Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-02-12

Wild columbine. Il won't let his going
u aay without even saying goodby
worry me. Mother must not see that
care. for of course she'll hear that he's
gone. RI pick some towers as an ex-
cuse for coming aud go home and live
my life without him. woman's heart
must be strong for endurance"
suddenly wild cry burst upon her
ears
Help. help
The girl listened with batcd breath.
IL did not come from the direction OF
the mining camp. still, II might be
one of the men had wandered down
the gllch and met with some accident
Again the call came. wild and ago.
nizing as though face 10 face with a |
terrible doom. This time she located
the cry
Some one has fallen into the old |
shaft she cried. running swiftly In
that direction. This 'old shaft led TO
what had once been promising mine.
but subterranean stream that rose
mystnriously and ut no regular period
rendered II so unsafe that II had been
abandoned. and no one who knew of its
treachery dared venture into the shaft.
Almost breathless. Faith gained the
mouth Of the mine aud. dropping on
her knees. peered down into the dark
depths below. The black sullen wa.
tiers of the rising stream boiled and
Kissed among the jagged rocks and
crevices. iashing madly the legs Of a
man who stood insecurity ON narrow
ledge fully halfway down. He was
clinging In terror TO jutting rock
above him, which threatened every
moment to give way. 1t was u peril
Gus. an awful situation, and the girl
shuddered as she gazed. while In the
white horror drawn face upturned to
hers she recognized Nick Sanders.
For Gods sake. Faith. try to help
me out of thisr' he screamed.
"i'll try. Nick" she called back.
But how was she TO do IT. She
looked about hopelessly; then her eyes
fell upon a large coil of castoR rope
near the broken windlass. She caught
It up eagerly, aud. lowering one end TO
Nick. she said:
tie this around you under the
arms
He did so and felt himself being
slowly drawn upward. Such was his
peri that he could not realize that the
girls hands alone were not strong
enough to pull him to the top. lie did
not know that another had also heard
his calls for help and had arrived just
IN time to aid In the rescue. When
almost up u blow ON the head from
shelving ledge rendered hisl uncon.
scious for several minutes.
| When he came to himself he was ~.
Ing on the bank OF Deer Fork. and
Faith was bathing his face. Hearing
Howard Olney's voice. lie kept his
eyes closed and listened.
I'm glad | was In time TO help you
save him." the young man was saying
Il was on my way to see you. Faith
to say goodby before leaving the can
yon. At first thought ! would go
away without. but couldn't. felt
that | must look upon your face once
more before gave you up 10 him."
| Nick heard the tremor In olney's
voice that told OF the emotion he was
endcavorlng 10 control
| Just once more. Faith" he went
on. Il should not 20 II you could love
me. but | know how II is. You have
known Nick all your life. In the de.
lirium Of his fever learned how much
he loved you. and afterward be told
me that you loved him In return.
Will not come between you. Goodby.
dear Que. Remember | helped save
him for your sake"
There was intense pain In the tones.
and as he turned away Faith gave u
quick sob. and Nick felt u hot tear
fail on his face. But the girl made
no effort to detain the man she loved
One word would have called him back
TO her side. yet her lips seemed para
lived She knew that he loved her
aud was going because he believed she
loved another: That she would never
see him again and her old lonely life
would 20 on unbroken. unbrightened
by him. He was slipping away from
her forever, still she could not utter a
word.
And Nick knew. too that II Olney
went now his owl chances OF some
time winning Faith were better than
ever.
Hold on a minute. Howard" called
the rescued man. sitting up.
What Is II. Nick asked Olney.
turning back. though he did not trust
himself TO look toward Faith.
Come up nearer. I've got somethin'
TO tell you both. and you don't know
how hard II Is for a man to call him
self out loud and RICH, before two
good folks he's been a-wrongin'. a
emery big liar" said Nick. But thnts
Just what | am u emery big liar.
lied TO you about Faiths lovin' me
and then lied TO her about your leav'
In Deer Fork 10 keep accounts for Mr.
Owen Just because you were In love
with his daughter. I'm a low lived
devil. but when ! was down In thai
ole shaft a-facin' death | made up m,
mind IL ever got the chance I'd be I
better man. Now that you two have
| %, a h,r tps