Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-24
CHAPTER N.
TIE TREASURE LOST.

seemed no nearer to light and liberty.
Now aud then l would throw down
my tools aud rest my aching arms
awhile by sharing Elsie'S vigil by Dru-
zy's death bed, then return to my labor
again.
We grew both thirsty and hungry
after awhile, but there was not nor
sci Of food or drop OF water in the
cabin.
All, how my heart ached for my
poor, pale, suffering Elsie, go angeI
caily calm and patient.
To about seven hours after we had
found her, Old DruZv died peacefully 10
her sleep. Al intervals she had been
restless and babbed about Miss Van
Lewis wicked schemes, the treasure,
and Elsie. Once she muttered some
thing about the hollow trunk OF al ole
tree on the mountain side, and We
thought it likely she had hidden the
aitsrUard failed 10 discover it,
When she was dead and l went TO
close her eyes and compose her limbs,
l found on her neck beneath a Knotted
silk handkerchief the diamond neck
lace she had worn out of the cave.
l clasped the Jewels around Eisio's
soft white throat and kissed her fOndly,
saying:
This necklace and the jewels you
already wear are probably all that we
shall ever have OF the TOry's treasure. "
Ny darling shuddered and sighed
mournfull7;
Were all the Tory's treasure mine /
would give IL gladly 70 be free and safe
" ID you once more, dear Max, at our
lovely Jrysting place on che noun
tain"
echoed the thought dismallY enough
TO my hopeless heart, but l answered
brightly:
Courage, dear heart, ior surely we
shall be happy yet"
returned 20 my work, and presently
she crept 10 my side begging 10 help me.
1t is so sad sitting there alone with
the dead woman"
Then STAY with me, dearest" I an
swered, though the situation only add
ed 10 my fears.
What il the loose earth above should
cave in and cover US both What a
Yet l dared not breathe my fears
aloud 10 the depressed and nervous
girl, my companion in this awful
plight
She would not leave me although /
begged her 70 go and lie down 10 rest.
She STAYED in the tunnel holding the
lantern for me 20 work by, and now
and then her sweet voice murmured 3
prayer for us, making my heart bound
with renewed courage, for surely God
must listen TO the pleadingS of those
pure, sweet lips
There was one thing that l wandered
over increasingly.
The people AZ the springs must surely
have heard that terrific explosion.
They knew that the cabin was inhstit-
ed. Why did they make 20 effort TO
dig the victims out OF the ruins
Alas, l was ignorant then that my
enemy. Miss Van Lew, had caused 20 be
circulated a report that had married
Elsie and taken her and her grand
mother away with me the day previous
20 the explosion
OF course, no one doubted the pIausl-
bic story, but rather rejOiced that the
landslide had buried no victims beneath
10.
Sol toilsd on and on, and my watch
rod ma that fifteen hours had ella ed
since the accident.
began 20 have sickeni1g fear that
the whole mountain must have TOPPED
down upon the cabin.
When Druzy had been dead twelve
hours found It necessary, for the sake
of our health, 20 bury her cut OF our
sight
/ scoopsd a grave IN the loose esrth /
had thrown into the cabin, wrapped
the stiff body in a Counterpart, then
laid her solemnly away in her kindred
dust.
Another calamity greater even than
thirsta and hunger now began 10 confront
us.
The OH ia nv lantern was almost
gone. and soon l would have no light 70
work by.
The tunnel was now almost twenty
feet long, but still no g'immer OF the
world outside. Hungry weak ana mis-
erable. nv brave heart began 70 fail
me- and I lamsnted my thirst for gold
that had brought me- 10 this aWiul
pass.
ON. the long hours that followed, how
cruel 10 IS TO dwell on them now even 10
shuddering memory!
was wearied almost TO death with
NV hard labor, trembling for want OF
food. and tormented with cruel thirst
In WAS the same with nv patient Elsie
knew, but each for the others sake
wa strovs IN be cheerful and never com
pIained of our privations. But for her
dear sake 1 hould have given up the
awful struggle and laid down despair
inRly 70 die.
The endless hours dragged on and on
while dug tyantically AZ that endless
tunnel that was now perhaps forty feet
long. 10 was not sure, for my BRAIN
was growing daled. I Enew-heaven
helm us-that / should soon sink with
exhaustion, that unless soon released
we should perish Of hunger and thirst.
on how cruel 20 perish thus In our
sarlv youth, nv love barely seventeen,
r,vself bus i've aud twenty, Aud so
iittIe while ago so blindiy happy, look
,,g forward TO long life Of love and
AGAIN looked at my watch NV eyes
40 dim and sad that l could scarcely
4O,ke out the little golden hands that
told Of the tagging hours
"Oh. Elsie, il is thirty hours since
.ha emission! -and-there is no hope
80 - faltered, giving way al last TO
;bs agony Of my keen despair, so long
-eDressed for her dear sake
1--WE shall die soon, shall we not dsar