The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-01-23

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collection Of the fossils, and had put on
thick boots, and before beginning to
pick over the shale she pulled of her
gloves. II there was any hand in the
world whittier than hers, ct least Tony
and Ap had mover seen 1t, and on one of
her lovely fingers was something they
could not keep their eyes away from-a
ring with stone in ia stone o. satin
Wilderness, over whose surface played the
most lovely colors, like those in the
rainbow coal, only much more soft and
radlsnt, and seeming rather to float
around 1t than to be really in the stone.
The young lady who wore this ring
was very energetic and venturesome.
She dug among the shale with her pref
ty pink fngernails, stood on tiptoe to
pick the sulphur of the walls, and even,
went back as far as the third row of pill
lars.
Tony saw her starting of in that d.
rection and followed her, for she looked
as If she meant to walk straight through
the mine. One o. the young men fol-
lowed, too, looking as if be meant to 90
wherever she did.
When she saw him she jumped behind
pillar and pretended to hide, and then
the young man ran around the other
side of the pillar, and Tony heard q
sound Of tussling and laughter, and out
ran the young lady trying to get her
hand away from her companion.
At length she did get it free, and they
both walked back to the opening togeth-
or. outside of which, in the broad sun
light, the rest of their party, with Ap to
help, were still fossil-huuting. Tony
stayed behind, for his eye had just light
ed on some fine specimens of rainbow
coal, which he thought he would gather
for the pretty lady, and so engrossed did
he become that, when at length he
looked up, all the tourists had gone, and
APP stood alone in one of the great door
ways calling to him.
AS he stopped to pick up one last
piece of coal, he saw little glittering
object at some distance before him. He
picked 1t up, and in moment saw that
it was the ring with the rainbow stone!
The young man must have pulled it
OF the pretty lady's hand when she was
trying to get away from him.
Tony's first thought was: "What a
treasurer! and he ran eagerly to show it
to his sister, but before he reached her
the thought quickly came, 81 must re-
turn it, and third thought quickly
followed: "How can it be returned?"
When APP saw the ring she gave lit
tie scream, and understood at once that
the lady had dropped it.
run, Tony, rum" she exclaimed;
''they've started down already"
Tony ran short distance, but soon
came back, saying the carriage had got
too far ahead; he could never overtake it.
''Perhaps the lady will miss the ring,
and come back for it," said he.
mo-" said Ap, "she won't, for she put
wagon, and she'll never see that the
ring isn't on her hand till she gets
home,"
Tony was thinking hard.
There's only one way" he said. at
length. II can get through the opening
before they reach the breaker, and I'm
goin' to do it,
20, Tony, don't, don't, +" cried Ap, hold
ing on to him. "Whatll mother say and
father? You know they've said you
mustn't never do such thing; you
might get lost or kilt"
cap" said Tony, "I'm goin' to do it,
that's all there is. You just run up and
tell mother what took me. That pretty
lady's got to have her ring"
you'll carry a lantern, won't you?"
pleaded Ap.
''No, there amt no time for a lantern
Pm off," Tony's voice came already
from behind the third pillar. APP stood
watching him with dismal feeling of
anxiety, then turned and scampered as
fast as she could over the rocks and
water. and up the hill, to tell mother.
Tony had started on run, but soon
came to stop. The ground began to
slope away frightfully, and the darkness
was like black curtain hung close
before his face. Turning, he could still
catch a glimner from the far-away
openings that looked no more than little
spots of brightness. Another step, and
their twinkling light could not reach
him.
He held the ring tightly clasped in his
hand; but remembering the necessity of
having both hands free to feel his way,
he bethought him of his pockets. Alas!
Tony's pockets were like the bottomless
pit, and were vain things for safety. So
he put the ring in his mouth, and started
bravely forward on his dangerous way
in the darkness.
Bravely, indeed, but rashly, consider
ing that he could not see a thing, for
haste being the one idea in his mind, he
did not wait to be cautious, and Stun
bling along with arms outstretched came
plump against the sharp corner of a
pillar, gave his nose fearful blow, and
almost swallowed the ring.
This would never do. He must go
slowly and surely. But in what direc-
ton should he move next? He felt safe
while touching the pillar. but to let go
and venture forth was like jumping off
high cliff, or casting ones self into the
sea. When would he ever touch another,
and what pitfalls might lie between?
The air was chilling and smelt sui
| phury, and water could be heard trick
ling and dropping with hollow, dreary
sound. But he must not linger; so with
one hand still on the pillar, he p:.
| foot forward. It did not como down
| upon any thing, so Tony stretched out
his leg little more, and yet met with
nothing. Drawing his foot back it
struck against a sharp edge. Then he
sat down and felt with his hands.
Horrors! he was on the brink Of
precipice, and there was no telling how
deep it might be.
Sitting down, with his legs hanging
over, he could not touch bottom; lying
prone he could not reach it with his
arms extended. Tremblingly he let
himself down, and hung by his hands,
but his feet found no resting-place. He
drew himself up again and sat down to
think.
The thought of turning back never
| once came to him; this thing had been
| undertaken, and it was to be carried
thr0uo h-TOnv did not COW IN h;,roo1f