The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-04

MART"
Without ore impulse nll within the
tunnel rushed III the direction from
which it came.
"Mart! Mart Cuiverson."
1t was near enough now. They
knew some terrific calamity was I'M
pending to bring the woman there.
Mart! Mart.'
eyes, Lu, I'm coming. Great hea-
veps, what is the matter?''
1.-The rain is coming down in tor
rents, the snow on the mountain is
melting, the canon is fast becoming n
roaring river. Hurry or you will be
drowned. Thank Godp' and she
fell fainting in bis arms as the last
word was breathed.
There was no thought now for any
thing but life. All the gold in the
mountains would not have tempted
them to remain another instant.
With the insensible girl in his arms, n
little burden for so tall muscular u
man, Mart Culverson fought his way
OFT Of the tunnel. Then the cold air
and rain revived her and she gasped:
"Not that way. Mart; we must go
down stream. Merciful heaven! my
poor horse is swept away and there is
no hope for u.s." ssf-&
"There is a caye below and we must
try and reach it. Come, my brave
little girl, we will make O. fight for
life. But heavens! what a ride you
must have had, and how you must
have suffered? Why did not some OF
the men Gomez"
because they were towards; but
don't talk now, Mart. We will need
all our breath and mine is most gone. I"
He threw an arm around to sustain
her and they hurried on, scarcely able
to keep their footing, now and then
plunging into holes, and lifted and
whirled rs straws down stream.
There is q tree hanging low down,
see? We must catch it and swing III
to the shore or be carried the Lord
knows wheren' Culverson said
hoarsely and with a great effort.
81 see"
She did momentarily by the glare OF
the lightning, ana then again all was
darkness. Both were swimming now.
They were dashed against ragged
rocks and threatened to be crushed
between ruclng logs.
The whirling OF an eddy swept
them in shore. simultaneously the
hands OF both grasped the tree. The
limb broke. Another wild clutching,
desperate effort, and they were able
to partially lift themselves out OF the
water, to drag them selves shoreward
TO reach little cave high above the
rush and roar OF the foaming
tide.
Wet to the skin, chilled to the mar
row OF their bones, exhausted with ei-
fort, they were forced for n time to lie
down and rest. No light came to
them save in the lightning's flash. and
the solid rocks beneath. above and
around shook with therollingthunde
almost as leaf in an autumn wind.
Mart" said the girl, straining her
voice to it's uttermost and with her
lips to his ear, "do you think we are
safe now"
"Yes, why not? But you are cold
and shiverins"
"That is nothing. My love for you
will keep ME warm. Hark! Oh, merci
| ful God. what was that? And Mart.
Mart! / can see nothing more OF the
lightning and scarcely hear u sound
"Lu," he answered, folding his arms
| around her, "are you ready to die?'
"Die? | ready to die? Horror. My
soul is blacker than the night and my
sins more numerous than the stars
Oh, mercy, has it come to that?"
"Lu," and there was o strange
pathos and reverence in his voice, eve
l. - 90 Ntn FOR hoe
| undermined the rocks; the face OF the
mountain has slid down over the
mouth Of the cave; we are buried be
meath hundreds Of thousands OF tons. =
Her arms sought and chung around
his neck; her lips sought and kissed
| his. il they must die it would be to-
gether. Love the most passionate
came to her heart. Love such as she
had never known before; love purified
from all of grossness, almost, ofearth
Silence fell upon their tongues and
filtered through their system. II
could not have been more horrible
had they been in the crypt OF the
| earth, whereno sound ever penetrates
not even the bubbling, boiling, kissing
the central fire, where no sound o
| wind or flashing OF waves is ever heard
and the fercest thunder lisps not tn,
ghost OF q sound. Dear" questioned
the girl in shuddering whispers, anC
calling him so for the first time, "il
there no hope?"
"None beyond a few hours. Unless
the air becomes so exhausted we cal
no longer breathe we shall die of star
walton. In the name OF heaven, why
did you come, Luz"
because / loved you so, Mart"
"Love me for what?"
He did not dare answer the ques
ton himself, as the past, black ant
accusing, rose before him, and sh
shrank within herself as she recollect
ed how many years had been passed
Again, for time, silence reignet
supreme. They lay, locked in eacl
others arms, with heart beatin
against heart, feeling but not express
ing their emotions, bowling beneath
the shadow OF doom. Then once NOR
the girl whispered and so sudden an,
startling was the question sh
asked that the strong man shiver
ed.
Mart do you believe in God?"
"Lu-I-I-yes, ! believe.
Her woman's tenderness in tina
awful hour felt more for him thai
A n