Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-11-28
Flame Under Ashes.

was not tardily made known that
he bad accumulated q fortune with,
! in the shadow of the Golden Gate.
He was much past forty, and a
childless widower, and it was not
| long before bis sister knew that he
intended to make her handsome son
his heir.
But Mrs. Guion was ple1tifully en-.
dowed with the good things of this
world, and demurred in manner
seemingly wise and affectionate.
'Ycu are not ola Reggy,' she cb,
served, tendesly, and most desira-
BILE women admire you. Why
should you not marry again and
rear up 1t family of heirs and heir
esses Of you ownl
A most So irici,l smile curled his
bearded lips.
Il did not find matrimony so
sweet aud fine state that l should
wish to trY it again, he answered.
And yet your late wife was said
to be beautiful, irreproachable, and
rich and ar1stocratic like yourself,
returned the sister.
Yes, he replied slowly; but a
wife if uuloved and unloving may
be all his and yet make home
hateful place, and husband a Gym
ic or fend'
How very shocking!' calculated
Ms. Guion.
The only woman l ever loved, he
went on bitterly, was false, or
thinking me so, vanished out of my
life i'll silence ana mystery and
that event left my heart in ashes.
L married in angry haste, and my
bonds are my rightfui punishment
'1he,e must still be fame beneath
the ashes, Reginald,' was the half
playful reply 'or surely you could
not remember Agnes De ILevllle to
speak Of her thus.
I loved her. he said.
Impossible ! You could not have
truly loved a variety actt esp
And why not?' be demanded
with energy agnes was pure as
snow and as noble in principle as
she was comely OF person. She was
the sole support of a dying father
and Il heart rt-broken Invalid sister.
She could procure no other en-.
pigment to give them the necessa-
ries OF life. Surely it was no dis
honor, with such motive, to sing
for her bread, though her songs
We're heard by the gross aud clown
ish.'
You were always peculiar in your
ideas, said Mrs. Guion, with
sneer 'and my son is like you He
fell IN love with my maid, and 1 was
obliged to send her away
mol exclaimed her brother, the
Douglas pride bringing forth a dis
approving frown IN spite OF his own
tender memories aud valiant de-
mocraey.
Yes responded his sister, pnr-
suing her advantage with vigor,
be would have married her at once
had | not thi eatened him with ex-
pulsion from home and utter and
eterr al disinheritance.'
'1ou did rightly" said Reginald
Douglas.
'Bnt see if you make him your
heir he will be independent of our
riches. said Mrs. Guion pleadingly.
He shall never have Il dollar of
mine except on conditions that will
make 1t impossible for hi to take
u wife from a class beneath him,
answered the wealthy man. The
good old granite Douglas pride is
beneath the ashes of my heart-po
diss"lving fame, as You shall SEE
4 am glad that it is so, Reggy,
rejoiued Mrs. Guion. ~
and now | will go ont to fad the
lad, said her brother
Ihe day was heavy with q cloudy
heat az he went forth, and as he
reached humming, whitIing Broad
way, a shock OF thunder cracked
across the dead air. He turned
into a SHE street, and was bali
across it when a binding Lightning
fash dazed him.
lie heard shout of warming
and alaim IN, IL rear of grinding
wheels and crashing hoofs, and the
next instant felt himself, struck
down, duly stunned. and conscious
onty OF great stinging sensation
of pain.
Hours later when bis senses came
back, he found himself in pretty
simple chamhe1. alone with the
falrest creature be had ever seen.
She was a petite blonde, color
less as snow. with black gray etes
and dead gold hair, like nimbus;
framing her perfect and angelic
young face.
She was evidently a lady, not
withstanding her meek robes and
unadorned surroundings.
A motion fretted his bruises, aud
he uttered a gtoan. as e.fH ata-
She was at his side INSTANTLY.
holding a dainty cup to his lips
with an authoritative hand.
'Please take this she said, with
a n q vi ~ gV