The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-27


the name in It's entirely,
but added a slight accent
to the last syllable, and Jock hated
her accordingly.
Then there was his mother. who felt
that, as the name had been given him
in baptism, 1t was clearly her duty to
call him by it, but there were times,
however, when a certain look in Jock s
eyes made her pause ere the full name
was pronounced. Oh, how Jock loath-
ed the name!
He would think of Mary Williams,
and wonder if she could ever love Il
man burdened thus. for he had secret
ly loved Mary for some time Lately.
however. she had treated him so cool
ly that he was completely discouraged,
and blamed his name more than ever,
as perhaps being the cause thereof.
The mining town Of Ashton, in which
they lived. has many counterparts in
the historic Wyoming Valley. Nine
tenths of the male population earn
their living by toiling in the mines.
To one unused to such scenes, the sight
is a novel one. Men with blackened
faces passing to and from their work,
piles of culm rising here and there,
sion seems to be the defacing Of an
otherwise beautiful landscape. Jock
was a miner. Daily he went to work
with dozens Of his fellows, to outward
appearances seeming like them, but
this was all; in his innermost soul he
longed to be far away from the peace
ful scenes connected with his present
life. If he could only be hero! Then
T.;
but there seemed to be no prospect of
his ever doing anything but just work
work, work. However, fate had planned
differently. as Jock was soon to know
One evening he had climbed the
mountain-side near the town, and sat
watching the sunset. So absorbed in
thought was he that he did not notice
the darkness closing around him. At
length with a start he arose, and
walked slowly homeward. Suddenly he
became aware that he was not alone,
something or somebody was near him.
He tried to speak, but his lips refused
to form the words. Dimly in the dark
ness he could see the outlines of a.
human form 1t came nearer, nearer
seeming to emit a faint phosphorescent
light, and fioated rather than walked,
pcSluc HlIIl.
The terrified Jock could scarcely put
one foot before the other-his hair fair
ly bristled with the effort to rise-his
very senses reeled. Had he not from
childhood heard of the Lady of the
Mountain?" Did not her appearance
forbode death and disaster to the un-
fortunate one who beheld her? The
memories of the tales he had heard
crowded thick and fast upon him. Fas-
cinated with horror, Jock stopped
stone-still in the path--so did the OBJ
ject Of his terror. With q mighty ef-
fort he walked rapidly forward few
steps. Useless! The apparition was by
his side. At this iuncture Jock saw
that, instead of taking the path which
led directly to the town, he had mad
vertently turned into the one which led
to the mine. This was seldom used,
owing to its greater distance.
Do what he would, Jock could not
refrain from looking at his ghostly
companion. And as he looked, a face
of ghastly whiteness turned toward
him, and he heard a faint whisper,
Danger In the mine." So faint was 1t,
indeed, that it sounded like the sigh
ing of the wind. Again the words, and
still again. Endurance could go no
farther, and Jock fell heavily in the
path-senseless