The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-18

caring 10 PICK FOSSILS; he thought of his
fathers coming home and asking for
him, and ewing him up for lost, for
II Tony was not just now in state of mind
II to reason, and it didn't occur to him that
his father would come with lantern
and rescue him.
Itseemed hours, days, since he had torn
himself away from APP, and started upon
his terrible journey. And z:ow the lady
would never get her ring; he and the
firing were buried in one grave.
n Tony cried so hard that the ring tum-
Fbled out of his mouth, and he had to
feel around for it among the coal-dust
ttie now held it tightly in his hand, not
daring to trust it in his mouth.
] Soon his ear was caught by slight
purifying sound among the culm, and
something ran over him. In moment
pc felt himself attacked on all sides by
mall animals, and he knew he was at
he mercy of rats! This brought the
ears to an end. and Tony to his feet.
The creatures were all about him, and
every time he put his foot down he
stepped on one, so that tho air was filled
with horrible little. squeaks and yells,
The rats were ravenously fierce, and
jumped upon Tony as he staggered along,
biting through his stockings and trou-
sers. The horror of being beset in the
darkness by hungry rats made Tony des-
perate, and he rushed on madly, bang
ing himself against the walls, and re-
ceiving cuts and bruises on the right
and left.
Z felt his strength and courage
-,.rs -oGV, 49,. II - JIM. ,sofixtn5-
would have fallen, when there suddenly
ltwinkled out before him light, far
9away but clear, shining like the day,
(which indeed it was.
| His strength returned upon him. and
making final effort he sped like deer
toward the ever-growing brightness,
leaving his tormentors far behind to
Bqueall out their disappointment by
themselves, and to search for other
food.
I When Tony reached daylight again,
be was dreadful looking object. His
lace was covered with compound of
;oal-dust, tears and blood; his clothes
we're tattered and soaking wet, and the
hand which clenched the ring was
hearty skinned.
1 He looked about dazed by the light,
knd with the strange bewildering scnsa-
ion of being in a new world which al
ways comes to one at the first instant
bitter emerging from dark, underground
places. Soon, however, he got his bear
tngs, and saw to his delight the carriage
standing by the breaker, and the party
lust alighting and preparing to descend
he shaft.
They had driven slowly, stopping
bitten to admire the views, and so had
kaken twenty-five minutes to accom-
Awenty-iivo minutes that had been as
twenty-five hours to Tony in his under
ground passage!
When he reached home, taking the
ravine this time, he looked to see his
mother watching for him with stick,
but she only ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him, weeping as if he had
been the prodigal son returning.
APP asked Immediately what the pretty
Hlady said when he gave back the RUG.
''She asked me what for I'd scratched
Vit and got it so dirty"
= l''And didn't she give YOU nothin,?"
I <sss1 or inc gentlemen he give me
this" and Tony showed silver coin;
"he looked kinder cross-like at the lady
when she said that to me, and l don't
think she's so very pretty after all"'
And if pretty is that pretty does"
don't think so either.-Edith Brown, in
Youths Companion.