the miners 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 fai,
companion, vvaciously looking With
| their red. bobbing lights and shadowy
; forms, like so many tiends of Pandemon
um Would you like to go down among
them, Nr. Naples
IF YOU are satisfied where vYu are,
| Miss Stuart. ! venture to say | have had
enough, was my reply, with kind Of
shuddcl
ooh, for that matter | am willing to
let YOU have your own way now, she re
| Joined, with q light careless laugh
You have bravcd the danger 50 far like
a gallant soldier. and are now entitled to
your discharge
81 see that in your thoughtlee~ way
you arc sill disposed 10 make sport Of
my natural caution | replied a little
severely; "but | would very much like
YOU to comprehend that reasonable eau
tlon is not eowarllicc. nor IN any degree
,ilicd , II and to prove il il my own
person. now throw down the gage to
lare anything that either YOU or any am
bitieus friend OF yours may have the cour-
aye to try
Even in the dim light | could see that
ny sharp words had sent 4 deep color
1to her pretty face and, after momen-
:ary hesitation, Sic fa,ercd
Il crave Your pardon, Mr. Naples. il
ny, light, flippant remarks have wounded
Tour feelings
All is already forgiven. cordially
.cunrkcd eNtcndin. my hand which was
lcc,pJea in token Of pniiv.
An exclamation from one q our two
ompauons al. this moment drew our st
entian 70 him He wa> looking down
ii the miners through a deid glass, and
rs words mere
Ha what cu'pable 5rnrrndenco !,
me Of the miners has struck match TO
ighf his pipe"
Winch ea, dynande.. IL ,auIan-
on, II ! quick, excited tone. show
ne N man and l viii have him dis
,har-ei forthwith
JUS as he spoke. and vhil, lie vas ia