The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-20


particular color. and the waxed NOUS
tache approaching her face. blind,
nervous. but heavenly true instinct
prompted her to draw back. At this
moment the ring slipped from the
young mans fingers and disappeared
among the fern and wntergreen at
their feet. With deep vexation he
stopped to find 1t, and by the time this
was accomplished the voices of group
of sunset gazers were heard who were
approaching the rock. The spell was
broken, there was no further time for
tender entreates or the putting on of
a ring, however much or little it's wear
ing might intend. Mr.. Edgehill how
ever. refused to retain 1t. but opening
the little bag at Ellen's side he dropped
1t herein, telling her he would live In
expectation of finding it on her finger
the next time they met There was
now no time to be lost If Ellen would
be at home for her evening duties,
and the wheels were turned downward
down the swift and dangerous descent
The next few days were spent by Ell
len in a whirl of indecision. Again
and again the took out the brilliant
ring in the safety of her room. and
dreamed over it. Did the wearing of
ii mean in reality wifehOod in II large
place among the roses of life? If so
why hesitate? Was not this the end
towards which all her young dreams
and hopes had tended? She had never
rledged herself to Grin. so why hesi-
tate? She could not quite bring her
self, after all, to appear to Mr.. Edge
hill with the ring on her hand, yet she
carried it always with her, and
thought that some near day upon that
enchanted height. after all due and dis
tnct asking her in marriage she should
have him put it on.
Up there she seemed always tending
now. but her next visit after the offer
of the ring was with her brother Hugh.
1t was public holiday, and Hugh had
looked forward to meeting various
others of their young friends up at
Lake Scranton for happy day. Early
summer clouds tempered the hot sun
as they tugged up the hills. but by the
time they reached the lake these We're
gathering for a brisk shower. Running
for the nearest shelter they found it
already occupied, and Stacking pace
heard a young lady remark: This is
a mine holiday. and l expect the place
will be overrun by the rabble to get
out of the rain-here are two of them
coming now The speaker was the
sister of J. Charles Edgehil, who with
the elegant Miss Maud Pryor completed
the group.
After quick half glance at the new
comers, Mr.. Edgehil turned his back
and began a rapid conversation with
Miss Pryor. 1t was the cowardly i'm
pulse of the moment on his part, and
whether he would have recovered him
self and tried to make amends can
never be known, for he was left no
room for repentance. Ellens percep-
ton of the slight was as instant as the
act itself With gesture to Hugh,
she was out in the binding rain,
snatching up her wheel. Then she
halted, and taking the ring from her
pocket pressed it into Hugh's hand,
and bade him take it to that man."
The quick-witted Hugh, waiting no
further instruction, sped back to the
shelter where they had left j. Charles
Edgehill and the young ladies, and
throwing back the lid of the ring box,
walked up to the startled group, say
ing to Mr.. EdgehilI:
THE one you offered to give this
ring sends it back. she having no use
for it,"
Pushing it into the breast pocket of
the speechless youth. Hugh strobe out
to join his sister in her return to the
kitchen and the culm.
And so all the dream vanished, while
the long hot summer came and dragged
heavily along.
Hugh. sharing the modification that
enveloped his sister. confided in no one
least of all to Grff who had never
been near the house since Ellen's de-
sertion of him on the hill
AS summer ended and evenings grew
lorg Father Lynn began to miss him
greatly.
''ThH lad never comes near us now
he complained che night tC Hugh
'Oh. Ellen has c'ean killed him." re-
piled Hugh. bitterly. Ever since that
time When it was on with the dude
and goodbye to the laborin classes
There never was man who thought
so of woman as he did of our Ellen
Over and over | used to hear him
hummin' low in the mine that old bal
lod:
o. Ellen fair beyond compare,
I'll make garland of thy hair:
! will bind my heart for ever mair
ne Siuiii dS lne grave now. l
wonder if girls ever know what cruel
fools they can be-"
And Ellen from up the stairs heard
IT all.
The days went on and brought the
first winter snow, with its pall so
strangely white over the deep black
about the mine. Into it's dangers
went down fathers and husbands and
al h,r en,
many Il life has gone out below there
in the dark.
On. day sudden movement from
the top of the cum caught Ellen's eye.
A man dashed madly down the side of
the heap. The one thought in that
neighborhood of any sudden stir is
that something has happened in the
mine. Something had happened know.
Ellen knew it as she joined the pale,
wild women dashing from their homes
toward that black opening in the hill.
Our of it shaking men We're coming
with staggering man. Gasping with
fear for her father and Hugh, Ellen
seized one Of the black figures and
questioned him. There had been a fall
from the roof he told her Those near
est the mouth of the mine were run
uning cut, but some lay under the
fall and Cihers We're pinioned beyond
It, Who were these crushed and PIN
loned ones? The awful question
choked every throat. The man went
| ON with his painful recital.
"rinl Langdon and me was workln'
| together. We heard the crackin' and
kEcW what it meant, | gave - big
jump ara got away, but poor Tim
'..'t''' ,uck and there he lies un-