St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-04-09
HERO OF SALTHAM PIT
BY AMELIA e. BARR,

BY AMELIA e. BARR.
Everyone that knows anything abol
coal mines knows that the great Salthal
pit lies just ON the edge Of the city c
Whitehaven, and extends thence IA
under the sea.
In the summer of 19- two ladias cam
to Whitehaven for the purpose of es
tablishing their right to shares in thi
plt-a right which they had recently dis
covered. They were mother an
her daughter, both of them beautiful an
cultured women, and as they ha
brought letters Of introduction to th
rector they were soon recognized as be
longing to one of tn, most desirabl
"sets" of that old, aristocratic city.
Indeed, Mary Allonby was universe
favorite, and before the first winter wa
over it was generally understood tina
she was the promised wife of the hand
some Gerald Peel a young man Of YER,
good family and of great promise. Ii,
was the head "Viewer' Of the Saltham
pit, and knew well the richness and ex
ceiience of its coal seams. Now, tn,
Viewer OF a large English co ! mine is t
gentleman; man of great courage
forethought and fine en- cheering skill
tie has a large salary, lives in goot
style, and exercises a great power, not
only over the under-viewers, but also in
the entire management Of the pit.
The marriage had been fixed for June
and the preparations were all made. Mrs.
Allonby was so certain of her rights
being settled by that date, that she had
instructed her lawyer to make over GER
tain portion of them to her daughter as a
wedding present. One evening Gerald
was taking tea with them, and from the
pleasant room happy laughter and happy
voices went floating outward into the
shady depths of the shrubbery.
Among this shrubbery a man was
lurklng-a man with dirty, ragged
clothing and a face passion smitten and
every way evil; and whenever Mrs. AL
lonby s voice or Mary's laugh caught his
ear, its expression was almost terrible.
II am nothing to them now!" he NUT
tered. "But, we shall see! We shall
seew
He fingered in the thick shrubberv nm
TIL the moon rose, and he saw Gerald
wrap Mary in her little white hood and
cloak, and take her into the gard en-
Then he crept nearer the house and
watched Mrs. Allonby lift a candle and
go up stairs into room that fronted two
ways, one Of them toward a gable which
was thlckly matted with an old ivy vine
Inc windows were open on that side. and
he cautiously assembled. When he
reached the upper floors Mrs. Allonbv
was seated before an old-fashioned sec
rotary, tying up some papers. He mt
his hand upon her shoulder, forced her
TO sit still, and uttered but one wrd:
'Iouisa!"
She did not faint, nor scream. nor evar
attempt to rise; but gathering tooetbar
all her senses and energies, She looked
the man earnestly in the face, and said.
IN voice where tenderness and anger
strove tor the mastery:
Richard Allonbyn'
eyes, madam. Lock your door and
shut your windows. Ihave something tn
soy to you"
Mary's sakep'
. "Why not? Am l not your husband?
Alb, ah! You can't get over that Won
Icei" ""
God help me! No."
She rose mechanically, locked the door
nut out the sweet evening air, pulled |
Town the blinds, and then, motionino
oward sofa, sat down.
"oh, no, my lady. / won't put you
o that degradation. You are O. lady.
,ou know, and then in a lower voice:
ana now want you to give me those
papers. know all about them y
'hlchard, you have robbed me of nv
WI fortune, and of the peace and love
I my youth. You killed my father with
he shame you brought on him. You
ave forced me to leave the place whore
y tamily have dwelt for centuries. and
come stranger to this strange north
ountry DO have pity now on me and
n your own child. For heavens sake
pare her the disgrace and misery of
moving YOU
! GU never told her, then?''
NO, no, no! She thinks you dead
nd oh, Richard. she is going to be mar
ed" '''"'
i know that, too. Give me the papers.
have been long enough here"
Richard! Richard! kill me, if Won
kr, but do Mary no further wrong.
Il don't like to kill you, Louisa. |
ke you well enough to wish to look at
"a occasionally. Give me the papers I
stall ring the bell and order NV sun I
'r. You know I'm master here, if say |
. See, I'll give you five minutes to
'tlde. don't want you to say forced 6
en- from you :
In great emergencies the mind acts +
pldiy. Mrs. Allonby reviewed her 9
sole position, and made her decision. 7
e walked back to the secretary, and :
KING from drawer bundle Of papers a
ID little gold chain holding a pearl h
oss and couple of rings, came toward y
II husband.
+" This is to be our last meeting, Rich 4
q, and you must promise it upon that n
am and those rings; you know them h
cy were your Mothers o
Richard Allonby put then aside ner- i
usly 1t there was any memory that
lde his soul SILVER and sob. it was that \
the gentle little mother whose heart he
d broken. i.
Il won't touch those things" he said G
i've me the papers" 8
Not unless you do what I say" Ii
Richard saw his wife's courage RISING.
d he knew well that when tint women :.
angered to APPOINT Of resistance, such O.