Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-05-15

they knew tnat eacn moment In the
pit might mean death. Then a quick
plunge and they were in the darkness
of the mine They felt their way in ST.
lence for several minutes, then:
"Are you frightened, Mariana" asked
Dick.
YES" said Marian, but that does
not matter"
A new tone in the soft voice puzzled
Dick. 1t was as if a woman and not a
child had spoken. New thoughts were
crossing Dick Houston's mind If this
little girl were five years older. if she
were educated, if she were not a min
er's daughter. if The slender fingers
lay very warmly and confidingly In his.
A soft. thick braid of hair touched his
face as Marian flung it back over her
shoulder. Dick smiled tenderly as he
pictured the familiar little gesture.
Keep up your courage" he said.
"There is no actual danger, you know.
except of a bad cold for YOU" Not
daring to speak of his fear of fire
damp, he added, "Let's rest mo-
ment."
THE darkness almost suffocates
one," half whispered Marian.
Some strange madness was possess
ing Richard Houston. Family tradi-
tons, ideals. ambitions. were gone be-
fore whirlwind that swept his brain.
Still holding the soft hand, Marian"
he said, do you suppose that in a
couple Of years from now you could do
more than just like me?"
"How much mOre?' asked demure
little voice beside him.
Dick paused. could you love me|
But l don't know you at all, and"
still more demurely. somehow / never
planned to love miner"
Dick flushed In the darkness. Per
haps by that time / shall be something
more than miner. for-for you have
grown to be a great deal to me, little
girl"
did you ever know" went on the
girlish voice, that if a grownup girl
We're to wear her hair in braid down
her back and shortish skirts even a
very grownup girl would look like
childT'
Dick felt somewhat dazed. "But
why should she do that?'
"Oh, so the men wouldn't bother
her."
More and more bewildered was Dick,
yet one clear purpose remained to him.
Marian" he whispered, "do you love
me-?
Then the cold, the darkness and the
fear of the fire damp We're forgotten
as Dick felt acquiescence in the yield
ing fingers. But only for moment.
please, please" trembled the girlish
voice, lets first get out of this awful
place"
Head and heart in turmoil, Dick
started on. Almost Immediately his
outstretched hands found the gallery
barred They had followed blind lev
ell! Back again, stumbling and weary,
with the fire damp rendering them
dazed and short of breath; then, along
the left hand level, on and on, until
almost discouraged Suddenly Dick
stumbled and fell on his hands and
knees. Marian gave a cry of dismay,
but Dick uttered a joyful shout. 1.-The
track, Marian! We are out Of the old
workings and we'll be at the surface in
a few minutesv'
1t was indeed but a short time more
before the two stepped from the cage
into the velvet dusk of the fall night.
The stars cleaned softly overhead the
smell of dew wet meadows blew across
their faces. The two stopped before be-
ginning their walk up the street to the
cottage.
"Whew! That's the hardest job I've
had since football days." said Dick I'M
thinkingly.
Marian looked up into his face. Are
you college manw
YES" said Dick.
Are you any relation to the Houston
who owns these mines?"
His son. / came to learn the bust
ness from the pick up, as he did. But"
he took the soft face between his
hands, that need make no difference,
need it?'
Maran's reply seemed at first irrele-
want. II wrote a story Of a coal miner.
The editor liked it SO well that he ask
ed me for another chapter. l wanted
good material and-and SOL really
live in Boston"
Dick looked about him hastily. Then
the little figure was almost lifted into
his arms, while the great braid tangled
in his fingers. But / thought loved
you when you were sixteen-year-Old
miners daughter he whispered.
But, sir, If you really must know,
am twenty-twow
'Tlen we will only wait for you to
nut nm that braid And nick Iauohad