Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-17
CHAPTER VII.
HAD THE ToRY'S CURSE INDEED FALLEN
UPON Us?


UPON Us?
Proudly | decorated Elsie in rings
| and bracelets and brooches, and she
smiled with pleasure as l told her how
we'll they became the dainty beauty.
Then I filed my pockets with gold
coin, saing gailY:
This will DO me for pin money until
lean return and carry away the rest in
q bag" mimicking old Drugs plans I'M
I'll Elsie's happy laughter made the
echoes ring.
So we laughed and tested for awhile
like two children-two children playing
on the edge of a precipce, we said after
ward when we recalled that hour.
Then l suggested that we should re-
turn 10 the cabin, get large basket,
aud foreStall old Druzy in bringing
away the treasure.
We set out on cur return both jubi-
liant with happiness, aud building splen-
did aircastles in our minds Tor the glo-
rlous, golden future.
For myself, was dazed with my good
fortune. Miss Van Lew aud her anger
were quite forgotten until Elsie OBJ
served little timorOusly:
81 hope there will be no rattlesnakes
waiting for us this time
Alas. could our dim vision have
pierced the nearing future we might
have chosen another reneontre with
poisonous reptiles rather than the dark
and terrible fate grimly lowering over
our unconscious heads.
Aud | was 50 bindly happy, so full Of
[ I Ioft IN IL
through the cave carressing my darling,
telling her over ana over the story Of
my love.
mo woman was ever more dearly
worshipDed than you, my sweet one! |
will spend my life in making you hap
oy" l cried daringly.
She was very shy, my bonny Wild
bird, but l know her gentle heart
thrilled al every word, she chung TO me
so tenderly, and with such absolute con-
6deuce.
All, how We wasted the precious mo-
ments in ourutender lettering on the
way. Why did not som clarion voice
cry out 10 US in warning: Ely! Fly!
while there is yet time! Better wander
desolete in the night and storm beneath
the free sky of heaven than linger here
in this fatal trap TO meet your doom"
Alas; no warning voice cried out TO
as TO hasten our flight, and l had only
laughed al Elsie's piteous presentiment
that must not enter the cave again.
There is one thing that I am very
anxious over" said Elsie, as we came
near 10 the cabin door. You remem-
Der / told you that granny said she in
tended 70 desert me. as | was nothing
TO her Il am hoping that l am really
no relation to the old wretch, for l
heard her say tonight that she had
stolen money aud jewels from Mrs.
Wentworth, and / could not bear the
thought that such a disgrace should
fall on me-" she ended, with deep
sigh.
Il am sure that you are no kin OF
hers, darling, and | shall make her
confess the truth this very night"
began, warming, out do not think she
ever caught the closing words. They
were drowned by long, low, rumbllnR
peal as of thunder that seemed TO shake
the very mountain over our heads.
A terrible explosion OF some sort had
occurred over the entrance TO the cave!
After the first terrible deafsning roar
and rumble there followed the awful
grating noise OF stones and earth
sliding down the mountain and engulf-
ing the cabin whose dry, rotting tim
bers cracked and collapsed like paper
under the heavy weight. The vaulted
roof of the cave cracked into frag-
ments and fell about US. dealing us
heavy blows as though hurled by the
hands of taunting fends!
To our terrified senses it seemed as II
the trump OF doom mad sounded!
Is snatched poor Elsie to my breast
and held her close, trying 10 shield her
tender form from the flying debris
OF the wrecked cave that seemed to
have fallen in upon US from the force OF
some mysterious engine Of destruction
outside.
A few moments and the first force Of
the explosion spent itself, but as we
crouched on the ground, expecting
every moment to be killed by the falling
debris. IL seemed as though il had last
ed unnumbered hours.
Casped in each others arms, we
waited despairingly the final moment
We had st least one comfort-in death
we should not be divided.
The rush OF air caused by the flying
stones had extinguished my lantern and
we were in blank darkhess. What mat
ter. since the darkness OF death would
soon hedge US in from the beautiful,
bright world and all our vaulting Smbt-
tions.
All, it was cruel, cruel, to die like
this. so young, so loving! In the awful
gloom it seemed TO my distorted fancy
that tends were laughing at our fate.
Had the curse of my Tory ancestor in-
deed fallen upon us?
Elsie was dazed aud dumb with fear
and pain for she had been severely
bruised. Her little head was nestled
close TO INV breast, and her heavy
frightened breathing thrilled me with
keen despair at my helplsssness.
had disregarded her warming led
her confidently into this awful trap,
hot now ! vas all poweress TO avert
her doom.
! Suddenly in my suspense and anguish
became aware that the bind force of
nature had seemingly exhausted its
wild fury.
The grinding Of immense stones out
aide mad ceased, and within the debris
was no longer falling. A dead silence
now reigned that was very grateful