The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-12-25
, Meeg, might clause

i SlIuth Oul liahlaSaiI. lONi4u tue
pit to seek again for some means of
escape. but my search was he fruit
less as before.
Despair took hold OF me, ! thought
of Ada. of our approaching marriage.
of the preparations which had been
made. and the plans which had been
formed. And now 1t Was all over. l
must think no more Of entering again
the bright region above and sharing in
the joys that awaited me there. | was
doomed to die-to die a lonely. hor-
rible death. and to lie in a waterv
grave. AS | 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
a contrast, Just when ] ought to be
leading my bride To the altar and
stepping across the portal of married
life, to let go m 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 a At 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 | know how the morning
hours dragged on, for l was numb
with cold and faint with hunger and
fatigue. l only know that ofter what
seeled to me to be ages. footsteps
drew near and a voice called out
from above:
Are you there, Fred?"
My heart leaped into my mouth.
md for a moment ! was unable to ut
ter a sound. AT last | murmured. in
a faint voice:
In Heaven's name, get me out!
II" ~c es'"S you Eau on another min.
ute" the voice asked. I've got a
rope here. Keep up till | fastsn 1t
to this stake. Can You slip a loop
round your body, or shall / come down
to you?'
Send the rope down. I'll manage
to pass il round" shouted eagerly.
In another minute it was dangling
before my eyes, and was soon passed
under my arms: after which l gave
the word to draw up. Slowly l as
cended. and at last emerged into the
light ard freedom of the upper air.
1t was Horace Rishton who hat
saved me. ANA ii ever my heart Went
out to my rival it was then.
Il cannot sufficiently thank YOU
] began.
Give me no thanks he interrupt
ed harshly. Thank Heaven instead
Heaven and hades have been tightini
over you, and heaver~ has won. Blu
you little know how nea YOU have
been to DEATH
l looked up in wonderment at him
for his words We're unintelligiole t.
me. He took no notice of my look
but continued:
Il guessed where YOU We're, call !
instinct or Whatever you like. n,
one else did. They Will seek every
where but here. But | seemed L
know. and-well the Devil temple
me. nay. he fought with me. Don
you know why? You love Ada Mi
Ter. do you not? Then so do l. Yes
With a love which gives me no res
night or day. a love which makes
impossible for me to live without hel
You have won her. hand, but don't 70
think / envy YOU? Don't you think
even hate you at times? And whe'
| guessed You were here, don't 20
see the Devil tempted me to leave 70
here and to say nothing whateve
about it? But Ada has chosen yot
she loves you. Your wedding da
draws near. Go take her and b
happy. But for me happiness in thi
life is over"
He turned away to u%nloosen tn
rope which he had made fast to on
OF the stakes of the fence.
watched him wonderingly with
dazed mind. when all in d ONE
before | could think or speak, Ii
reeled. fell over, and toppled hea,
long into the pit from whence he ha
drawn me, carrying the % wit
him.
He's gone" / shrieked, an
%springing to my feet-fpr the mum
ness left me for a moment rushe
TO the mouth of the shaft crying fra
tically. Horace, Horace
But no answer anne to my erie
A loud splash succeeded his fall, the
all was still and silent, as the gray
| looked around for help, but no he
was near. and overcome with wea
ness. fatigue and horror, | fell sens
less to the ground.
7 Whom came to ! found myself
the same position, and knowing TIL
ii MAS extremely improbable that an
= one would pass that way, ] put for
all my strength. and dragged myse
, with great difficulty in the directit
of hone. When | had gone a mile
r so l entered upon a more frequent'
o road. and soon fell in with those wi
, rendered E1e all the assistance | 1
r quired.
My story caused a great s~ensatio
as you nay be sure, II for a tin
n WAS the one object of interest In Il
place. Ada looked upon me as %
given back from the dead, and
, ioiced over me accordingly. Her j
+ would have been complete had 1t II