The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-07

lay very warmly and cOnfldingly In his
A soft, thick braid Of hair touched his
face as Marian flung it back over her
shoulder. Dick smiled tenlerly as lie
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, Lets rest Il mo
ment"
The darkness almost suffocates
one" half whispered Marian.
Some strange madness was possess
ing Richard Houston. Family traGi-
tiOns, ideals, ambitions, We're gone he-
fore whrlwind that swept al; blg,in.
Still holding the soft hand, Marian"
he said, do you suppose that In Il
couple of years from now you could do
more than lust like me"
How much mOref" asked demure
little voice beside him.
Dick paused. Gould You love mcT'
But l don't know you ut 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 a 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 il grOwnup girl
We're to wear her hair in Il braid down
her back and shortish skirts even Il
very grownup girl would look like
childY
Dick felt somewhat da2ed. "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
meY'
Then the cold, the darkness and the
fear of the fire damp were forgotten
as Dick felt acquiescence in the yield
ing fingers. But only for Il moment.
please. please" tre!nbIed 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 dsmay,
but Dick uttered Il joyful shout. The
track, Marian. We are out Of the old
workings and We'll be ut the surface in
a few minutes!'
1t was indeed but Il 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
thinkingy.
Marian looked up into his face Are
you college man.
Eyes" said Dick.
"Are you any relation to the Houston
who owns these mincs?"
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. Il wrote II story of Il coal miner.
The editor liked ii 50 well that he ask
ed me for another chapter. 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 thorght-I loved
you when you were a sixteen year-old
miners daughter" he whispered.
But, sir, if You really must know, l
am twenty-twO"'
"Then we will only wait for you to
put up that braid" And Dick laughed
like boy.