登陆注册
5168700000039

第39章

Something had happened.What? "Nothing" (the speaker is fluent, but uneasy)--"one of the gentlemen, in trying to dislodge a 'specimen' from the wall, had knocked away a support.There had been a 'cave'--the gentleman was caught, and buried below his shoulders.It was all right, they'd get him out in a moment--only it required great care to keep from extending the 'cave.' Didn't know his name.It was that little man, the husband of that lively lady with the black eyes.Eh! Hullo, there! Stop her! For God's sake! Not that way! She'll fall from that shaft.She'll be killed!"But the lively lady was already gone.With staring black eyes, imploringly trying to pierce the gloom, with hands and feet that sought to batter and break down the thick darkness, with incoherent cries and supplications following the moving of ignis fatuus lights ahead, she ran, and ran swiftly!--ran over treacherous foundations, ran by yawning gulfs, ran past branching galleries and arches, ran wildly, ran despairingly, ran blindly, and at last ran into the arms of the "Fool of Five Forks."In an instant she caught at his hand."Oh, save him!" she cried.

"You belong here; you know this dreadful place: bring me to him.

Tell me where to go, and what to do, I implore you! Quick, he is dying! Come!"He raised his eyes to hers, and then, with a sudden cry, dropped the rope and crowbar he was carrying, and reeled against the wall.

"Annie!" he gasped slowly."Is it you?"

She caught at both his hands, brought her face to his with staring eyes, murmured, "Good God, Cyrus!" and sank upon her knees before him.

He tried to disengage the hand that she wrung with passionate entreaty.

"No, no! Cyrus, you will forgive me--you will forget the past!

God has sent you here to-day.You will come with me.You will--you must--save him!"

"Save who?" cried Cyrus hoarsely.

"My husband!"

The blow was so direct, so strong and overwhelming, that, even through her own stronger and more selfish absorption, she saw it in the face of the man, and pitied him.

"I thought--you--knew--it," she faltered.

He did not speak, but looked at her with fixed, dumb eyes.And then the sound of distant voices and hurrying feet started her again into passionate life.She once more caught his hand.

"O Cyrus, hear me! If you have loved me through all these years, you will not fail me now.You must save him! You can! You are brave and strong--you always were, Cyrus.You will save him, Cyrus, for my sake, for the sake of your love for me! You will--I know it.God bless you!"

She rose as if to follow him, but, at a gesture of command, she stood still.He picked up the rope and crowbar slowly, and in a dazed, blinded way, that, in her agony of impatience and alarm, seemed protracted to cruel infinity.Then he turned, and, raising her hand to his lips, kissed it slowly, looked at her again, and the next moment was gone.

He did not return; for at the end of the next half-hour, when they laid before her the half-conscious, breathing body of her husband, safe and unharmed, but for exhaustion and some slight bruises, she learned that the worst fears of the workmen had been realized.In releasing him, a second cave had taken place.They had barely time to snatch away the helpless body of her husband, before the strong frame of his rescuer, Cyrus Hawkins, was struck and smitten down in his place.

For two hours he lay there, crushed and broken-limbed, with a heavy beam lying across his breast, in sight of all, conscious and patient.For two hours they had labored around him, wildly, despairingly, hopefully, with the wills of gods and the strength of giants; and at the end of that time they came to an upright timber, which rested its base upon the beam.There was a cry for axes, and one was already swinging in the air, when the dying man called to them feebly,--"Don't cut that upright!"

"Why?"

"It will bring down the whole gallery with it.""How?"

"It's one of the foundations of my house."

The axe fell from the workman's hand, and with a blanched face he turned to his fellows.It was too true.They were in the uppermost gallery; and the "cave" had taken place directly below the new house.After a pause, the "Fool" spoke again more feebly.

"The lady--quick!"

They brought her,--a wretched, fainting creature, with pallid face and streaming eyes,--and fell back as she bent her face above him.

"It was built for you, Annie darling," he said in a hurried whisper, "and has been waiting up there for you and me all these long days.it's deeded to you, Annie; and you must--live there--with HIM! He will not mind that I shall be always near you; for it stands above--my grave."And he was right.In a few minutes later, when he had passed away, they did not move him, but sat by his body all night with a torch at his feet and head.And the next day they walled up the gallery as a vault; but they put no mark or any sign thereon, trusting, rather, to the monument, that, bright and cheerful, rose above him in the sunlight of the hill.And those who heard the story said, "This is not an evidence of death and gloom and sorrow, as are other monuments, but is a sign of life and light and hope, wherefore shall all know that he who lies under it is what men call--"a fool."

同类推荐
  • 大乘北宗论

    大乘北宗论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闲中今古录摘抄

    闲中今古录摘抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄庭内景经

    黄庭内景经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秘传刘伯温家藏接骨金疮禁方

    秘传刘伯温家藏接骨金疮禁方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秋夜喜友人宿

    秋夜喜友人宿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 曲海总目提要

    曲海总目提要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 校园实用经典趣味谚语(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    校园实用经典趣味谚语(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典趣味谚语》是一本科普类读物。歇后语、座右铭、格言等无疑都是一种浓缩的语言精华,可能经过千百年来人们的不断提炼和传承,才得以流传至今。《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典趣味谚语》主要内容包括趣味谚语类型的语言精华。集趣味性和知识性于一身,可以作为广大青少年朋友修身养性、努力学习的一个指路明灯。
  • 娘子威武:下堂相公更疼你

    娘子威武:下堂相公更疼你

    本以为一场交易,换来姐弟的安宁生活,谁知道波澜从没平息,当爱情悄然来到身边时候,樊月兰还能护住这颗心吗?
  • 生活·哲理卷(读者精品)

    生活·哲理卷(读者精品)

    风靡全球的真情故事,感动一生的纯美阅读;润泽心灵的饕餮盛宴,惠泽精英的成功启示;突破困局的导航明灯,缔造成功的内在密码。最纯美动人的励志佳作,无可替代的生花妙笔,展现励志美文顶尖力量,最憾动心灵的饕餮盛宴,最荡气回肠的励志大餐,最酣畅淋漓的悦读。一则则故事,催人奋进,帮你梳理纷乱的思绪,找到人生幸福的密码;一篇篇美文,怡人性情,为心灵注入勇气和力量,带给你爱和希望。一部相伴一生的心灵圣经,一掬滋润心灵的智慧甘霖,在阅读中收获真知与感动,在品味中得到启迪到智慧。
  • 难逃罪妻

    难逃罪妻

    五年前,她怀孕逃离,五年后,她本想夺回自己的地位,没有想到最后却自投罗网。
  • 离婚

    离婚

    我们围在一张桌子上炸金花,当时一间屋子里有七八个人参与,有几个输光了钱,在旁边瞪着眼睛看。我的手上拿了三个K,心中暗喜,心想这回可得多赢点儿了。参与的人后来都放弃了,只剩下我和张黑子。当时桌子上已经有了一堆钱。我手气不错,那时已经赢了有两万多。我把钱都押上去了,有三万。我想张黑子肯定要看我的牌比大小,看牌得翻倍,他得出六万。我打认定了他会看,可没想到他不看。张黑子这个狗日的真会装。他犹豫着,捻了捻手中的牌,一副不自信的样子,问旁边的人跟不跟?旁边的人看热闹,就起哄说,跟呀,来场大点儿的,看哪个狗日的能把钱拿走。
  • 毒舌君少:女人,强势宠

    毒舌君少:女人,强势宠

    (已断更,勿看)【搞笑宠文】她扮猪吃虎,狠狠反击继母渣女,伪装这么久的咸鱼也是该翻身了,咦,翻身的姿势不对吗?那我再翻一个,怎么还在某人怀里!!!他是闻风丧胆的君少,传闻他毒舌冷酷,生人勿近。难道是她打开的方式不对?撩人的情话,张口就来,说好的毒舌冷酷呢?时时刻刻都恨不得粘着她,说好的生人勿近呢?
  • 医妃不治相思

    医妃不治相思

    一封书信,两句道别,留下了洛暝晗孤身一人。自此她开始走上了行医的道路,立志要成为一个悬壶济世的医者。洛暝晗行医有两条准则:一是医症医病不医心,二是医人医物不医己。她我行我素,飘洒脱俗,不愿被任何事物束缚牵绊。从不违背自己的意愿,凭借着高超的医术,过着自由自在的生活。可奈何再平静祥和的生活也会被人硬生生的闯入,洛暝晗似乎还没反应过来,就已经情深难却。她知道,一旦对一个人有了牵挂,那整颗心都会随着他的喜怒哀乐悸动,他的一举一动会无时不刻的牵动她的情绪,浸入她的灵魂。“我洛暝晗的人生,只要能平平淡淡的度过就很幸福了。”所以,在那个对她穷追不舍,处处针锋相对的帝王威胁到了她潇洒自如的生活时,她逃了,逃的越远越好,没想到结果却是独留下那个不可一世的帝王对她相思蚀骨。在又一次被捉回后,他强硬的拉过她的手腕拥她入怀,用宽阔的胸膛用力搂紧她纤细的身躯,耳鬓厮磨,他说:“朕说过了,朕需要爱妃妙手回春,医朕的心病。”“可臣妾也说过了,即便臣妾是再世华佗,也不治相思。”
  • 茶余饭后(民间幽默笑话集)

    茶余饭后(民间幽默笑话集)

    笑话在古今民间文学中都大量存在。为了给读者提供精神食粮并使之读后内心发笑、精神受益、心灵得到陶冶,编者从古今笑话中精选了一些优秀篇章,根据现代人口味作适当修改,并根据国内外笑话分类学的方法,主要从便于读者阅读的角度出发进行了分类。
  • 奇迹可以创造(走向成功丛书)

    奇迹可以创造(走向成功丛书)

    怎样走向成功?成功的要素有哪些?有理想的青少年朋友都会思考这样的问题。为此,我们组织编译了世界著名的成功学大师们的代表作,希望用大师们自己的成功灾例和经验,帮助青少年朋友塑造自己,一步步走向成功之路,成为人生的赢家。