Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-10-06
THE
Master of the Mine.
By ROBERT BUCHANAN.

I'M WV lOh tltilAh Il OuAut w w Aioks
Miss Curiosity" 1 said.
go down the mine" she answered,
promptly; then you oDuid change those
things, and do your accounts comfortable
like"
upon my word, Annie" 1 said. there's
a world Of wisdom in that pretty little head
of yours"
1put my arm round her shouIders-gave
her a kiss-at which my aunt and uncle
laughed ~delightedly.
Goodnight air. / said again. annie,
/ shall take your advice, and go straight
Town the miner And | was on.
had gone only a little way. when / sud-
denly remembered that certain account-books
which | should need that night were in my
room al the cottage. Ikesitated a moment
then / turned back 10 get them. Ii WAS
growing rather dark but that was of little
consequence to me. since | could have walk
ed every step OF the way blindioided, and
for the descent into the mine, daylight was
of little use.
So ! strolled slowly back, enjoying my pipe
and the freshness of the evening air, and
when | reached the cottage 1t was quite dark.
4 paused before the kitchen window, which
was open, for the night was sulty, and look
ed in.
My aunt and uncle still sat in much the
same position they hid occupied when | left
them, but Annie was gone was about to
put my head In az the window, and acquaint
them with my return, when 1 heard the mem
ton of my own name.
"Yes," said my aunt. nodding her head, II
ha' watched 'em. and / know Annie favors
Hugh. IL ever any lass favored n lad"
We'll, | do hope you'm right. Martha. old
gal my uncle returned. 'lIe be a good lad,
and / shall be glad to call him my son."
i heard no mOre--I felt like a man who
had received Il knock,iown blow, and /! stag
gered under IL a bit. Annie love me?-the
Cd people planning our marriage? Ii was
all so new 1t took me "A time 10 recover. But
was II true? Were they right? Did my cous-
in really care for me? | glanced back on all
the years we had been together, and | con-
cluded that after all il might be possible.
Certainly, Annie had given no very marked
evidence of her love; but then she was not a
delnonstrative girl. A quiet lowering of the
eyelids, a little pink blush, were more in her
line.
And then of late she had sorely changed.
l had noticed that, and wondered a bit; now
the meaning of it seemed clear. Annie, my
little cousin Annie, whom | had ever regard
ed as a sister and q child, had developed into
q woman and was capable of feeling a wo-
mans love.
Ny thoughts turned from Annie to myself:
l began TO analyze MY own feelings, and to
pronounce upon them. Did / love Annie?
Yes, In one sense; no, in another. Yet my
affection for her was of that strong. deep
nature that l might have mistaken it for
love, If that one all-absorbing episode of my
~schooldays had never been. Even then, aft.
er a lapse OF years. the thought of Madeline
made my blood Jingle in my veins, and ny
heart beat painfully. OF all this the old peo-
pie knew nothing; they had evidently made
up their minds that Annie and | were exactly
suited to one another, and ought to BE- man
n wife. Whether % not l vas glad or
sorry at this discovery | eor,d not tell; my
feelings were a strange mixture which |
could not analyZe.
Before / had time to think very deeply on
the subject. the kitchen door opened, and
Annie herself appeared on the threshold.
Though it was dark out of doors, the light in
the kitchen showed her 70 me distinctly. She
wore a long black cloak. which she folded
tightly around her shoulders; It's hood cover
ell her head.
II am going down to the village. I shan't
be long" 4 heard her say, in answer to her
mothers question. Then she came out, clos
ing the kitchen door after her.
She paused a moment outside; then she
hurried away--I. rather aimles>ly. following
hes. She crossed the high road which led TO
the village, and took instead a narrow foot
path which led by a short cut to the mine.
Wondering what could be taking her that
way, | continued to follow her.
She quickened her pace now, almost TO q
run. When She had got about halfway to
the mine, she turned OFF again. and fastened
along with increased speed toward GFeystock
Tower.
GreystOck Tower was a ruin consisting OF
three dilapidated ivy-coyered walls and a
buttress; it stood on an emlnence a few hun
6red yarus from tine s~eashore, and by the su-
perstitious inhabitants OF the village was sup
posed to be haunted. Even Annie, l had
suspected till that night, shared in the popu-
lar belief. / was the more aStonished, there
fore, to see her going t0ward it, alone, ON q
dark night, and rs IL her very life depended
upon her speed.
Having reached the ruin, she paused, and
stood rs ii listening. There was a dead ST.
lence all round, broken only by the washing
of the sea. crept up in the shadow.o of the
ruin.
Presently, / heard a peculiar whistle. An
ME said softly:
''Yes-I am here" Then a figure, that OF
| a man, emerged from the darkness and join
Ell her.
My establishment ut all this was SO great
that for a time | was utterly unable to move;
but, from my shadowy h~idingplace, watch
Ell the pair. VINO the man was. l could not
tell, the darkness completely concealing his
features: but | saw that he was taller than
Annie. and that he was smoking a cigar.
They stood close together, talking earnest
ly; but l could not catch a word of what they
said. Presently. they began to move away,
and | deemed ii time to interfere.
In two strides l was between them-Annie
uttered q scream, the man an oath. But he
stood his ground. and looked into my face.
1t was now my turn Ia utter an exclama-
ton. The man was young Redruth, the
master OF the snine.
The c0ntretemps was so complete that for
a moTsent neither of us spoke. Redruth. be-
Ing the coolest, was the frst TO speak.
VIVA are you doing here, I~relawney?'
he asked, curtly.
II am here to take my cousin home, sir"
I replied.
Indeed" he sneered; II should have
tnotgnt you were here 10 piay the spy!
Even that would be better than playing
the villain" L returned.
Here Annie, seeing a storm brewing, in
terfered.
"Hugh, dear Hughr' she said. plucking at
my sleeve.
But young Redruth now stepped forward.
Don't agitate yourself, Annie" said he,
coolly, while | was ready 10 knock him
down. And you. sir" he added, address
ing me. 'stand on; of tile way; l have BUSH
Ress with this young lady. aud l request you
TO leave u.s."
And II | refuspg'
lie raised a small CAM which he carried
and struck me across the shoulders. In a
moment had wrenched Ii from his hand,
and with one weil-plauted blow I would
nave made him measure his length upon the
ground, but, with another scream. Annie
rushed forward and stool between us.
~ GU shall pay for this, you scoundrelr -
slid my master; and, without another word,
he disappeared Into the darkness.
Annie, still frightened and trembling.
rushed forward 10 follow him, but In a mo-
mens l waS beside her.
"Youll come with me. Annie,r I said, tax.
Ing her hand firmly in mine.