Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-05-05

! struck out frantlcally round tue
pit to seek again for some means OF
escape, but my search was as fruit
less as before.
Despair took hold Of me. I thought
of Ada, of our approaching marriage,
of the preparations which had been
made, and the plans which had been
formed. And now it was all over.
must think no more Of entering again
the bright region above and sharing in
the Joys that awaited me there. l was
doomed to die-to die lonely, hor-
rible death, and to lie in watery
grave. AS 1 held on to my feeble sup
port, and thought Of all this. my brain
reeled within me, and l feared that
my reason must give way.
Death instead of marriage! What
contrast! Just when l ought to be
leading my bride to the altar and
stepping across the portal Of married
life, to let go my hold here and fall
into the cold, relentless arms OF
death! And what Of Ada then? Sure
ly she would sorrow and grieve and
be disconsolate.
But Horace Rishton! What OF
him? Might they not become man
and But, no, the thought was tor
turing, and drove me in fit of frenzy
to shout again with all my might. But
1t was all in vain, for no one heard.
How the night passed cannot tell,
neither do I know how the morning
hours dragged on, for was numb
with cold and faint with hunger and
fatigue. I only know that after what
seemed to me to be ages, footsteps
drew near, and voice called out
from above:
"Are you there, Fred?"
NY heart leaped into my mouth,
and for a moment l was unable to ut
ter a sound. At last l murmured. In
faint voice:
"In Heavens name, get me out!
I'm dying"
Can you hold on another min
ute?" the voice asked. 1--WE got
rope here Keep up till l fasten 1t
to this stake. Can you slip loop
round your body, or shall come down
to you?"
"Send the rope down. I'll manage
to pass it round" l shouted eagerly
In another minute it was dangling
before my eyes, and was soon passed
under my arms; after which / gave
| the word to draw up. Slowly l as
cended, and at last emerged into the
| light and freedom of the upper air.
1t was Horace Rishton who had
| hno ri
out to my rival it was then.
81 cannot sufficiently thank you,'
began.
"Give me no thanks" he interrupt
ed harshly, Thank Heaven instead.
Heaven and hades have been fighting
over you, and heaven has won. But
you little know how near you have
been to DEATH"
| looked up in wonderment at him.
for his words were unintelligible to
me. He took no notice of my look.
but continued:
81 guessed where you were, call 1t
instinct or whatever you like. No
one else did. They will seek every
where but here. But l seemed to
know, and-well the Devil tempted
me, nay, he fought with me. Don't
you know why? You love Ada Mil
ler, do you not? Then so do I. Yes,
with a love which gives me no rest
night or day, a love which makes 1t
impossible for me to live without her.
You have won her hand, but don't you
think l envy you? Don't you think
hot nt ftrln
guessed you were here, don't you
see the Devil tempted me to leave you
here and to say nothing whatever
about it? But Ada has chosen you
she loves YOU Your wedding day
draws near. Go-take her and be
happy. But for me happiness in this
life is over"
He turned away to unloosen the
rope which he had made fast to one
of the stakes of the fence.
watched him wonderingly with a
dazed mind, when all in a moment
before I could think or speak. he
reeled, fell over, and toppled head
long into the pit from whence he had
drawn me, carrying the rope with
him.
Hes gone!" l shrieked, and
springing to my feet-for the numb
ness left me for moment-I rushed
to the mouth of the shaft crying fran
tically, "Horace Horace!"
But no answer came to my cries
A loud splash succeeded his fall, then
all was still and silent, as the grave
looked around for help, but no helr
was near, and overcome with weak
ness, fatigue and horror, fell sense
less to the ground.
When l came to found myself II
the same position, and knowing that
1t was extremely improbable that any
one would pass that way, l put forth
all my strength, and dragged mycel
with great difficulty II the direction
of bone. When l had gone mile OF
| ao onforad unOn a more freuuenteS