The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
DIR. w. s. ROUNTREE AND
 THE LIGHT THAT FAILED
ny CHARLES H. MANDY

infnitismal coal oil lamps that hold about a teaspoon full of oil and shed as much light as a full grown lightning bug.
 The party entered the slope in great spirits with pr. Rountree in the lead. For about 90 yards they were able to walk upright. then they came to the 'headlng," the roof of which is too low to permit Of standing upright, and too haghs for them to crawl. consequently 1t is necessary to walk in stooping position, that inficts more discomfort on a novice than ever was dreamed of ly the Spanish inquisitors. Every once ii a while the party were reminded of the absolute necessity to "stoop low by putting into lege of rock few inches below the regular range of the roof with the head causing temporary display of fireworks that discounted Pains most spectacular efforts and d few muttered tobascoitic phrases that would set fire to an asbestos ice box in fireproof building.
 The gallant doctor pointed out the va rions points of interest to the crowd, es- pecially to the young lady he was es- eorting. She was plainly frightened by the unusual surrounding and also eX- hacsted by the uncomfortable posture re- quired to navigate those innermost re- cesses of the earth.
 After walking about half mile the young lady gave out and said 1t was i'm possible for fer to proceed further The party were extremely anxious to see the workings. so at the suggestion of the guide pr. Rountree was to- stay with the young lady, who had found seat on the narrow gauged track, until the ..t-s4 4l. ..s,I The alacrity with which his nibs the doc tor responded to the suggestion pointed strongly to eolusion between them, but anyway the party moved on, leaving the doctor and the bewltching little beauty that had captured his heart seated close together on the car track while before them the microscopic lamp shed its flick ering and uncertain rays.
 As the lights from the main party van ished in the gloom the light from the little lamp seemed to get more feeble, but as the light grew thinner the flame m the doctors heart was famed into an ardent glow. He took the maidens hand and held 1t close. The little miss was so frightened at the silence and the sur rounding gloom that she nestled closer to him. This filled the young sawbones with such bliss that he started to fold the girl in his arms, and in doing so kicked over the minute lamp. which extinguished it's puny flame The darkness was simply appalling; 1t was so dense you could cut it with q knife. The proverbial darkness of Egypt was of dazzling brightness com pared to it. The young lady gave shriek, then commenced to sob softly The doctor searched his pockets for a match, and to his dismay not one was to be found. He told the young lady of his matchless con- dltion, and despite her fear and distress at the unusual situation. she right then and there accused him of framing up the situation, and insisted that he had kicked the lamp over purposely, and actually moved away from his side.
 Just then the light of the party as they were returning came In sight and the two were found sitting about three feet apart, the young lady frightened but angry. the doctor gloomy and disconsolate. He had a hard time explaining that the lamp was turned over accidentally, but a harder time in trying to convince the young lady that he had got framed up the whole thing. Anyhow, she handed him the frozen mitt," and his dream of love was over. She packed her trunk next day and departed to her sunny southern home. and though the doctor has since gained much fame and some for tune in the practice of his profession he is still going 1t alone, and is generally regarded as a hopeless case so far as matrimony Is concerned