Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-04


pair.
My heart sickened as I thought Of the
loneliness of the place, and how many
days and even weeks. might elapse be-
fore any one passed that way.
struck out frantically round the pit to
seek again for some means Of escape, but
nv search was as fruitless as before.
Despair took hold of me. / thought of
Ada of our approaching marriage. of the
preparations which had been made and
the plans which had been formed.
How bright the world had seemed but
a few moments before, and how keenly
had anticipated its pleasuresi And now
II was all over. 1 must think no more OF
entering again the bright region above
and sharing in the joys that awaited me
there. I was doomed to die-to ole
lonely. solitary. horrible DEATH and TO lie
in watery grave. ~ l held on 10 my
feeble support and thought of all this
my brain reeled within me- and feared
that nv reason must give way.
Death instead of marriage! What a
contrast Just when ! ought to be lead
ing nv bride to the altar and stepping
across the portal of married life, TO let
60 nv hold here and fall into the cold,
relentless arms of death. And what OF
Ada then? Surely she would sorrow and
rrieve. and be disconsolate.
But Horace Rishton, What of him?
Might they not become man and -- But
no the thought was torturing and drove
me in a fit of frenzy to shout again with
all nv might. But it was all in vain, for
no one heard me.
How the night passed I cannot tell
neither do I know how the morning hours
dragged on, for l was numb with cold and
faint with hunger and fatigue. l only
know that after what seemed to me to be
ages. footsteps drew near and a voice call
ed out from above:
Are you there Fred?'
NV heart leaped into my mouth and for
a moment I was unable TO utter sound.
At last murmured in a faint voice:
In heavens name get me out. I'm dy-
ing
Can you hold on another minute?' the
voice asked I've got rope here. Keep
up till fasten it to this stake. Can you
slip loop round your body. or shall I
come down to your
pass it round. l shouted eagerly.
In another minute it was dangling be-
fore my eyes and was soon passed under
my arms. after which I gave the word TO
draw up. Slowly I ascended and at last .
emerged into the light and freedom of the /
upper air
As lay upon the ground-for my legs /.
were useless to mel looked al my deiv- /.
erer and wept for JOY at my release
1t was Horace Rishton who had saved /
me. and If ever my heart went out TO /,
my rival it was then.
Il cannot sufficiently thank you, be- /
gan.
Give me no thanks" he interrupted .
harshly. Thank heaven instead. Heav- 7
en- and hell have been fighting over you /
and heaven has won. But you little know /
how near you have been TO death.
l looked up in wondormcnt az him, for /
his words were unintellbIe TO me. He
took no notice of my look, but continued: /
Il guessed where you We're. call IL in I
stinct or whatever you like. No one else .
did. They will seek everywhere but here.
But I seemed to know, and-weil, the
me- Don't you know why? You love Ada
with a love that is all-consuming-a love
which gives me no rest night or day
love which makes it impossible for me TO
live without her. You have won her
hand, but you think l envy you? Don't
you think ! even hate you at times? And
when 1 guessed you were here. don't you
see that the devil tempted me to leave you
here and to say nothing whatever about
it?But Ada has chosen you; she loves you.
Your wedding day draws near. Go-take
her and he happy. But for me happiness
in this life is over
He turned away to unloosen the rope.
which he made fast TO one of the stakes
of the fence.
watched him wonderingly with daz-
ed mind. when all IN "a moment. before
could speak or think. he reeled fell over
and toppled headong into the pit from
which he had drawn me. carrying the
rope with him.
Good heavens. he's gomez I shrieked, /
and. springing to my feet-for the numb !
ness had left me for "a moment rushed /
to the mouth of the shaft crying tranu-
cally. Horace. Horace.
But no answer came to my cries. A
loud splash succeeded his fall. then all |
was still and silent ass the grave. look
ed around for help. but no help was near. |
and. overcome with weakness. fatigue |
and horror, / fell senseless to the ground
When ] came to I found myself In the |
same position. and. knowing that ii was |
extremely improbable that any one would !
pass that way. put forth all my strength !
and dragged myself with great difficulty |
in the direction Of home.
When 1 had gone mile or so l entered |
upon more frequented road, and soon /
fell in with those who rendered me all the |
assistance 1 required.
My story caused a great sensation as