Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-05-12

called upon her mother. Vesey hao
not heard the strong step sprlnglns
up the stairs-the opening OF the door
Some one stood beside her in a moment
lamp in hand. IL was Paul.
ais she dead ?" gasped Vesey, shrink
ing from the bed.
He threw back the scorched blanket
that hid the motionless form. NO,
not dead, but think she has tainted
Or the hames-I must go for the doctor.
Stay here, if you are not afraid. On,
hush hush!" to the frightened girl ;
ait is nothing, hope. Get some wa
ter for the lady, and sprinkle her
face" he said to Vesey. Then he was
/ gone.
She did as he had told her--waiting,
watching the blackened mass she dared
not touch. 1t was frightful, with the
till, white face shining out of the dark
ness. Was it death? No, there was a
faint quivering of the eyelids-that
faint sign of returning consciousness 8
feeble moan. Then Paul came. Oh
the rush of joy, of binding tears, of
sudden faintness, that overpowered her
when she heard his step. The grim
| faced doctor behind him walked straight
| to the bed.
"There are no deep burns, | think" :"
he said at length. "The blanket saved
her. The shock has done more than
the fire. A sponge; ah, that will do |!
Now, some water and some linen
rags" There was none. Vesey quick
ly held out her dainty handkerchief
Hum - he said, and tore his own into
strips.
"And now, your' He turned to
Vesey.
+" l have no burns" Indeed, she felt
no pain. The doctor raised her hand
and held it out to Paul. The sleeve
was cut away from her wrist, as by a
jagged knife with blackened edge.
The flesh was like a flame. Paul's
teeth shut tight and quick together.
Something sprang into his eyes, not
tears alone.
Then Vesey began to tremble, and,
conscious at last of the cruel pain that
bit and tore her hand, she sobbed like
hurt child
Don't mind" she tried to say. "Do
not look at me. It's only-only-" The
sobs swept her words away.
Paul bathed her hand. She remem-
bered afterwards how tenderer than any
woman's had been his touch.
Let her cry" said the doctor, in
voice that must have been given by mis-
take to the grim face. And how she'd
better go home" He rose from the
bed. He took the unharmed hand in
his. "She's a brave girl" He looked
away from her to Paul, but still he held
her hand tight in his.
"God bless you, child. Now, 60 home
and 60 to bed"
Paul lifted her into the sleigh, and
wrapped the robes about her.
1t seemed suddenly as if they had
known each other lifetime-she and
Paul as if they could never be stran-
gers to each other again.
She held out her hand. 1t was the
one he had bound up. He took it ten
derly in both of his own. "The brave,
strong hand ~ he said, bending over it
in the darkness" the hand that saved
life tonight" '1
ney for the poor. 1t opened the next
evening. The winter had been hard and
cruel, and charity, somewhat exhausted,
needed spur.
Vesey had promised to tend booth.
You must not think of going," her
father exclaimed. Darrell, too, who
foresaw quiet hour with her alone, if
she remained at home. He had some
thing to tell-something to ask for, and
ring to give. Alas for him He
had kept his word too long. year
ago they would have been mamma to her
heart.
"But I am quite WE'LL" she pleaded,
Except my hand, and that has ceased
to pain me-" Indeed, her face was ra-
diant.
So she dressed herself with quaint
simplicity in something soft and gray
that wrapped her like cloud, with
only the braids of her heavy hair
for ornament-only her shining eyes
for gems. Then she went and took her
place.
The evening was half over. Darrell
had been her shadow. She was tired
tired of his eyes that followed her which
ever way she turned; tired of his fiat
tering words tired of him. He moved
away at last. Then, and not till
then, she saw Paul. He came straight
to her.
Are you we'll enough to be here p
he asked, without a word of greeting,
as though they had not parted. You
frightened me with your white face just
now"
II Was tired. wanted to 60 home"
Will you 90 now?" he asked
quickly. care you strong enough to
walk 2"
"Oh, yes"
"Then come"
1t was strangely pleasant to be bid
den; to follow meekly.
They had reached the stairs descend
ing to the street when they met Darrell
Winslow.
"Vesey, where are you going ?" He
scowled and nodded at Paul.
Home"
g But it is beginning to rain, and
YOU have no cloak Go back and Ill
get the carriage. He laid his hand
upon the wrap over Pauls arm. Paul
looked at Vesey, What did he read in
her face?
!" Let Miss Welles decide" he said; in
hard, strange voice. He was trying
to be calm, to keep his hands from this
man who had suddenly come between
them. He turned to Vesey again.
His face was very pale; his eyes
were full of pleading. "Think mo-
ment. VIII you ride with him, or walk
with me?"
She did not speak she only smiled
and laid her hand within his arm.
ua 1ro,ld howe heen more than hui