"only A Miner."

ïregoze is a pleasant littlo Cornish village overlooking the "Western Sea." Everything tliere is rough and stony, and even the inhabitants are, to all :ip pearance, as rough and stony as their native rocks. But underneath those slaty iields lies the rieh vein of metal, and in those rough Cornish hearts is a vein of human feeling and Christian charity, far, far purer than rnuoh that passes as such ia the faskioDable world, wherc tinkling bolls suromon rich dovvagcrs to church in their gorjjoons chariots. The children of Tregoze were tripping lightly to school af ter the holidays, akng the hard, slaty paths. It was, indeed, with no "creeping like snail unwillingly to school" kind of motion on this occasion, as all were full of expectation, almostof joy, forthey were i.v ilíi v j í 1 1 1 1 1. viav a iicm 11.1.3 ti cao) (Jilt; whom they all knew, and who had, in fact, been one of themselves. Margaret Powhele had been bom in Tregoze, wliere she had attended the school, first as pupil, and then as pupil teacher. Thenee she had gone to the college in London, and a vaeancy having occurred, sho had been appointed mistress down thora in her ovvn nativo village. Her father had worked there. man and boy, in the Tregoze mines for upward of forty years, and he still continued to follow the same oecupation. The children, therefore, all knew Margaset. Their memories ot her were pleasant, and henee they tripped joyously to school, where they admlred their new mistress, who, in their eyes, was een anuyas ïcarnea as tnc cúrate, and almost a? wise as the vicar, besides IjSHig as pretty as a princess. When thej-, therefore, returned honie at midday, many were the oxclamation of "Isn't she pretty!" "Isn't sho nice!" aud sa on, amoñg the 3'oungsters; which exclamations generally called forth from the old people the remark, "I ing, 'cause timos be very hard for us poor volks." Many others beside the school childrcn were in love with Margaret, for she had budded iuto s'omanhood since she had left ïregoze, and now herbean1" had taken the young men by .surprise. Tor sorue time Margaret found it far ers, but bv dint of good management, by the falling off of 'those who feit they had "no chance" and through other eircumstanees lier circlc of avowed adorers bccameredueed to two -Joseph Tregeax and Torn Polglaze. Botli of these young men were receiving good wages in the mines, and liad opportunities of rising to higher positions, as inaectorii, etc. :both, too, were steady, and had saved a little money. It was long, hovvever, before Margarct herself made it known which of thern slic preferrfd; in fact, so ter as that goo, neither could for a long time boasl of the smallest favor. Othergirls called Margaast a flirt, but in this they wrouged her. The simple fact was that Margaret, notyet tiredof being herown mistress, endeavored so to order her vrays that neither tJoseph Tregear, Toni Polglaze nor any other suitor might i havo the slightest reneon tobe jealous of a rival. Tregear, howeyer, had the good sense to sec that neither he nor Polglaze was nearlv so well educated as Mararet. and he well understood that it ís a bad omen when the husband lias to look up to t li; wife in UiO maller df learning-. He accordingly bought books, and beoame an eame-it midnight student. In fact, he triud every way to render himsclf Margaret Povvhele's eiqual. Tom I'olglaze, howeyer, Ioved the fair teacher nol a whit fcss than his rival, but he was formed in a roucher moiiUl. He scarcely noticed the ofaange in Tregear; but, if lie did uot, Mfitrgarei Powhele did, and she was highly gratiliep by it. "Joseph," she said to liim one evening when he came to ask her to lake a walk, "vou seem so much cliauged lately; you are as liltle likc a nat i ve ofTregoze as myseif." "In what way, Margaret?" "You have lost the twaug, and you seem to know something about the great world. l)o you stmlv?" "Yes; I sit up every night to road, or o work mathematics." wnyf w nat do yon want tobe0 Aclerk?" "Margarct, I study only to be more liko you: 1 love you- will you- " "There! Joseph Tregear! you study tobelikeme? lamsure I never set you the example of talking such rubbish! Ah, ah! Good-by!" So saying, off she tripped iuto the house, to his intense diseomiiturc. But was Margarot any the more happy than the lover she had left so consolate in the street? That evening her parents noticed a great chango in her, but eould not discover the cause, She did not talk nor tako any food, but soon retired to her own little room, complaining of a headache. "Do 1 love him?" sho muttered when alone. "Poor fellow! he studies liard for my sake- to be more worthy of me, I supppse he calis it. Ah, Joseph! why didlleave you so abruptly? what a giddy worthless thing I am!" That night she coulil not sleep until she had decided upon a future course of action. The next day, being Saturdav, Margaret spent at home in household cares, u'liicU she shared with her mother. but she scarcely spoke a word all day. In the evening she went to the draper's and bought a few ribbons and other little articies, for there was some ol)ject now in being prelty. On Suñday ahe appcared in chürch dressed with more than hor usual care, and she may be forgiven if she was not quite so attentive to the sermón as shc should have. been, for thcre at a distauce sat Joseph Tregear, lookiug ather with his great blue eycs, making her blush, and her with thé desire ing through the Hoor. On leaving the porch, after dismissing liei ilock, Margare! íound Joscph Tregear and Toni Polglaze pretending to ruad tho inseriptions on tho tombs. At the sound of her step Torn raised his head and advanced with a friendly nod, while Joseph rcniaimul still, but ftvoH ilinco nmni lilno ovím: nn iipr "Good morning, Tom," said she indifiorently; "how .are youP" Polglaze was röplylng as they nearad Tregear, when Margarct stopped. Tregear still hold back, trembling in his heart, and apprehensivo of bis rival. Margaret, however, was so appavently ealm that lic was beginning to thinkher heart as hard as her natíve rocks.when, noddlng an adieu to Polglaze, shc very naturaily and very quietly put her hand on Tregear's arm and said: "I am very sorry 1 kept you waitiug: I can only spare you half an hoiir for a walk." It was the tirst time she had ever shown a pi-eforence, and Polglaze now knew that he, too, was "ont of theraoe." His face changed to an ashen hue, and he tottered off with dejected looks, but with clenched fists. ïregear squeezed the small hand that had boen so uuexpectedly put on his arm. and led Mariraret !iv:iv fnr t.lin promised walk, which, it neod scarcely be said. was unconsciously lengthcned into an hour. When Mai'garet once more arrived under her parents' roof it was not alone that shc came. Henceforth another liad also a right to join her tbcre. Trcgear knew the price that must be paid for Margaret's love. He knew that Polglaze would not give her up without a, contcst. Nor was it long before the battle was commenced, ior that very evening, as Tregear was leaving the house of the Powiieles, he was attacked by his rival. AVith liimit was bilt a word and a blow. "Joe Tregear, you have crossed my steps, and noiv I'll be revenged on you!" So saying, Polglaze struck a blow which would have felled an ordinarv man. But ïregear was quite a match for him, and the two fought long and desperately, until threatened by the rural polieeman, who threatened tïiem with In reo 1 nvnniiiifli ntra Of course Margaret was one of the flrst to hear of the battle. Distressed bevond measure she went to her lover's parent s, where she found him'in a most impresentable eondition. A few words soon explained the position of affairs, when Margaret burst into tears and blamed herself for showing her preferenco so stnpidly. "Margaret,"' replied her Jover, "do not tiilce il, ta lipnrf "IM rntViov Kn flghting liim again thansec j'our tcars." "Leave me aloue a minuto. Let me overeóme this." "Yes, dear heart," said Mts. Trepar, "don't j-e take on in this way. These tinmen are regular vighters, but this Torn Polglaze is the mortaciousest iighter that ever I zee." 'Yes, Margaret, that's tíuo. I knevv the day 1 gamcd yonr love I should find an enemy. Bnt cheer up, cheer up! I faiu'v he vrill not attack me again in a hurrv, for I know he does not at this moment look a bit handsomer than I do." And SO SftviïlO". !u l;mo]lPil t.lin mnHoi. lightly away, until Margaret, too, bogan to smile thr jugh hor tears. _ On the following daj-, when the two rivals went to the mine, their appearancc caused many jeering p.nd contejnptuous remarks, forthe tinmcn were in hopes of goading them on to renew the battlt'. I'olglaze had, however, found an adversary worthy of hi.s strongarm, and was not so ready to strike the flrst blow as he had been the night befo re. He contented lumscif tlerefore with doubling his fists and saying tbat the time of réngeance would come. Months passed away, however, Tregoze reoovering fromits unwonted cxcitement, and matters took their usual course. The mines were worked, old leams wére used up, and new veins opened out; but, though the battle had not been rene wed, Joseph Tregear and Töm Polglaze had not vet shaken hands This oaused Margaret no amall i i.:l, iui uuwu mere m me Doweisoí the earth an unsecn b!ow with a piok might destroy tha happáness of her life. She oftcn beged Xregear to leave the mines, qut he srtiil lie liad good prospecte of beingap)onted engineer'sassistant, and as for Tom Polglaze's threat- why, he had not the slightest, anxiet}' on account of that. At length a new shaft was to be opened, and the two young men, being the stoadiest hands in the mine, were cd tor the operation. There they toiled together for a few weeks without exchanging a word, and they were alone, far from anv other workmen. Margaret was wnjtched, buttOaJIher supplications Tregear still said lie had 110 fear. In her distrcss she spoke to Polgiaze and asked him to shake hands witli Tregear. He refused, but he pressed his ïougli hands to his temples and said, "I loved you then, Ilove vou now, as much or more than Joe Tregear." j u.-ty or uro aitertnat ootnmenwere again :it work togetKer, and silent as ! death in their solitary shaft. They were suddenly startled by a fallin stone. A few lumps oí earth then carne tumbling down, and the whole shaft seemed to trerable. The works were giving awayi The men looked at ono anotner, a ,....., nivi uiwuuuvu xíHjVíi?. n, tí) L'IlU firaí time they had looked into one another's eyes sinco that fatal day, exeept to dart flanees of scorn and líate. They rau lo the kebblo and gave the signalto bé (imwn u]i. They were touching one another now. their hands almost ela)ed togethci1 on the rope. Their very breath aeerued to mtermkigle. It was terrible after suoh a course ot líate to be brought together under these circrumstanoes. As they were both shouting to be drawn up the ro]ie tightened and strained, but the kebble woulcl not move. More earth feil, bui still the kebble remained at the bottom of the shaft. Whilst shouting londer and louder and Iouder for help, the terrible truth flashed through their minds tliat there was only oue man at the wi&dlass, and thathe alone was unable to raise them both, and all this time the shaft was trembling and earth and stoncs fallintr. As they stood there in the kebble, their bodies and hands touehing, and glancing into om1 another's eyes, the awful thought eame to them both in an ustant that one of them must die - must die to save the other- his enemy! One of Ihem must die- butwho should it be? id there anas nn etemity in theglanoe. Then one of thcm let go the rope and dropped out of the kebble, whroh immediately bco-.-ui lo rise. WI10 was t? The willing martyr was T1.n1 l'olglazo. "Tull Marg'et," lie shouted. as the roseabovehishead, "lellMarg'et I did it to save her pain - to save you wiiom sIkí loves! I fprgive you! Imt be sure and be good to -" Tho shaft gave way, andnothing preBcnted itself lo Tregear'é gazo but a mass of slate and rubbish. Toni Pol glaze was in eternity, as noble a soul as ever died for any causo that is dear to man; as devoted as any martyr, as generous souled as any patriot - thongh only a poor miner. It was long before Joseph Tregear and Margaret Powliele recovered from that shock. They mourned the brave dcad as a brother, and a neat little stone overlooking the village church yard, long afterward reminded the tinmon of Tregoze of the noble deed of self-sacrifice of a hero who was ono of tliemselves.