The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-11-07

q elab of-gypsum, asked for light
to be left with me and announced
that my motto for the present was
Alabama Here we rest, 1t was now
Ais p NJ. and the guide assured me
l would only have TO stay alone for
As minutes as the remaining mile
and half could be done in that time
and all be back. AS the last form
faded away and even their shadows
were swallowed up in The distance a
cold persperation broke out on me-.
For a few moments hollow sepul-
chral echo came back, of receding
footsteps and family echoing voices
and then all was still. All Heavens
how still
| conld hear the heating of my
heart like muffied drum, and the
sound of the blood rushing through
the carotid arteries was distinctly
audible. Yes, l could actually hear
my blood circulate in the awful over :
whelming silence, but determined
to be brave and not look at the watch
till | was sure the time was nearly up.
How the lamp flickers, suppose it
should go out; and o great Caesars
ghost! they have not left me single
solitary match. l lifted it up to
weigh the amount of oil still left,
then set it high up on a projecting
rock so that no possible touch might
overturn it. AS lifted it up the
flame fickered ,darkencd--died down
for one awful moment then seemed
to give gasp and catch on to lite
once more.
Surely the As minutes were nearly
up and l will permit myself one re.
assuring peep at the watch. AGO, in
credible! only five minutes J and it
seems hours. Suppose horde of the
hungry mountain rats should discov-
er me and proceed to have picnic.
l had heard of rats overpowering
strong men by mere force of numbers.
l am chilled through and attempt TO
walk but the weird Pickering light
casts such a ghostly grotesque out
line of me on the shadowy dome and
arches that feel as if pursued by
mocking phantom and once more
sit down and look at the watch feel
ing sure my vigil was nearly over
but no! 1t is now only 4:30 and l
cannot hope for their return till B.,
but o! how leaden footed the mo-
ments move. Once far away down
one of the dim aisles | saw faint
flicker of light and hoped another
party of tourists were approaching.
Anything! anything! to relieve the
deadly silence and to prevent me
thinking of the long miles that lie
between me and the blessed sunlight
of Heaven. But no it wavered weakly
to and fro for moment, gave one up
ward expiring gasp, then burned like
fiery eye for an instant, and all was
dark as the grave. 1t was only one
of the torches William had thrown
up on some projection, as we came
along, to despel the shadows lurking
in the deep reccsses Of the Cave,
/ wont look at that delusive watch
again. I'll just sit here, and die of
fright. of hunger and of cold, for |
am sure they have forgotten me and
are gone home by some other route.
But bark hear hollow reverhera-
ton. Is Echo river rising as it some
times suddenly does and will it over
whelm me in its cold waters? Or has
some huge rock fallen from the dome
and blocked up all egrcss or ingress?
And will l he discovered here some
centuries hence aud set up rs one of
the curios in the collection of won
ders and perhaps called The Mum
my Of the Mammoth Cave? But mol
Thank Heaven! | hear voices, and
soon the lamps were twinkling into
sight and few moments more and
| am surrounded by the forms Of
friends instead of he ghostly shapes
and fancies of The past fer hours.
Hours did | say2 They all look at
their watches and asked How long
were we gomez 1t is still lacking ten
minutes % .Ute CLOCK.
Tempus Fugit would he poor
motto for place in which 35 min
utes can seem such an endless age.
The main object of interest ON the
return trip was the
STAR CHAMBER
and the spectacular effects gotten up
there by William. We were all seat
ed in lofty rotunda with an oblone
dome over head, seemingly of deep
velvety blackncss which was sup
ported by massive gray corniees.
carved and coved in truly ROY a
manner. AS we gazed above, one by
one, little glittering stars pierced the
gloom till the whole armament above
seemed gemmed like the Mickey Way
with one beautiful comet in the
midst
Then William gathered up all the
lights and disappeared, calling ont
"Good night III see YOU in the morn.
ing" After sitting in darkness that
could he felt for several minutes a
faint crow smote the silence far away
down one of the remote galleries, then
dim glow crept up the distant dome
like the first faint rays of the morn
ing sun. The cock crowed louder,
the light CLEANED higher and higher,
then sheep began to bleat, cattle to
low and the barking of dogs was
mingled with the other sounds heard
in the farm yard at early dawn. AZ
William hove into sight surrounded
by an aureole of lamps, the illusion
of the rising sun was almost perfect.
Our guide was well suited to his
business and shortened the way by
many witticism. Once he threw
lighted torch down circular well
like opening remarking That's only
so feet deep now. 1t was 50 not long
ago." why how's that William? is
it filing up SO .ast?" mo Miss, but
we let man down there and when
we drew him up he had ttco feet ,cath
him"
While we were among the stalac-
tite formations-the Elephants Head,
the Arm Chair, the Drop Curtain,
the Oak and many more, he pointed
out skull-like formation lying on
the floor, "This said he sis mans
head" "How do you know that"
said | ''why might it not be wo-
mans head?' 20 no! at always has
its mouth shut
| was tired of being sold so cheap