Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-05-08

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mentary hesitation. she faltered:
81 crave your pardon, Mr.. Naples, if
my light, dippant remarks have wounded
your feelings"
"All is already forgotten" | cordially
replied, extending my hand, which was
accepted in token of amity.
An exclamation 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;
Hal What culpable imprudence! One
of the miners has struck match to light
! his piper
| (which one?" demanded his compan-
ion. in 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 flame was seen
to envelop all below; a rush of foul,
heated air threw US down upon the rocks,
and crashing explosion, like thousand
thunders, completely stunned us and
shook down the rocks around us like
terrible earthquake,
When came to my senses all In the
blackncss of that rayless abyss | heard
low, wailing moan of terror and despair,
accompanied with the words:
"Oh, my Godl my Godi 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
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 q
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
uowl she moaned. Forgive me, dear
friendl Forgive me!'
For WHAT"
Making light of your forebodings,
and bringing you here to your doom"
CAN 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.
! 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
ranIhn1 -, a.
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
at may be that we two, of all within
the mine, are the only ones that Provi-
dence has spared"
40 heaven she groaned, spared,
perhaps, for a more terrible deathl For
how can we ever find our way up
through this awful darkness to the world
above;'
eve 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 tie 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 a broad chasm. and
had l not been feeling my way inch by
inch, SO to speak, should have plunged
headlong into a deathpit, and dragged
Miss Stuart down with me-
could not tell the width of the fissure
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 1t is all my wicked dong!' said the
self accusing girl, when 1 announced to
her the reason chat we could advance no
further in that direction
NAY, dear Miss Sibyl. will not hear
you blame yourself for our being here,
! replied you simply did not see the
danger in the same light that did-or
perhaps should rather say that you did
not see the danger at all.
Only as we see danger when it light .
ems, Size responded; I'VE know we may /
be struck, but we can scarcely be said to
fear IT. o, Mr.. Naples, if there is any /.
way by which YOU can save your life do .
not give thought to me, but make the /
effort alone, and will pray for your
success.
"Ahl now you do indeed wrong me /
and wound my sensitive nature, by as
Stunning in all seriousness that am a .
coward, said reproachfully.
30 no! no! meant not that, she pro /
tested. at was only that, if there is but .
one life to be saved, would have it .
yours instead of mine"
20, dear Miss Sihyl, dare | understand .
that you would save my life at the sacr-
fee of your own?"
Yes, she family sighed. after mo-
mentary pause
quickly drew back from the verge of
the dread abyss, and there, in that ray
less darkness and that awful tomb of
death, caught her in my arms and
pressed her to my heart.
You love me then, Sibyl-dear, dear
EST Sibyl-you love me" exclaimed, as
passionately kissed her tremulous lips