The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-02-13
AL THE PITS MOUTH

"A l. LIE L III - MOU LII
"No no; wur fool TO hope or think
sio thing. There be anither man tina
lowest, yoonger man, q betther man nor
me. 1t be Will Benson. Dunnot answer,
lass. know it. Well, forgi' mo what a.
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 one bright patch In this dismal, dust
begrimed countryside, blackened every
where by coal, saddened by the lives of men
whom destiny had cast to delve and bur.
row beneath the fair earth that other men
might grow rich.
But somehow today Steven Armstrong
could see no brightness in anything. He
had been fool, and no mistake, this
great, stalwart broad shouldered miner.
He was we'll past 40, his hair becoming
gray and sparse on top-.quite old to her.
He had been bachelor all these years,
He might have known II was sheer mad
ness now to lavish all the wealth OF his
great manly heart on pretty winsome Jes-
sie She did not want an old fogy like
him.
At first she seemed to hear his tale with
gentle tenderness and pity Bad, indeed,
must be the woman whose heart remains
untouched by the love of true and honest
man. Then a word or two she dropped
almost unoonsoiously had revealed the
truth OF course Will Benson was the
man He had been blind fool not to
have seen 1t long ago VIII was 20 years
younger than himself. On Sundays Will
was quite masher (the 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.
|
It was Saturday night. Bar and parlor
Of the Miners Arms were crowded with
men, Here the hard earned money flew
merrily, money which should have gone
to wife and weans at home-money which
might have been as q tower Of strength In
fighting the battles that labor and poverty
always have to fight.
Will Benson was there In the midst Of a
noisy throng, reeking Of beer, spirits and
rank tobacco. He had had great deal too
much to drink already. Suddenly some
one laid hand upon his arm. He turned
tipsily and encountered the serious, stead
fast gaze Of Steven 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
Preacher?'
mo one. ask thee not to- for t'sake
o. girl who loves thee. "
| 1. l.hn oil h., t, aet
meP"
"Tha knowest betther nor that. I ask
thee for her sake and for tina own good"
"Bahl I've heerd yond' stuff fro t. blue
ribbon fowk afore now."
GA be none o. them. hold that chap
as Gamma TAX glass or two and stop when
he ha' gotten enough Is ma worthy o. bein
called mon. believe in total abstinence
ma moor nor do in drunkards.
"Then what T. devil be'est jawin to me
aboutf" the young man said fercely.
II ask thee not e. spend all t. meet here.
Think o. her who'st o. be tina wife. These
chaps do thee no good. The'll max thee
spend tha BRASS and when 'tis all gone
they'll only laugh at thee"
"Shew me t. mon as IL Taught at me-
Ye daren'tl It's tina thyself as are doin it.
Como outside, then, and Wen see who's T.
best mon"
II Wilma fight WI thee-and certainly
not now," Armstrong answered, slowly
and with dignity. 1t was not the retrao'
tion Of coward. His we'll meant remon'
stranoes had proved worse than useless,
and from that time those two men felt
each other to be rivals.
Horror and consternation are spreading
far and wide through the grimy Ian
cashire town. A terrible explosion has
just been heard They know only toe
well what that means, and the poor WON
en-, both young and old, are rushing, wild
and terror stricken, to the pits mouth.
Down In the workings" the excite
ment is at its height Men are running
to the bottom of the shaft, running fol
their lives, for the noxious after damp Il
choking them, and they know only too
we'll that many of them are destined never
to see the light of day again. The cage Il
going up and down again as quickly al
may be, but it will only hold a limited
number. They must patiently wait theil
turn, and that turn may mean life OF
death.
"There be room for ono moor" thu
miners shout. "Come along, Steve Arm
strong 1t be tina turn"
But he does not move
"No," he answers, II be old a. alone
Here's yoong fellow as a gotten mither
Let un go instead this time"
1t was VIII Benson who stood by hi
side.
"You, Armstrong; You max room
for mep" he exclaimed.
What dost suppose a'd dor A hgh
fair-when a want to fight"
"You do this for ma sakeS'
"Not for thine, mon-for hersl Col"
The words were few-there was no tim
for more--but they had rough, heroic dig
nifty about them. Benson stepped into tn
cage without another word, the signal wa
given, and they went up toward the ligh
and air above.
From those about the pits mouth
ringing cheer arose as the oage reached tn
surface. They knew that so many, a
J, least, of their mates were safe, and som
of the women went away with hearts ful
OF Joy and thankfulness. The word wen
quickly round that Steve Armstrong hal
sent up win Benson instead OF himself
; Pretty Jessie MaeDayilt was there. Whel
she heard the whisper, she understood,
woman's instinct is much the same, afte
all, whether she be q princess or only
rough minors insg. Benson came towar'
a - = 49, 4.