Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-01-22

wild columbine. Il won't let his going
away without even saying goodby
worry me. Mother must not see that |
care, for of course she'll hear that he's
gone I'll pick some flowers rs an eX-
cuse for coming and 90 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 bated breath.
1t did not come from the direction of
the mining camp. Still, it might be
one of the men had wandered down
the gulch and met with some accident
Again the call came, wild and ago
niZing, as though face to 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 a subterrancan stream that rose
mySteriouSly and at no regular period
rendered it so unsafe that it had been
abandoned, and no one who knew of its
treachery dared venture into the shaft.
Almost breathess, Faith gained the
mouth of the mine and, dropping on
her knees, peered down into the dark
depths below. The black sullen wa
terS of the rising stream boiled and
hissed among the Jagged rocks and
creviceS, laShing madly the legs of Il
man who stood insecurely on a narrow
ledge fully halfway down. He was
clinging in terror to a jutting rock
above him, which threatened every
moment to give way. 1t was a peril
Gus, an awful situation, and the girl
shuddered as she gazcd while in the
white horror drawn face upturned to
hers she recognized Nick Sanders.
For Gods sake, Faith, try to help
me out of this he screamed.
"Ill 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 castoff rope
near the broken windlass. She caught
it up eagerly, and, 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
peril that he could not realize that the
girls hands alone were not strong
enough to pull him to the top. He 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 Il blow on the head from a
shelving ledge rendered him uncon-
Scious for several minutes.
When he came to himself he was ly-
ing on the bank of Deer Fork, and
Faith was bathing his face. Hearing
Howard Olney's voice, he 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 l couldn't. l felt
that l must look upon your face once
more before l gave you up to him."
Nick heard the tremor in Olney's
voice that told of the emotion he was
endeavoring to control.
Just once more, Faith,' he went
on. Il should not go if you could love
me, but l know how it is You have
known Nick all your life. In the de-
lirium of his fever | learned how much
he loved you, and afterward he told
me that you loved him in return. l
will not come between you. Goodby,
dear one. Remember l helped save
him for your sake"
There was intense pain in the tones,
and as he turned away Faith gave 4
quick sob, and Nick felt a hot tear
fall 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
lyzed. She knew that he loved her
and was going because he believed she
loved another; that she would never
see him again and her old lonely life
would go on unbroken, unbrightened
by him. He was slipping away from
her forever, still she could not utter a
word.
And Nick knew, too, that If Olney
went now his own chances Of some
time winning Faith were better than
ever.
Hold on a minute, Howard" called
the rescued man, sitting up.
What is it, NickT 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 it is for a. man to call him
self out loud and right before two
good folks he's been a-wrongin',
Onery big liar" said Nick. But that's
just what | ana onery big liar. l
lied to you about Faiths lovin' me,
and then / lied to her about your leav-
in Deer Fork to keep accounts for Mr..
Owen just because you were in love
with his daughter I'm a low lived
devil. but when l was down in that
ole shaft a-facin' death | made up my
mind If l ever got the chance I'd be
better man. Now that you two have
saved my worthless life and have give
me the chance l asked for I'm gOin'
to begin with you and Faith by settin'
you right. You love each other, and
want to see you happy, so my lies
amt Standin' in your trail any more.
Maybe you wonder how | happened
to be down in that old mine. You re-
member that Swede who got pile of
gold and some nuggets stole from his
cobin oVnr ~, Eirnphnck praak2 We'll