The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-27
THE GOLDEN FLEECE.

she had got up courage to go alone
that night to the theater, even though
the theater was only the Sanderville
Opera House, and sanderville only
very booming mining camp.
The play" was not taking, so she
turned from 1t to look at the strange
audience. Was 1t only two months
since she had left her New England
home with her father, whose sudden
death left her friendless In a strange
land? Surely it was no longer since
she began teaching in that dreary
school.
A furious -clapping brought
her back to the play" which had
reached It's climax of "hold-up." In
the lull that followed angry voices
arose.
Take him out; we'll teach him to
talk about strikers" Louder and loud
er sounded the noise. Eleanor turned
to escape, but the whole mass Of strug-
Cling men suddenly bore down upon
|, her and 1t would have gone hard with
her had not big miner quickly put
out his arm.
pretty rough place for you to be in,
miss" he said; better let me get you
out of it,"
She was grateful enough for his pro-
lection, and, reaching her dismal room
again, thought tina. even its lonesome
ness would not soon drive her to face
such chances.
Those were stirring days in the min
ing camp and when one night sounds OF
firing were heard, nobody needed to be
told that the strikers were making
their threatened attack on the Golden
Fleece, the richest property in the
camp. Finnerty's palace Hotel" was
turned into hospital and the few wo-
men in the town became nurses. Wes-
ton and his aids had successfully de-
Tended the mine, but their bravery cost
them weeks Of suffering, during which
the women watched and hoped. Elean-
or's untiring aid was always at the
service of some hard-worked wife or
mother. Then men, among them Wes-
ton, came to expect her eagerly, and
she wondered to find how little she
had really understood these men be-
fore.
1t was several weeks after Finnerty's
had gone back to the boarding house
state that Weston was going to show
the mine to Mr.. Bennett, at whose
house Eleanor lived, and he asked her
to 60 also.
They had gone some distance on
their way up through the silent black
ness of the shaft, when there came an
ominous rumble, then an explosion,
and the car fell to the ground. Had
they been farther up, horrible death
would have been their lot.
As it was, Mr.. Bennett lay as If dead
on the ground. The walls Of the pas
sages were fallen in, the shaft was
choked, and to the experienced eyes of
Weston escape seemed impossible.
1.-THE old man is searfully stunned"
he murmured, as he examined him.
III somebody does not reach us in
twelve hours he will die"
I'm twelve hours?' faltered Eleanor.
Tell me, is the danger SO great? I
! should rather know 1t all"
Miss Brenton there is no chance;
none. II any effort would avail, II
could give my life for your safety I
would gladly, but 1t is no use. Now
that death is near may tell you, Miss
Brenton, what otherwise l should not
have said. love you. and II you could
have been my wife should have asked
1t, but knew the prejudices you could
not overcome. A man gives love like
mine but once; it may seem to you a
tribute to know that"
at is more than deserve, for I have
struggled long against my love for you,
but now tell you that it is more than
my life."
Eleanor, my love-" he said, "if
could take this suffering upon my
self"
The old man stirred, and after sew
eral hours Weston's efforts seemed to
have some effect, for Mr.. Bennett
opened his eyes, and they caught the
faint words:
1.-THE other shaft have you"
"Other," said Weston; there is only
| one"
THE old one, north Of this"
In a moment Weston was at the end
Of the passage trying to dig through
the mass Of earth there. 1t seemed a
hopeless labor, but soon he heard faint
sounds. Was it the noise Of picks and
| shovels? He shouted again and again.
Then came an answer, and when in the
pale dawn three haggard and worn
people stood with their rescuers at the
mouth of the shaft they thought that
never had morning been SO fair as was
this one, with the light breaking over
the mountains.
"A new day, and it opens well for
u.s." said Eleanor.
Then 1t is the same now that dark
ness and death are gone, for | will not
hold you to a promise made then" said
Weston.
1.-The same always" said Eleanor.
A man meeting a friend in a New
York club said: Have you seen Ward
Russell since he came back with his
bride? Owns the Golden Fleece, you
know. Well he was out there as q
miner, and one day when he was down
In the mine somebody with grudge to
revenge tried to blow up the whole
concern. Russell just did escape, and
Mrs, Russell had something to do with
1t, too, believe