Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-10-05


! dance that evening.
As often before, the dining-room o
the Aurora hotel did service this nigh
as a ballroom, and from the crowdei
doorway Tom Reed looked at tn
dancers, and he caught the fash Of I
jewel on Kitty's hand.
After the dancing had progressed
some time the men about the walls be
gan shouting:
song! a song from the sage brush
nightingale" Having no cold TO urge
as an excuse, and being as willing TO
obige them as they were anxious TO
have her. Kitty Minis mounted a chair
amid great applause and sang the fa-
/ vorite songs But the "Suwanee
River" and Home. Sweet Home" wert
not given tonight, there being no wis.
to divert thought from the present
festivities to other scenes.
During the evening Kitty managed
TO get near to where Tom Reed was
standing, and she whispered:
Thank you. Tom"
His eyes did not deceive him. Some
OF bis flowers were in her dark hair
and the golden heart hung from
chain that encircled her smooth. whit,
throat
Tom Reed did not wait longer bu
went 10 his cabin up the mountain sid,
and lay down, but II was not TO sleen
he could not define his feelings. coul,
give, If questioned. no adequate cauy, |
for the tumultuous joy at his heart |
He was too happy for reason. too mucl |
excited for rest.
II was near daylight when he fel |
into doze, but in his dreams he sill
saw the blossoms IN her hair and m,
heart Of gold upon her breast.
She was calling his name-louder-
louder. She was beating on the door
TON Reed! Tom Reed For Gods
sake. come out! The mine is on fire
He sprang up and threw open tho
door.
There stood Kitty, white faced and
excited.
See, Tom! seel There are eight
men in the shaft and eight OF them
Tom Reed did not wait to hear more.
lie saw the pillar Of smoke shooting IN
rom the mouth Of the mine, about /
which the people crowded, the bravest
iot daring to descend the fatal open ]
ng. Even Rufus Ford had lost his !
cad and seemed paralyzed.
What are you about, Tom Reed! J
'ont go down, mani Don'ti" shout \
d the people.
Stand by! the fire has not touched r
be shaft. Pull up-usual signal!"
That was all Tom Reed said The =
ext instant he was lost TO sight. II, \
ad gone down the chain, hand owe,
and" ,
Encouraged by this daring example
he men got their senses and the won. !,
hushed their wailing.
After long minutes, a signal came Or 1s
ON the smoking depths. The sta
onary engine was started. and the
lcket rose holding four backened A
men.
Again the signal was given and again o.
e bucket rose, with four other men.
ID one of them gasped out: For
ayen's sake, lower awayl quick, u
I'm Reed is roasting!"
The bucket few down the shaft from %
lich lurid heat gusts now came with "
e smoke.
An awful lapse of agonizlng seconds .
en- came faint signal to Haul up!" :.
The bucket few to the surface envel.
ed in flame.
\ cry of horror burst from the
'oats Of strong men, and Kitty Minis T.,
!, fainting, beside the blaekened.
stored form that was snatched from
mouth of the pit.
Any other man but brave Tom Reed %,
uld have died, was the general com
MT weeks afterwards, when II was 90.
nd Tom would Twelve, but never ~
lin to look up at the sky and the -.
S that he loved 80
Why-why didyou go down % asked !,
~, as she sat beside his bed, won @.
ing why he was feeling her fingers 'eI
hey bad no jeweled ring now.
thought Of the wives Of the mar pei
men, Kitty. | was single. What
TERED Il so that l saved them" ven
Hushl Toni"
le felt tear on his hand and he Oer
w her lips were near his sightless :
2. OCT
You will want a wife now, Tom. Let
eyes do for both. Father is will eoF
Is the privilege Of queens to pro. Dre
e, but then Kitty was a queen, and Eh'
is none the less one now that she is
. Reed and the landlady Of the An. A
/ hotel
Tom Reed ever bemoaned his frie
nifty no one knew it--not even the n
:, from whom he could have no Sc On
s.-N. Y. Ledger. mo,
| ing
Dangers of REORGANIZATION. ann
fndlady-I s'pose you noticed than II
F-whiskered old penflar,s,, Oh. / Won