Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1905-12-22

- cAHNAhS ~ VI sac.
The narrow path between the graves
brought them to the porch. AMI here
Bargle. who entered first. stopped.
fumbling for his keys, and suddenly
held the lantern lower with a husky
cry OF alarm.
In the giimmering light Of the Ian
tern. --NDlan lay huddied close 10
the church uoor, with a child rolled in
shawl. and clasped tightly in her
arms.
Alice, faltered the old man, ''Alice."
lie lung himself on his knees be-
sAde her, crying out. clasping her cold
nands. and appealing wildly and help
iessly To those who were with him. for
she lay as still and unresponsive as
IL she were dead.
They took the child. which woke
and whimpered, and dispatched Amos
With 1t to the nearest cottage.
Tell em to light fire." said one
OF the men; AN get you on. lad. an
get the doctor there against we come. "
Then the two lifted the woman be-
tween them, and the old man, trem-
ulocsly. distractedly, leading with the
lantern, carried her with what speed
they could in the direction that Amos
had taken.
And every minute still the bell re-
iterated its heavy. monotonous clang.
though, for the nonce. they had al
most ceased to be aware OF il; Bargle
had become Indifferent to Il altogeth-
er, and only gradually awoke to II
again as he sat holding his daughters
hand. watching the life rekindle in her
eyes, and listening to her feeble whis-
perings.
1t is long way from the station"
she was telling him, satisfied with the
forgiveness she could read in his
every tone and look; land when l got
as far as the church l was so tired
and faint-and l fancied about that
time tonight you would be there. In
the belfry; so l went to the church.
but the door was locked, and"
Bargle turned to a touch on his
shoulder.
The vicar is waiting, with several
others, in the next room," said the
doctor. They want the key of the
belfry but l think you had better go
with them-you are talking to my pa
tieat more than is good for her.
-Comei"
Bargle hesitated a moment, then
stopped to kiss the pale face on the
pillow, and submissively obeyed.
Up the steep. narrow stone stairway
OF the belfry tower. up, and up, and
up they clattered, one after the other.
till at last they streamed in across the
understanding floor OF the belfry.
and there through the ceiling the
three ropes dangled in the shadow
emptiness, moved by no visible
agency; and yet. even as the palpitat-
ing little group paused. the iron clang
doomed again close above them.
Some ones up in the bell chamber f"
said Bargle. obviously.
By right of his office and of his
familiarity with the place. Bargle
nounted first with his lantern. the
others trailing up after him. In a
twinkling. he had jerked the trap
door open. and stepping into the bell
chamber. peered eagerly around, and
was startled by a vision of two white
fa~es gazing from the shadow or enc
of the bells.
Why" he CIRCULATED, what are
you doing here. young masters?"
For he recognized them instantly as
the SQuire's two sons, down at Peri
dale for a holiday.
They came forward shIvering. but
evidently bent on showing that they
were unperturbed
ITS all right. Bargle." cried the
older of them; you have been a long
time coming"
But why are you here, James?" in
CURED the vicar. reprovingly.
80. we nipped out after we'd gone
up to bed, sir" said the boy. "and
came 10 ring the BELLS"
But I've got the keys" muttered
Bargle
I'VE crawled through the belfry
window"
There was no need to come so high
as this. though"
NO. 1t was, too early to begin
when we got here. SO we came ND to
see what it was like in here; and all
in jiffy the trapdoor slammed down
and the candle blew out, and we'd left
the matches below. We couldn't feel
where the trap was in the dark. but
we found one Of the BELLS" he fall
tered, shuddering reminiscently, but
added. forcing a laugh: Its your
fault really, Bargle. II you hadn't
said you wouldn't ring the beIIs-no
bells at Christmasi-never heard of
such a thing!-we shouldn't have
come
"If you hadn't come. young mas
ters-"
Bargle stopped as If his words
choked him. He thought of the white
face he had left lying on the pillow.
and could not believe It was by mere
accident or by human hands only that
the warning bell had summoned him
there in time.
Almost" he cried. sharply, motion
ing to his assistant; get thee down.
lad. It's more'n time we was maxim
q starti"
oil HEMTED GNiMT MECT