The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-11-20

and felt myself falling headlong down,
down into the depths of the earth. How
far / fell / knew not at the time
\ learned afterward that it was about 30
feet--but expected instant death
when reached the bottom, and with
out doubt that would havebeen my fat,
had not the bottom of the hole been
| filled with water to considerable
depth. This broke my fall, and also
| by it's GOODNESS restored me to my
| senses.
struck out on coming to the surface
and swan around to find something to
! which l could hold on. After a consid :
cradle time spent in searching, during
which the full horror of the situation
began to dawn upon ME, l at last dis
covered a piece of woodwork fixed In
the side of the pit.
This l eagerly grasped, and, resting
partially on it with half my body in
the water, I began TO consider my po-
sition.
/ knew at once the place into which J.
had fallen, and as the knowledge flashed
across my mind cursed myself for hav-
ng been so careless as to stumble into
it. 1t was an old, disused shaft which
had been there for generations. Not
many people were aware OF it's exist
ence, for it was in wild and solitary
spot scarcely ever visited by anyone. L,
however, had seen it several times in
my moorland wanderings, and had al
ways regarded it as dangerous place.
1t was partially fenced round, but l
must have wandered in through one Of
the gaps.
There was no footpath anywhere near
it, so 1 must, in the darkness, have lost
nv way. However, here | was, and the
question confronted me, how was to
get out?
tried to discover if it was possible
to climb out, but the sides of the pit
offered no hold of any kind, SO had to
abandon that idea.
1 next shouted, in the hope that some
solitary wanderer might hear my cries,
but no answering voice was heard, un-
til, after 1 had shouted myself hoarse,
was obliged to sink back in silence and
despair.
My heart sickened as thought of the
loneliness of the place, and how days,
and even weeks, might elapse before
anyone passed that way.
I struck out frantically round the pit
to seek again for some means of escape.
but my search was as fruitless as be-
fore.
30 1, al Of ma
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
I had anticipated its pleasures! And
now it was all over. i must think no
more of entering again the bright re-
gion above and sharing in the joys that
awaited me there. was doomed to die
to die lonely, solitary, horrible
leath, and to lie in a watery grave. AS
[ held on to my feeble support and
thought of all this my brain reeled
within me and / feared that my reason
must give way.
Death instead of marriage! What a
contrast! just when ought to be lead
ing my bride to the altar and stepping |
across the portal of married life, to let
90 my hold here and fall into the cold,
relentless arms of death! And what of
Ada then? Surely she would sorrow,
and grieve, and be disconsolate.
But Horace Rishton! What of him?
Night they not become man and --
But, no, the thought was torturing, and |
drove me in fit of frenzy to shout
again with all my might. But it was all
in vain. for no one heard.
How the night passed 1 cannot tell,
neither do 1 know how the morning |
hours dragged on, for was numb with |
cold, and faint with hunger and IA
tigue. only know that after what
seemed to me to be ages, footsteps drew
near, and voice called out from |
above:
"Are you there, Fred?"
My heart leaped into my mouth, and |
for a moment 1 was unable to utter a |
sound. At last murmured, in a faint |
voice:
"In heavens name, get me out! Tn
dying"
"Can you hold on another minute"
the voice asked. 'I've got a rope here.
Keep up till fasten it to this stake.
Can you slip loop round your body, |
or shall come down to you?"
"Send the rope down. I'll manage to |
pass it round" shouted eagerly.
In another minute it was dangling be- |
fore my eyes, and was soon passed |
under my arms, after which gave the |
word to draw up. Slowly assembled,
and at last emerged into the light and |
freedom of the upper air.
As Law upon the ground-for nv legs