The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-10

| y.
The Candy Breakin' at Amos
Swoffards was in progress. Pretty
Ann Swofard was boiling the sorghum
/ and when the kettle was ready to be
taken from the fire the girls two
| lovers stood ready to assist her, one
on either side. Zeke Pendley was q
| big, broad-shouldered handsome fel-
low, but there was just little some
thing wanting in his character. Lige
/ Burton was awkward, honest and
ugly. Ann was deeply agitated over
| the situation. She glanced quickly
| from one to the other of the rivals,
| then hesitatingly turned toward Zeke-
Lige's eyes fell, and he felt a sudden
/ sickness at heart. But he arose and
| his frame grew wonderfully erect for
| a moment, as Zeke removed the kettle
| from the fire.
After the contents of the kettle had
been distributed, then men began to
| choose partners for the pulling. Ann
was trembling. She feared a repeti-
ton of the thing which had happened
at the fireplace, and she dreaded IT,
She was not ready to make SO pointed
decision; for she had learned to rely
upon Lige Burton's friendship. though
she admired Zeke Pend1ey's good
looks. But fate was a guest CT the
candy breakin', and before Ann could
realize how it had happened again she
was standing between Zeke and Lige
and both were asking her favor at
the same time. Ann was ready to
burst into tears: but. biting her lip
hard to suppress it's quivering, she
gave her hand to Zeke.
WAS it you that spoke frst?" she
asked
But 1t was Lige who answered her
question, as he thrust his hands into
his pockets and sadly turned away.
Yes, Ann. he said, Il reckon zeke
was ahead O. me"
The moon had climbed far over the
mountain when Lige left Amos Swof-
fard's. He was the first of the guests
to depart, and he crept along up the
trail in no hurry to get home.
Lige Burton and. Zeke Pendley were
foremen at the Clay Hill mines, and
they had to use considerable argument
to induce some members of their re-
spective squads to follow them into
the old He11shole tunnel which had
been reopened on the morning after
the candy beaking at Amos SwoffaEd's.
This tunnel had been abandoned two
voarc haforc IN aoco3lDf cf ifC flooding
from an underground stream which
had been tapped. But the company
had installed powerful pump which
had the capacity of relieving the tun-
mel of over 1900 gallons of water per
minute. AS long as this pump was
working the stream could be turned
up through the deep shaft and out
upon the side Of the mountain, IeaV
ing the men to work in safety.
Only a few days after the opening
a sudden thrush Of water submerged
the feet of the miners, and. a great
shout came down the shaft: All hands
out of the He1lsho1e!'
The big new pump, for some unac-
countable reason, had stopped work
ing, and the mine was fast becoming
flooded. The ore bucket came rafting
down the shaft and the men, three at
a time, began to ascend The two
foremen brought up the rear Of the
procession.
Up went the bucket a second time
and when it descended again the
water had reached the mems waists.
At the third descent Zeke Pendley
made movement to crowd through
She other miners toward the tub but
Lige seized his arm.
I'VE go up last. Zeke," he said; Il
don't reckon We ever hyeard of a cap
tain a quittin' his sinkin' ship till
every man was off, did YEP
Zeke fell back and the tub arose
and descended once more. Again and
again the ore bucket rose with its hui
man freight, and descended empty,
and in the meantime those still wait
ing had been swept off of their feet
at the bottom Of the shaft and were
struggling hard to keep their heads
above water. And the cramp was
slowly stealing upon their limbs.
THE man at stays here much
longer will have to be fished out, z
groWled Zeke, as once more he made
an effort to reach the bucket ahead
Of some of his fellows.
We'll, We're goin' to risk it," said
Lige, again restraining his fellow fore
man, while sustaining himself in the
water.
Like drowning iats in a rain barrel
i've men at the bottom Of the shaft
struggled almost hopelessly and wait
ed for another descent of the tub The
moments dragged and presently one
head sank beneath the water with a
gurgle in the throat Lige Burton fol
lowed. But he rose again. supporting
his fellow, thus sharing the little
strength remaining to Inn.
Il persuaded We in here, little I'm"
he murmured, an I'm goin' to give
We the lift If I can
The tub descended. Lige managed
to catch the rim, and, pulling it down,
commanded one of the last struggling
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With That Exception.
Il hope you had no trouble IN hold
ing the congregation while was
away, said Rev. DR.. Fourthly. who