The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-08
AT THE PITS MOUTH.

sio thing. There be anither man tina
lowest, yoonger man, a BOTHER man nor
me. 1t BIO Will Benson. Dunnot answer,
lass. know it Well, forgi' mo what o.
said. Goodby, Jessie, and God bless thee,
lass-God bless theel''
Thus spoke Steven Armstrong as he
turned away from the cottage where Jessie
MacDavitt lived, that cottage with the
gay flowers round its porch that made
the ono bright patch in this dismal, dust
begrimed countryside, blackoned every
where by coal, saddoned by the lives of mon
whom destiny had cast to delve and bur-
row beneath tho fair earth that other mon
might grow rich.
But somehow today Steven Armstrong
could SEQ no brightness in anything. He
had been fool, and no mistake, this
great, stalwart, broad shouldered miner
Ho was we'll past 40, his hnir becoming
gray and sparse on top-quito old to her.
He had been bachelor all these years.
He might have known it was sheer mad
ness now to lavish oil tho wealth of his
great manly heart on pretty winsome Jes-
sic. She did not want an old fogy like
him.
AT first sho seemed to hear his tale with
gentle tenderness and pity. Bad, indeed,
must DO tho woman whose heart remains
untouched by tho love of truo and honest
man. Then word or two she dropped
almost unconsciously had revealed tho
truth. Of course Will Benson was the
man. Flo had boon II blind fool not to
have seen it long ago. Will was 90 years
younger than himself On Sundays WILL
was quite n masher (tho Americanism had
grown into common use even here). Will
was just the lad to please the girls fancy.
And SO, having settled that matter in
his own mind Armstrong walked slowly
and sadly away about his business.
1t was Saturday night. Bar and parlor
Of the Miners Arms wero crowded with
mon. Hero the hard earned money flew
merrily, money which should have gone
to wife and wcans ut homo-monoy which
might have been rs tower of strength in
fighting tho battles that labor and poverty
always have to fight.
Will Benson was there in the midst of
noisy throng, rocking of beer, spirits and
rank tobacco. He had had great deal too
much to drink already. Suddenly some
ono laid hand upon his arm. He turned
tipsily and encountered tho serious, stead
fast gazo of Stevon Armstrong, who was
not drunk, and had only just entered the
public house.
"Dunnot TAX ony moor" the latter
whispered gently, but firmly.
Who told thee to interfere, Master
PreacherP'
mo ono. 1 asl, theo not to, for t'sake
O. girl who loves theo'
did she tell thee to COON pryin afthcr
me?''
"Tha knowest betther nor that. I ask
thee for her snko and for tina own good"
bah! I've heerd yond stuff fro t. blue
ribbon fowk afore now.'
A be mono O. them. hold that n chap
as Gamma TAX n glass or two and stop when
no ha' gotten enough is na worthy o. bein
called mon. believe in total abstinence
ma moor nor do in drunkards"
"Thon what t. devil be'cst jawin to mo
about2" tho young man said flercely.
II ask thee not t. spend oil t. meet here.
Think o. her who'st o. be tina wife, These
chaps do thee no good. Thcll max thee
spend tina brass, and when It's all gone
they'll only laugh at thee"
"Show mo t. mon rs III Taught mt mo!
Yo daren'tl It's tina thysolf as nre dom it.
Como outside, then, and we'll see who's t.
best monW
II Wilma fight wi thec-and certainly
not now" Armstrong answered., slowly
and with dignity. 1t was not the rotrac-
ton of coward. His well meant romon-
strancos had proved worse than useless,
each other to BIO rivals.
Horror and Consideration arc spreading
far and wido through tho grimy Ian
cashire town. A terrible explosion has
just been heard. They know only too
woll what that means, and the poor wom-
en-, both young and old, are rushing, wild
and terror stricken, TO tho pits mouth.
Down In the workings the excite
ment is ut it's height. Men aro running
to tho bottom of tho shaft, running for
thoir lives, for tho noxious after damp Is
choking them, and they know only too
we'll that many of Thorn arc destined neyer
to SEQ the light of day again. Tho cage is
going up and down again as quickly as
may DO, but it will only hold limited
number. They must patiently wait their
turn, and that turn may mean lifo or
death.
''Thoro be room for one moor" the
minors shout Como along, Steve Arm
strong. 1t be tina turn
But no docs not move
mo" no answers, Il be old a. alone.
Here's yoong fellow rs gotten n mither.
Lot un go instead this timc.''
1t was Will Benson who stood by his
side
"You, Armstrong! You MAX room
for me?' he exclaimed
What dost suppose nd do? A fight
fair-whcn a want to fight
"You do this for ma sakc?'
Not for thine, monitor hers! Go!n
Tho words wero few-there was no time
for morc-but they had n rough, heroic dig
nifty about them. Benson stopped into tho
cage without another word, the signal was
given, and they went up toward tho light
and air above.
From those about tho pits mouth a
ringing cheer arose rs tho cage reached tho
surface. They know that so many. Mt