Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-05-29


feature of the mountain as clearly as
though close at hand After watch
ing the graceful fight of a pair of
buzzards, soaring about the middle
girth of the mountain, scanned its
beetling brows.
Nice secluded place for a lovers
stroll up the-Well, look at those
reckless fools - exclaimed, catching
sight of a man and woman treading
the narrow path upon the side Of the
lofty decline, which dropped few
feet below them sheer TO the plain,
more than two thousand feet down.
1t was as though they were walking
a cleat across some gigantic Gothic
roof. \ false step would send them
tumbling down its steep descent and
dash them off its dizzy eaves-down
down The thought siekened Inc.
Ny companion had small spy
glass. which somewhat facilitated his
vision.
The fools. The fools" he cried,
clinching my arm with his unoccupied
hand.
was too frozen by the spectacle
for utterance.
Good God TheIe they go" he
exclaimed.
The woman slipped, and as she fell
she caught her companions feet, pull
ing him after her down the decline.
\ faint uncertain cry reached MS
from the upper air like the bodyleSS
voice Of the prairie kill deer" The
hand holding my glass dropped from
my eyes and became faint, almost to
unconsciousness.
Look Look 4"
The words aroused me. Again
raised the glass. Terrible spectacle I.
/ The man had clutched both hands
over the sharp edge of rock that
formed akind OF a trough or lip on the
very verge of the perpendicular prec-
ipice. The woman still retained her
grasp upon his feet, and they hung,
like bats, fiat against the bare face OF
the cliff.
Stone Mountain is mica rock, and
the face of that cliff sparkled and
plistened like a front Of diamonds un-
der the brilliant sun. A background
of light that showed every line oi
their contour with fearful distinct
ness.
See! some one above has sighted
them and gone for help.
True. But how long could he hold
on supporting the woman's weight in
addition to his own? Only few
seconds at the longest. O, for time.
Time and strength.
At first it seemed that he could not
possibly cling until the rescuersshouId
return. But as moment after moment
passed. and still they clung, the ag-
ony Of witnessing the spectacle was
increased by the feeble hope, that by
some miracle of strength he might
vet endure unto deliverance. Ihe
seconds seemed to lengthen into
minutes. Still no hope!
felt that the supreme moment had
come: that he could not keep his hold
for another fraction Of time If it were
to bring certain safety.
Just as a murmur Of joy escaped
nv companions lips at the sight OF
the rescuers, the human mass upon
the mountains brow grew suddenly
less, The woman had released her
grasp and shot down the precipice-
visible only as dark streak, sable
flash, against the glittering surface
Of the rock.
The idling buzzards careened away
in frightened haste and | lifted my
glance TO the man again. One mo
ment more and the rescuer who had
been let down would make the rope
fast about his body. He endured.
AsI saw them begin TO draw him
no. consciousness forsook me. When
I was revived by the chatting of my
companion. we started for the sta
ton. Although our progress was
slow. we reached the town just "a a
dummy car from the quarry was be
ing pushed along the side track TO
the station. Upon it was the man
who had been rescued.
AS the quarrymen supported him
in walking from the car into the sta
ton | caught the first glance of his
face. 1t was John Hardy.
He was very weak, and did not
speak a word during the whole home
ward journey. He was seriously III
for some weeks. and not even his
promised wife was permitted TO see
him. Their marriage was indefinitely
postponed.
The coroner's inquest over the
that she was a daughter OF the set
tier living in the little cabin upon the
table-land, and was in the habit OF
conducting parties Of visitors about
the mountain. She WAS supposed to
know its every point and crevice.
Hardy was well known to the jury
men and the coroner, and upon the
testimony Of the two eye witnesses to
the tragedy a verdict OF accidental
death was rendered.
As soon as Hardy was partially con
valescent, my visit ended. Although
his physical condition furnished
ample occasion for the indefinite post
ponement Of their marriage, / was
certain that there were elements
otber than health connected with