Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-07

gether on the Sunday he had never gone
near her since and showed no desire r.
approach her.
She felt that she ought to explain,
6ut could not bring herself to do so.
Nay, as the days went by she began tc
feel pleased that her old lover had beer
got rid Of so easily. She was free now
to accept. Marston's attentions and had
half resolved to repulse the manager nc
more. Day after day Peg and Harry
saw each other ON the pit bank, and he
never missed chance of showing that
he was devotedly attached to her. Tha,
his love was honest and his intentions
honorable she had every reason to be-
lieve, seeing that he had as ked her one
afternoon to be his wife.
She had put him off with an evasive
answer, promising to let him know
when her mind was made up. And be
had waited patiently. Weeks had drift.
ed past, and still she could not compel
herself to accept Marston or refuse him.
One part OF her nature chung to her ole
sweetheart; the other urged her to pos
sess herself of the man whose position
would make her life easy, whose love
would pander to the qualification of al
her small ambitions and social desires.
For months the girl hung thus sus
pended between the duty to her old love
and tho wish to resign herself to the
new one. She blamed herself daily fol-
her irresolution, made up her mind
nightly to say "Yes" to Harry Marstor
ON the morrow, and when the morrow
came her heart failed her.
Aword from Jack Kendall would have
decided her i'll his.fav and broueh,
her back to him, but the word was moi
spoken, and she constantly gravitatet
toward the handsome wooer whose Low
ing words and admiring glanccs were
given her each day without stint.
One afternoon Marston came to PEG
as she stood against the fence rails a,
the edge of tho elevated pit bank There
| was slight luil in the winding opera
lions, and the surface hands We're enjoy
ing brief rest. 1t was midway in No
venber, and Snow had fallen heavily
all the day. 1t had ceased now, and the
pit top and the surrounding country
were one apparently endless waste Of
| snow.
He leaned on the wooden rail beside
her, and for some moments they spoke
| on unimportant matters only. The girl.
face was pale beneath the coal dust MP
| On it, and her heart was beating quick
ly beneath her print gown. She hat
made up her mind at last and was seek
ing courage to speak.
"Do you know, Peg" he said pres
emily, THAT I made a discovery thi.
morning."
"What did you find out?''
''That you and Jack Kendall were
sweethearts before came here. Is thai
true?"
She nodded. her eyes fixed ON the
snow covered village in tho distance
MY coming here parted you?"
ut did, she said quietly. "But We
didn't quarrel. Jack heard Of that Sat
urday night at the Blue Bell, he saw l..
| together that Sunday afternoon. and
well, you understand what he d think. -
Il can, but l never dreamed of sucl
q thing. l thought you were free.
wouldn't have stepped between you had
l known. will tell Jack everything il
you wish me, Peg"
Please yourself. ="
"Do you wish me to tell him."
There was moments silence; Their
in a quick. gasping way she cried
Nor
THAT means that You love me, not
him. and will marry me:''
She nodded Yes" and he cauCh,
her hand nearest him and pressed it il
his own. He dared not kiss her under
the eyes of the other pit girls near a,
hand. He had to be content with that
stolen hand pressure and Whispered
word or two Of joy and love.
Then the 'knocker" CT signal bel,
rang out three times in quick success
sion, end couple of moments later the
pulleys were spinning round, the steel
ropes gliding down and up, and when
the great cage came to the surface an
inky faced, sweating pitman sprang out,
asking in an excited tone for the man.
ager, Harry Marston.
There was whispered conference be.
SNeSh oihCiai anu WOrkma0, ana tlell
Marston hurried back to Peg Holland S
side.
Bad news, DEAR
"What is it?''
"Jack kendal's dead! Smothered by
gas. l am going down now to try to
recover his body. Don't tell any one
yet"
She trembled, and he thought she
was about to fall, but she chung brave
ly to the fence, and with q word of
cheer he left her to descend the pit.
=
As the manager and the miner made
their way toward the faraway part of
the seam in which the unfortunate fire.
man had met his death the latter made
his superior acquainted with the details
OF the accident. ltappeared that q heavy
fall of roof had occurred between two
up brCws, impeding the ventilation and
filling the immediate working places
with fire damp, which the coal gave of
in considerable quantities.
The fall had taken place in the open-
ing nearest the face, and the venture
some fireman had penetrated to the next
L.