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L
enn ede ee
POA at nan dR ony
mn
ihe Mn Ad ee em etl
Fas wel and bapps, and that a great change of
fortune had come into her life. But the letter bore
either date, Postmark, nor signature, and be could
Dot tell where it ed.
ue We was tho Bist mutation. which Jack had
bad nt the waa i {he land of the living, and to
have seen his face az he read it would have touched
eyes, strong you!
her (rleuds hi (against bern tho binde
Ueclaring that sho Bad eloped with the bandsonie,
dark-eved stranger, be still Believed her true,
had been searching’ for her ever sinee, without ro
vet without fool-—day and night, taut be bad
Almost worn himself o
To bellorel she. was’ In tho city somewkere,
that she had been ashamed to return to the bindery
after that scene on the steamer, and had gone some
place else to work, and be walked the streets (or
ours at a time, beara for her amon the
¢rowds of worl trooped down,
Groutway i iauging, chattering rope ‘each
erening, only to turn away, alas! disappointed and
almost broken-hea
Aad tens ‘notin ‘Stonth dragged {ts slow length
by. It was woll U
“tl
at he did not know where Doro-
mse.
news of her betrothal to handsome Harry
had aes over the entire village, and it
sensation in Youkerw on the ott:
ray Gai very
thesame roof with daxhing,
se Horry Kendal, the dewwiea! of all the
ri8,
ere
tered chat the mariage would net take place (or
ete
was some disappointment when they
ar} ent
ie all very well now, with rosy Joven theirskys
a, Dat delays are dangerous,” suid some people, shak=
‘ Blaine,” ete.
Ying their bens omninouny.
orothy was as happy aa the day was long, for
she was learntag to fairly adore ber lover. and
Wreated bi in a ebildish fasbion which rather
togel
f bondons the would
spring up ai his neck, like
+ an overgrowa baby, a Ted end by giving hima hearty
smack straight on! the lipe—no matter why
or twice he hed Sitempted to espostulnte
rigght=
‘went toto hysterics, aud
turing away with a "white, set face, he would say
Bt hat could he expect? he asked himself, grimly.
He maa asked an qntatored schooi-girl 10 be his
nd, and now he was com
mescnne o rte whirlwind. Ere, ‘one else
seemed bi Welighted over Do hi
Seemour took a checkbook from the drawer,
‘This promptuess roused Jake's suspicion:
“TD aoe tke hocks," ie said, sullenly. Mach
‘too easily
ot pose think 1 keep five hundred pounds Tying
my pocket?” sald Seymour,
tesake gnawed at hislip, and scowled down at him.
By ‘kets crammed with
n't a sovercl fold, qulety. It
ws oblee Toatcheck Til et the taney from th
any and seal t fo yout i the
Juke, after # taamane
ac not afraid of your runuing awi
'gesmour leaned back and looked atralyght before
ar au come
fori 7 and
“ Very well: I have no more to say.”
SIME T Rave—just one thing,” said Jake. «
want those sparklers Madge gave me. Like a fool,
left "em on the tablo this morning. But 1 was 80,
fureied by the women! ['ll take ‘em now, my
lord, please.”
Scymour remembered sweeping the diamonds
into,n drawer when he had been left ane,
* That is unfortunate, “The countess
took them away with hi
dake's taco aatkeve and he swore,
“ Madge gave ’em to
“T
‘Seymour shru ers.
“You may hav a them, for all I carel’? he sate,
“They are not my property. Iwill got them for
you to-morrow, if f can.”
“You'd better,” said Jake, signifieantly.
a they're worth a heap.’ Fl take thom, wnt
eymour, mean
Jake glanced at him suspiciously.
He bail not expected to tnd bis victim 60 ready
andacqulescent. Bat, afterall, what else could Sey-
monr do than
Mihhes he sald, With affected cheerfulness.
“TI Geop that twelve. Goolstighty ty Tord.
[ll take another glass of wine, though, aud a cigar,
ir gou'ea got i
our pushed & cigars down the table,
and Jake took one ana iia itat the candle, and
ermptied the reat into his
ood-nigh faite If yoo'l take my ad-
vice youll feat tat for to-night he nodled to
the bottle—“and get to bed ently. You want to
keep roar Teail clear you hao
‘se tnour took no hotica, and, with a nod, Jake
went ont.
Sevmour locked the window after him, and paced
up ani down, ll bya wa working 08, &, Rew”
tack. tho diamonds on Ris
ad started an itn
nds
wiolo of the Landou ewelatwhich bad boo
from tho bank for the ball, were in the house
resent fabulous
atiowing for the ‘oon a relizetion, te would's up:
Pig bi with & lange 5
te contd sell them at Amsterdam,
apn hig pros, sencitt natu
He loved ber Ja such dy panzer, and | Royee would not care to birn ao would
poor little Dorothy wi pressed with his | be @ rich man, and— Sie would doit He looked
Superiority, | She was “Sbliged to adznowiedeeo that | at his watch. There would be tne to
Harry Kendal as her master. She could never dowels a 0 London. He wound
make bim h iy without stepping eli, }andthen— Well,
At this juncture fin event nanpened that chonged | he could plan ont bis fatnre how,
the current of poor Dorothy's after life. Ib was | be wi rich enon to to rive: Tagarousty in one
hd tha bontivea weve blazing on bil | of the continental ea end afford to play for
a’ all the young people of the village igh stakes, and en: joy bimnselt. after his fashion.
with entinsiasm over the affair. fe ife he bad been leading had bee
A eres
of Gr ables, ag had been the custom ft
old doctor had been triotie.
are
the reputation for plety net worth the
years, | trouble,
flusbed with renewed hope and pleasant
‘hie year thete is n0 one to cheer the boys on in | antietpations, Tt would be 8 charming way of re-
‘odd work,” said the housekeeper, sadi
a are
Rent
Age Sstrmio upto her ane Zeacped hewsuout ier,
“ay aawktingly clinching deeply into the
as p_gake, stop, sou bos!” he
her Lite head proad
‘alone she would not nave cared but
<1. tnese peo} , it was unbearable!
would rerent TEE ated nen
} To be eontinned in our nezt.)
°
fae Laura Jean Libbey
yw York Fireside
whi all her new stories
‘wikappear, Other + journals can furnish her old
* Bories only.
Entered accorting to Act of Congress. tn the year 198 b
tuscrn sro. ore ibang?
Congress, W
‘{} LOVE’ 'S ALTAR; |:
U'oia FATAL FANCY.
f BY CHARLES GARVICE,
Author of “ She Trusted Him,” “ Paid For,”
ory man commenced in Ro. 120 of THe New Yons
Mtaaairy Comranton, Baek uumbers can be cheat
all newadealers, be ehealned
[rors story wit Kor Be PcoLianeD 3 BOOK oR.)
CHAPTER XXXVUL—{ Continued.)
anAVITH gt shadder, Seymour got mp and opened
low, and Jake ente1 red, He
ent
your apirts up? Qaite ri
glass of 1m myse
Fle stretched outs
glass,“ Here's health and long life to your lord-
sip be remarked, ‘cordial, as he threw the wine
throat to business. What's
Sour Pera foing oder "hat Tneedn't ask the
question. You're too sensible and up to sonff t
Kick up a dast whea (tl choke youreelt worse than
aasioay else, Mam’s the word for all of ns—eh?
wie, a3 i said, you eandepend apon me, i'm
: ener
hoarsely, The barsh, vulgar
voise ied ie rita leatting,
aT have decided,” be said, thoagh antl that mo-
done so, believe your
story. It is.a conspiracy?”
oon
ght That's Tyour lay!" assented Jake, «
provingly, |“ Stigk to that and you're right,” All
you've ett to do ia to keep me quiet, and you're ms
fate ns a basket ote
fe wi ry happy comparison,
it Bey-
mont a tot i noire 2 a Froteique applicability.
a allowance,” he
ait teeny a snd fingering bis wine. Id
Rot fil I, fof the man bad jast drunk out of ft" it
T’consent to—to come to terms with you, bow am f
to be sure that you will not contincally harass and
noy me?
got a thonsand a year isn’t such a
188 to risk losing ity” Neeatd, * aha'n't trouble
I shall leave England, aod or
‘where on the Conton Barring a resin forthe
coin every halt year, 4 oes won't hear from your af-
fecttonate father, my lord.”
ponder for a minute or two;
then he sighed. °
“ at fa large eum ot { money, and togive you any
isclence—
take put hie fongu fa bis chock and grinned.
— But T will assent to your terms.
T Right” "exclaimed Jake, extending his dirty
paw. “i Gilre meyour band on it.” And I'ltake the
iy, as | venging himself. .
hip voles, thou
ight have the title—
‘oye
though that was not cetiain—but that ‘vai
‘of bis should never wear fie Landon
‘ite rang the bell and ordered the brougham, and
gh eather thick, wan suave aA onal.
“epstal ed amma Pont
Hiher ne went. ‘
Tete ee a Se se tines
‘ahd. Courage, ats Ne
Kept fa a allo ‘fete in tho co Si esa
bie th ont u:
Sion and © xeifemebe last nig! most
of them lying on the dressing- able, Ero it Loulee
had bein ttosgtalensogs fo fo put thera in thesafe,
he migl ey. At the worst,
fhe sate ‘he stronger a supesttaes than reality,
he could force the loc!
Ve waited s quarter of an hour, then, yy a
small black bag courealed under his loose
Cont, he went quickly along thecorridor and entered
the countess's dressing-room. Ile tried the safe.
It was as he bad feared, locked. Louise bad put
Away ever lis "thought for a moment.
Then a bei tant “idea struck fin, Ho went out om
to the and waited. Presently Louise came
of ‘tie countess room. She startled sight
as che Wy bim, and noticed the hectic fist o
face, ‘and. his swollen eye
“tltow ris her Tatship now?” he asked,
» suid the maid, pausing & mo-
mph et er band upon the pant ‘of the door,
m glad—very glad!” gai ai ‘Seymour.
yout tell be please, that I bavi
tn
it.
Would she sefnse to elve
second she did hesitate, then
om ber poc!
eThack sot =y, wna Sh a id. -
unlock-
ne MO
essing-toom, w
ed the enate, and ¢ anptied the contents of th
roceo-ined cases into bis bag: The too ook everything
uch triftes plain gold bracelet at
The woag wel weld uke ke lead,
against his ribs, The Bell
carrlage that bad been ordered was ready rai
softly. He looked round the room with a sigh, f for
he Was saying good-bye to Monk Towers, good-bye
Tonis tte, to bis chadactor-to everything eave the
jewel
He clatched the bag under his arm beneath the
fhe cloak, andy went Stealthily toward the door,
though there need for stealth, But
a {i opened —a pened ‘imward, aud ake stood before
im!
nligyattered no ers, but shrank back. Jake closed
oor, and, leading against it, anrveyed the
aosty glare
with every:
my son, and I'm
Hanged iT aint ashamed of sou?"
Sevmone bit his lip.
*What—what do You mean? he stammered,
Jake polnted to,the portimantea
off” he said, ‘You were going to
“It's—it's a lie! said Seymour.
to the bank for your money”
10 jaige growled contem
“Bak at thie time ot et
“1 was going
"What fo you take
‘You meant
And why, eb’ Whats your lite games,
a’ ya got ’em!
‘anced a step.
inne! She gave me
The sweat broke out on Seymour's face.
>em to
“Flush?” be whispered, warningly. “They—
they will hear you! Ihave not aot them. | was
pot going that Js, Tam coming back to-morrow.
af
y before they find you. § swear--"”
Bad heen watching him closely, and saw a
wement ‘ot! bis ar
Sin orted, ia a basky whisper.
“fwonlda't b Weliere rot nit you 81 till you
Diack in the face! What's that ‘ander your ara?
ivsthem! Give’em
To advanced, ad Seymour drow back, elateting
the bag.
“ Come—come a step nearer, and "ll ring the
bell and give yoo in cody 1" he gasped.
dake aah flercel
Give Tere,
He mado arab at at the ont tne Seymour slipped
back out of his ‘h, and, with the frenzy of an
Animal driven to bay! etree wt hiro The plow
fell short, but it maddened Jake,
“ e your own father?” he cried,
Seymour, In attempting to escape, tripped ani
fell—fell'with & dull crush and the ring of het
Mis bead had struck the fender.
dake Iowan and tore ibe bag away,
ayia he fad, vexing, “Look there, pow!
Tcnew 1 was 1h upp
Seymour ‘tt i nc more, “Jake leaned over
sim vant touche
he's only fainted,” he growled. Con-
foarit him, it serves him right! To trike at his
vpn father!”
He went across the room and got the toilet bot-
evan peured some water.on the white faco; but
Seymour atl ley motionless
ee suis 8 voice sald:
2 ineearnage tof uy Io
like sprung to he
a
that
fant turned iralowas
t Doisviresit, on the thick car
pet. plang larkness.
Tirne earrlage ts Feady, my nd,” repeated the
footman.
“Very weil,” said Jake, as emoothly as he could,
and the voice” for the best of Ai Teavons, Was Dok
very allie the one be sunlated. le walted until
man’s footst me ne
toe Wn, felt for, semonts ant
culty took off the fur cee ‘and “exchange ‘hie
for it. THe found anil put on Seymoue'n bat,
collar of bre cbut up fotund bis face,
an ci “fhe bag under his arm as Seymour
ed the dove gad wont slowly down
A footinan stood at the TTT oo
‘ill you have the earrige, window up, my
lord?” he asked,
Jako Nodled, and touched bis face ns ithe had
the toothae
‘The man pat the ‘window up, and beld the door
for a moment,
4 Where to, my lor?”” he asked.
ci The station,” said Jake, frou under the coat
co
"The footman looked at-tam rather euriously, but
closed the door, and the earrings started.
Jake leaned back and Jauzhal 1
2311 teach bm to play tacks Op his ache,” be
he'll be rather wild when he
Eimes to." The picture of Seyaou's surprise and
isgust_ when restored to eonsclousnesé_ amu
he ‘brougham rolled
toothy ‘slong; ho suena & more serious re-
flection ‘caine, diamonds are al!
the stairs
Fight,” ho snid, 2 and he ‘opened the bap, and held it
the win eateh the jight from the
the carriage Jam
or moment he was almost bewildered by the.
sight that met his eyes, ‘Thea Ni face ‘Dashes,
and be gas)
Syle'S cleverer than I thought. He was walking
off with the whole Sy and I’ve got it! Pye
got it! Hooray! hoo-ray!*
CHAPTER XSXIX.
Ay hour later, Giles, the second happen-
{ng to be going from the Stables to the house, fan
cied he saw smoke ising from ono of the upper
window: dark and gusty, and
Eis kia th that bia eres mere ‘playing inieks
0 Join, ihe other
servants at tea, paced on wees Bld
Who gave the first alarm bo one ines But ne
denly, as if a hundred threats were shouting 1
there rose the awful ery-of—
5 usual, eversbody rashed hither aud thither
throwing open the dirs aud creating a 3 roid
dranght, ander ‘ebteh She fre flouristed pat
and glorions!
less than ten minntes from te moment of the
alarms the mprer corr, filled with smoke,
protraded. | Flames
‘indows of the south
through which ton
saher andl shivering of
poet ‘the
Ting, and the cre
Blase mingled with 1
ferited Nosehot. .
the great bell, wf
store tg te
“aonge to run and ring
“Forge qoautiy at
B but thot ugh the
he 0 know how t
get it out, and the ont that wae thrown 0 hon
ROW roaring Mame tained from 1
stable taj
The nearest fre brie
oa volunteor one-—was
rn Rosco wes hore!” ae the but-
ir te the fector of of the parc, who had been among
‘working, amy. in bis
shires eevee ann “his parshioners, “But both he
and his lordship are away.”
dies are all right, of course?” panted the
vThe batler nodded quickly.
“Yes, yes! They were in the west wing, and £
saw the Sonntess @ few-minates ago with Toulse
and Marion. Everybody's out of the bonse;” an
he looked round at “the terrified group collected ot
the law
“17 think you ought to telegraph to his lordsbip,”
said the rector
The butler shook hia head.
“What's the vse, air?” bo “Te has only
just Tete ‘the ‘Towers for Yandon, and by the time | dl
here—
place vill be gone! andl He groaned 8s hosprung
forward, bucket in hand.
‘The scene bafiled descaipition, The wholo of the
south wing wag-now in janes, and the murky sky
var lighted up with a lurid glare, through which now
again shot up a volume of sparky and smoke,
ortions of the Toof an the castellated coping
fat with a dull crash into tne body of the fire.
nck, and half mad with excitement, the Title
band of men worked with fre frenzied zeal, cheered on
by the mass of sect ‘AL intervals, carriages
ses, bringing neighbors and friends, danke
ed. np, addin tes es confusion, for none ‘of them
conld do any more tan ‘ing already done,
Servants and village re were a0 mixed up in the
group on the lawn tbat it was difficult to find the
countess,.or, indeed, distinguish one person from.
another;’ bist at last Lord Balfarras galbed her aide,
She was leat tal of a statue,
her bands slaspe her white {ace turned towar rd
the blazing house, and, thomzh sh inly as
calm as the statue above ber, Ler lips moved con-
vulsively now and agai.
Thaw are safe!” said Lord Balfarras.
Are all owt tay irene—Mrs. Landon—?
‘The countess did not remove her eyes from the
flames,
“Yea,” she most inaudibly. “ Yes, Madge
bas gone; Ir rene was in he west wing, and ls here.
e looked ronnd, “II He when! aid
she put her band the
Jord Balfarras looked anong the crowd eagerly.
wd glo, UOE eee her,” he anid. “*Pethapa sho 3s
with Royce or
‘\ servant overheard bite.
1 eghlaneer Royce Is away, mY a ‘he said, bur-
7.
At that moment a roa the crowd,
The flames had br oken “oul i the'tenter of the
building. a
tipon the windowed whieh hal itherto been darks
ened by the sek ke, and the re
fervams and yells of * Look! Ivok!
one there! Tooke the window!
“aly God” exclaimed ute © butler, grasping the
‘here's some
rector's one standing at that
window—the second’ it’s It's
uly Irene!”
The rector went white, apd dropped the bucket
be was carryin
Tren standing at winds
bans clasping the try erwinte faseligivsd op
by the flames, which licked against the: stone walls
aa it eager todevour her.
A stick of agony rose shove the din, Tecame
from the countess, who sprung forwar:
slantly seized by Lord Balfarras,
‘The horror of the situation silenced the crowd for
A moment; then a goore of met rushed toward the
ey reached ft it belched forth
d, to be in
“Save hast Zaye her!” yelled the crowd. ‘Got a
jadder—a
‘Some men’ wore to the stables and brought & lad
der, but ft only reached to the firat floor, and there
wad no means of of cng bes ‘ond it.
Lord ountess into the charge
of is wife and tanbed to the houe? bat fe coud
do no more thaa the others, and stood gazing up-
ward with an ch whieh he never forgot to the
hour of bia deat
"The white fyte of Trene stood motionless ta the
hideons light of the flames, as if she knew that she
and was resigned; aid ber very atti-
tide simoet drove the syectators nad
Saddenly @ shout wen 16 engine’
engine!” god g lane was mado thot wih th
brigade drove the herses at a wild g
{red bands were atthe eocapos but eto iteoutd
bi a figure w:
seen to dart through the crowd, pune a wonrene
mi ie window, and then dart round to the
‘For a moment the flames lighted up the Agure
and a ety of enriosity arose amid the shrieks ‘and
ells,
FAC ho ts ita gypey2" shouted some one,
“She was ike one," was the response.
“1 saw her red slianl, Whero's sbe gone? Who is
2
No one seemed able to answer the question, and
Madge with no one hindering her, flow rot und to
alled garden and through the'door by whlch
Trene, ‘aad she had ge out on the morning after
her arrivatat the Towers, Her face tasmhite, Dut
With set lips ‘and Bashing eyes, Bho
ran throng fhe ball and Pe the stall
* Oh, God
“Let me save Serie me ive > her!
A moment afterward the crowd saw that there
ate? she prayed.
were two figures at the window. earcely believ-
Ing thete eyes, they vent mrs. wilt yell
ime, flan both faces, and at last
Madge was Tec0e:
ee Santer Rose °5 wifet” shouted the butler.
“Teat hert She'll be burned, too!”
who bad heard bim, and
the men abd ‘Toe eseape to the face of the Duild-
ng, It reared itself siort of the wi bya
‘fue spin of the brigade ran up the excape,
Malge pat ber arms round irene, who stood
senseless with terren, ‘and quite unconscious that
any one was w
“Irene! iene!” ‘she erled,
can you do it?
Irene seemed to awake, and clutched Madge’s
arm,
“Yon, 1104 Madge!” ate waited; then she bid her
face in} e's bosom and sbuddere:
ean noted eam not! But rou go. Lea
Tean not move. Leave ne, Madges ‘Think—think
of Royeot™
A strange expression Bhone on Madge’s white
faceshe look of a woman at fer este when eelt
4s slain and all her obility of ‘heart is ia the ag
een
“Oh, my dearest!
‘Lam thinking of him!" she murmured. No;
Iwill not leave You, 1 have come to eav9 yout or
aie wits, you, dear’ she addled, simply. you
can not jum)
“For God's sake, come down!" shonted the cap:
ia, making an effort to clamber up the wall—an
ly. | They saw her
face, calm and almost sereno in the light of the
flames, and then they saw her put her arms
Irene and lift her bodily on her shoulder,
gotng to carry her!
e cry.
‘There arm momenta when human atrength passes
the natural and becomes superhuman. Th!
one of them,
Setting her teeth hard, Madge stepped back
from the window, and was'lost to the sight of the
mob beneath. Slowly, feeling ench, step of the
She can not do it!”
the orridor end into the all. By this 1
smoke Wi jense 8a wall, “Sue, shut ter eves
nd staggered on, but oven as shod
Wound her ahtet! round fren on i
Bead, that
‘she made for tue déor,
a portion of the coridor ralling
Of oak, golld and heavy aa iron. Mavige
low on hee orm Which Be:
reeling agaizst the wall, but she did not Teleano ber
hold of Irene, and stazge
At that momen!
fell. 1 was
felt.a blo:
She reached the door A ell of fame and smoke
Xa thems from, the howling, c oon Salling mob;
then the twe standing on the
threshold,
With a roar like the roar of the sea, the 1
rushed forward, but before they could bench fer
horseman dashed through them, throwing them
Pix and left, and Royce flung himself out of the
Satie left arm was in 4 sling, but he caught at
Madge with bis riebt and dragged hor ‘out of reach
of the Barn: ee ph ee Held Ereng in her arms,
and in a grasp 1
‘The ered closed round them; @ dozen men
stretched out thelr hands *o one bers 9 hundred
throats yelled “Bravo!
#God bless hert God Diesa
Mailge stood, her precious ‘urden fa ber arms
jer face turned’ toward the sky. Blood was stream
ing dowi and turning the burned red
ahawla rdeeper &
, For 8 moment she see
-d lost to everything, as
je had. passed. beyond the aaundary, whieh
Aivides deat mn life, and the desire of life; then
joked at. Royee—Rosce eintehing at ber and
por name and’ held. Tone vowed
“Take her, Roycet
oe oak Sat
him,
4! ‘Take her.” she breathed.
Thave caved her
her, and Royce put
‘his arms round Madge, ‘calling pon t her wildly.
Her head rested on a breast, and she put h
burned hands round bi eck and sinited up et hina
pearefally, serenely} then her eyes clewedy 4 faint
shudder ran through her, and sho fell forw:
_—
CITAPTER XL.
Mapoe lay Im Martha Hooper's bedroom at the
cottage on Gorse Com:
Beside the bed knelt Hoyco, bis faco hidden tn
his banda. Af a litte distance
countess.
Toom, broken only by Madge’s low, irregular breath
ing and the ions see whieh now and again rose
from her
stilt smoldering, but the three
‘Monk Towers was
watehers had forgottenit, Ail thelr rbopesand fears,
dread and Longing, , werecen centered i in the slight
ny aut
dip
Had’ been inconseious for Thor, but not
wily delirious, though now and again ber mind
angering as thottgh in a dream—watder-
ing t isle vo her childhood's Rona, the camp, and
to her childhood’s friends, the gypsies; and “ Katie,
Lottie, Tony, the old ‘eine F hanes, came from
her parted }i red “Jack” in a
ne 60 melting in ts tenderness of love and appeal
that Rosoe groaned and shook from bend to foot,
At intervals the doctor c with noiseless
tep and held the Hip vba fod fhe the three
Watchers would ‘gaze
Ploringly, as ifthe gift ot ite ner oro ia his Leed in
“Outside, a tance, stood a stall
for news.
They talked in hushed and aympathetic whispers,
and some of the women cried quietly; for simple
had rendered a prolonged examination ims
He would give no opinion as to the pre of bet
recovery, but he had telegraphed for
Tondow gurzeon, ati bis face had grown eraver at
each visit to the bedside.
‘The hours paaseil and the day
in the twilight, oyea, Irene, an
the: beautiful face, growing Wh
hore ethereal with gach hour,
‘Not one of them bad spoken for some time, and
it was, amid deep silence ‘in Madge gradually
opened ber eres sid Ta 5
Keates he bas gone—he lis gone! I sball never
ceo him any more’ But jt is best—tt ts best that T
should not. Gone! Jack bas gone! Ob, what shall 1
dor
‘Then she looked ronnd and tried to rise
“The fire! the fret” she moaned. “Irene, I am
ere, I must eave het!”
A moment later fie saw and sa
and wit @ look of Joy she breathed his namo vent
athe to dectine,
er and
yack!" :
«My arting! Madge!” he murmured, choking:
Jy, Hyon knom me? You are better? Ch, Hadge!
ani he kissed her and Jaid her face against bs
ican dear Sack” she marmured her sweet
Yolon go low that the countess and irene could
rit. “Poor Jack!
Snudderet faintiy,
Don't think of it, dearest,” he end, “Irene ts,
safe; we are all safe, and, please God, you will Beall
right.”
1:3 voice broke,
Sho smiled up ai him and touched his face,
“Am I very much burned, Jack?” shoe, mur
mured.
ho said. Not at all—not burned at
at, Rr vige. Iewas—”
he sighed softiy.
NY foinenber: it was something that fell ana
struck me. But did not drop her, ack.”
“ Are you in pain, deares
«Soy sho said. "Bat there toa heavy weight
essing upon side—here. I can ‘searcely
breathe.”
“You better—”
She looked at him with a sad tenderness
“Jack, would you be very glad hat
you would, ‘ear, ot T Some think Usha, Jack,
Don't ery—ob, sant ey ‘Bioe felt his tears’on her
get
hand. * Don’ me, Sack, You havi
been very, very good to mie. No one could have
indler, 8 ‘You have never once thought
of sa ‘the toute ‘and misery I have caused you—
oie Madge! Madge!” he moan
eThtough it all you hare never proached me,
and most men would. For see what harm I bavé
lone you, Jack.
disgraced yon—di cgrnoed yon and
ant ‘eloetng o ‘you! That~that 1s 8 hard though
for me. ld be harder stil {if 1 thought i
was ming | foi
“ Madge!” was al he could 209 in bis agony.
She stroked his hand soothing’,
“Ttis better that I should die, Jack,” she said,
Jn a low volce— better for you nnd for ali bettet
yw that 1 should alws
i mow. Tad
Tought you, yon annoys. T see ft al
rot were married. I was
fgnorant, and knew: ‘nothing of the scent rend,
Bat J know now, and I am sorrs—very sorry! For-
we me, Jack, "But you have done: that reads,
ie you?” You had an unkind
waa 7
She paused to gain breath,
ave never
Roree could not
vas
Madge opened her eyes ai
its that, Irene?” she ‘marmured, painfully,
“Bring her to
Trene su: her knees beside the bed, and took
and hissed the inp band, Madge fooked at he
lovin Bly.
re not burned, dear? she said. I
glad I th T ‘hou of pattie the shawl round ~
awfal night.
hear the Hames reattog nowt”
speak f0 you and—Royee beton
aball pot bs able to pea thin
wee Ee ‘Gn Inctilictive forekne
she Was about to do, but ha.obers
and put it to her lips, the
rou. Irene’: oa frembling
2, Jack,” she me
i caved’ her for: sou.
ove
She struggled’ te,
a Badge's head ‘unt
anary at what
snuug it” bia the knowledge fr
while T could; but I know the irutt Es
<I thin! 3 be has always loved yor 2
Though he “bas loved meee
sighed. “If—if he bad not seen
Jong, he wavid have marrie
‘would bave been right,
Dim ashamed, as I havo done. And
all right now.” Be—be
fed as If the present. haa
y, ad be rate the {ature ct peace au
tad dabready dayned-— why, it is like a drer
neler voice ceased. Roy yee, tOok Der from Isewe
and pressed ber face to hls, and presently she ‘
pened her eyes ogcinr But ih look of intelligence
haa Fanished, and in its place was an expression of ~
not half so La
er [ar alelong Jou better than § you Regn dare
re
1 Lgnypley
e loves me, ean we i . ee ma
happy— iaror Sack?
oH “31y darliug—my Madge!” answered Royce,
Mahe looked up a
“Kiss me once nore, Jack!
ori Kissed ber. “Sho iookred toward Irene and
hs See mon actemny “Teach
paney, Here, Mer Ts aud she died with
bout this time the brigade hi
esting into the hell, and — of thelist dot
rat's body.
yards (com ‘rom hee be bi feb fallen when a backing tom om
Jake, a3 it red from his swoon only
ted Neat have
Inost instantaneously for the sarge aka te pence:
ful, and the body stretched out as if he had died in
the discovery jilled every one with am:
ana horror, and It was ot antl tH the he body a
others—that the tole ovcod bellow
really his; and the q testion, mia sae few
caused the greatest
came ‘known that. the Vagabond J.
con nplotely aeappearel, and that no trace of the
intense suspens
Tho flames bad mercifully spared Maigo's face,
and the looked as lovely ag ever as she lay with
losed eyes and parted lips; but the labored breath
told of an injury which, theugh biden from sigh
ing ischies
Which might wall bave prostrated a stroug man,
‘The doctor had attempted to ascertain the extent
of the injuries, but the weakocss whieh bad overs
Brot balf yenr in ‘ivanco, my tora.
hoarely, Fon uilontusat
lie made a dash at Seymour as he spoke, and
a *olnne ‘ot “tee a sud fauoke through which no man
could have passed
taken Madge the moment she knew Irene was safe
though they were, they realized that a heroine of Fande on
the noblest type lay Batting with death in that Jewels could be found among the ruins of
smal cba eae
‘Now and again the noise of a falling wall or the wastoenr of the cous os pel fl ek acing
hoarse roar of the crowd stil gathered round the | a cromd one woman em fo big
ire was, at ce aie ’
Jas that of the solemn siliness which accompanies | "Am ng oa te
actha Hh ne
lite distance ora th aul can ale
She st Sitod be with the f tho Pe ners,
and ony tursed: ‘nay hen the began to
prepare for closiag ie ‘vault; then, with the. thik
musien no mesa her features, she moved away a
Lar; »
much inser one Aid Ggea ere age
aried im the church art, Royce judg
tog Tightly that God'a Acre, ita wild flowers
and bright greensward, was ry more Acting re resting:
SSS.
3A PRS
How long—” she » +
TaN,
Place for bee than the © gloomy ‘vault, v
tf
SS
omegeny