The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-12-24
Like ono i'm a drenm, Frank Hohnrt

felt the thrilling touch of Elias hand
on his arm, and, quite sure that he was
about to disgrace himself in her eyes,
he took his place beside her at the head
of the set, while other couples came
laughing to the floor.
The band leader tapped his bow on
his violin as signal to the musicians
and the dancers. The salute was given,
and the quick. first bars of Haste to
the Wedding" swelled out; but sudden
ly the music ceased, and the dancers
stood spellbound, with ashy faces,
THE mines on firew came the hoarse
shout of men.
''There are eleven men still DOWN.
shrielIed woman.
There was no indecision about Frank
Hobart now. Without a word ne
sprang from Elias side, shouting as he
flew to the door: Follow me to the
mine, boys"
Like a mountain lion he leaped
ahead and dashed down the winding
steps cut in the precipitous side Of the
canyon, at the bottom of which was
the opening of the mine shaft, from
which fountain of smoke was shoot
ing up.
Men followed with lanterns and
torches. The festivities for that Christ
mas eve were over till it was known
that the men in the mine were safe,
The women, Ella at their head, ran
down to the canyon, their faces ioSss-
ing aged and white in the light OF the
torches.
MAKE ready to lower me DOWN.
shouted Frank Hobart as he leaped into
the bucket, land stand by to haul up
and answer signals!"
"l1l go with your cried Sam Britton.
"No; let some man come who has no
wife or mother or loved one dependent
on him"
A tall young man in a very red shirt
sprang to Franks side. The engine
was started, and the bucket sank into
the shaft, now vomiting forth hot
smoke like a volcano.
"Let me take you home, Miss Ella;
This is no place for you," said Howard
Ford.
Shaking his hand from her arm with
an impatient gesture, she answered:
"Near him is my place, in life or in
deathr'
Minutes of awful anxiety, then the
signal: Haul away" The chain aew
about the drum, the bucket new up
through the shaft, and six men, all the
bucket could hold--six burned and
blackened men, but still living, thank
God.-were lifted out.
'Lower away-quich!" gasped one Of
the rescued.
Down through the shaft the bucket
ratified again. A few minutes, that
seemed like hours of awful anxiety,
and once more the signal came up
Haul away!"
Up, up; six men, blacller and more
burned, were lifted out
where is Frank Hobart?" shouted
Ella.
'"The car would only hold six. He
he made us get in" said the man who
had gone down with the young super
iItcndent.
A groan of horror rang through the
crowd and Ella tottered towards the
bucket, as if to get in.
God helping me, I'll bring him up
Lower away, boys!" Sam Britton, with
his wife's shawl about his head and
face and her cry ringing in his ears,
leaped into the bucket and it vanished
into the furnace as if by force OF
gravity
More minutes, that seemed like
hours, and the signal, a faint one this
time, for the fire was gaining, was
given: Haul away~
When the basket came up Sam Brit.
ton tottered out and with parche6 lips
whispered:
"Keer for Frank"
They lifted the blackened form out,
amid the shrielSs Of the women and the
groans of the mey, The eyes appeared
{ TO be gene, aud tie smoking rags
dropped from his limbs as they laid
him on stretcher and hurried him up
to his room in the hotel
Fortunatel.', there were two doctors
present from neighboring mining
towns, and they at once set about ex-
amining the injuries and easing the
awful pain of the young man. who was
now quite conscious, though he could
only speak in whispers,
From the instant OF his rescue Ella
had not left his side, and now, when
.he doctors had bathed him in lotious