The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15

been in the mine nearly an hour. "Sup- |
pose," thought 1, "they come to the
conclusion L have gone out and am
waiting in the open air for them" The
thought of being alone in that horrible
mine was so torturing L struck down
the path at 2:4O clip. Now and again
fancied that saw light ahead, and
1 would stop and call. But only my
voice replied, and it sounded very
strange to me. Absolute terror took
possession of me. Then came reac-
tion. My mind became calm. SHOW
foolish" thought, "to worry. Even
if they do go out, they will come back
with more men and lights. The best
thing can do is to take it coolly. I'll
try walking in the dark" So 1 started
to whistle and walked slowly over the
path.
Then l remembered l had several ci-
gars in my vest pocket. 1 lit one, and for
some time was almost cheerful. After
a little noticed that 1 was no longer
between the tracks, and when bumped
against the side walls | knew l could
go no further without light, for the
tracks had served as monitors while /
was in darkness. My first candle was
spent. l placed the small piece on the
bottom of the whole one, and as I
stopped to do so saw that the facings
of the drift were not of the character
which distinguished my former wan
derings. "Pm lost all right, all right" "
said 1.
And indeed 1 was lost. AS long as l
had light was hopeful; but when the
last fluttering spark slowly went out,
my mind took on terrors I'd never
dreamed of. In frantic desperation /
; lit another cigar and only puffed at
it when it was nearly out. In this way
. managed to keep from becoming ab.
solutely hopeless.
suppose after they go out some one
suggests that got angry and went
homer Horrible thought of mind
= rapidly becoming unhinged! "They'6
have No way of knowing whether Of
not 1 went home unless they went
. there too, for there's no telephone OF
telegraph station here" l persisted
. AS these thoughts took complete pos
:, session of me, and as 1 realized wha
they might foretell, I screamed in al
agony of fear: "Help! Helpw Ant
again my voice returned a dozen times
+ "Help! Helpp
/ was down to one solitary match.
n didn't dare light it, for the knowledg'
Q that still could make light was il
u itself one ray of hope between me ant
% insanity. For the twentieth time re
sr traced my steps, following the wal
L with my hand. Now and again I'd ste]
le into water, and often the wall woul'
'e suddenly stop. Then on hands AM
10 knees I'd 60 until 1 found the wal
once more. Countless times 1 wen
ID through my pockets, looking for match
n es l knew were not there. The on
:" precious match clutched tightly moth
ing short of ghost would have com
y. PEELED me to light it. After intermins
70 BILE walks and crawls got into shat
II which was so low that I had to stooI
" 1 could feel the wooden supports her
,e and there, and, JOY of Joy! found th
tracks once more. "rhis is evidentl
new diggings," said I. And so it al
peared to be at first, but it soon too
IL on the resemblance of the others. Th
tracks were gone and no amount of r.
l. tracing discovered them. The bitte
i'd disappointment after my short-live
mt JOY so unstrung me that 1 sat dow
no and cried. became more calm, an
I'D decided to die bravely, so stretche
Is! out at full length and awaited deaf
tn Above me gathered myriads of hideor
m bats, and occasionally I'd feel the
ge wings brush my face. Then l though
Or. of home. How good I'd be if I coul
i'd only see the old home once more "An
o." dear little Mrs. H." I sobbed.
ill Suddenly was aware of an inten,
We glare of light and found myself lyir
full on my back on the library couc
nd while Mrs. H. was leaning over me ar
to was saying: "Why do you insist {
nd eating deviled crabs for supper whs
ng you know they always give you nigh
Ily marer HARLEY.