Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-11-17

just midnight, and every one in the
house is sound asleep. I'll go out
and get IT.
Throwing on a light cambric
dressing-gown she crept softly |
down the stairs. AS she descend
ed some one carrying a candle
somewhat unsteadily came up. 1t
was Honora, the new cook, who
had Just come to Azalea cottage.
sHonora,' said Della, somewhat
sharply, you are late Tonight
The new cook, who had been
recommended from her last place
as a prodigy Of skill and excellence,
Iuade no reply, bnt smiled rather
foolishly upon Miss Fielding, as
she sidlcd by.
4 believe thought Della, with
sndden revelation, that Honora
drinks ! do believe she does.
must caution aunt about it to-mor-
row
She stood Watching at the foot
of the stairs until the cook and the
candle disappeared simultaneously
into the attic bedroom, and then
she went ont, closing the front
door softly behind her.
All was still, dcwy and fragrant
outside. By the faint light Of the
stars she made her way down the
footpath to the glen, and discover
ed the book lying Just where she
had left it. But the sweet air and
the magic silver glitter of the tar
off stars, and the sound of a night
ingale singing far, far away down
in the valley, lured her to linger
I little longer than sho had ori ginai-
ly intended to do, SO that the
church clock struck one before she
came into the lilac thickets al the
foot Of the garden.
All of sudden lurid sheet OF
flame shot redlv athwart the hori-
zon-a wild confusion usurped the
sweet stiffness Of the night and
looking up. Della Fielding perceiv.
ed, to her infinite disinay and ter
ror, that Azalea cottage was on
fire.
The weather had been intensely
dry and suitrv for some weeks; the
pretty little Gothic structure was
like So muchdry t;tider, and blazsl
| up like Fourth Of July boufre F.;
and, as Della stood rooted to the
ground by horror and alright, she
heard hurrying footsteps.
! Della! ? cried the deep voice
Of Major Siiyerpen. Where is
Della p
Isn't she here 2 said Ar. Brook
stanbaugh, looking at the little
crowd of trembling servants who
huddled under rustic summer
house near by.
Della p shrisked Aunt Bridget,
in dlshabil'e Of dimity and red
flannel, which made her look like
Harlequin. ready for the stage.
Where is my little Della | look
ed in her room and | thought
made sure she wasn't there. But
can't see her anywhere, she must
be IN her room. Oh, Della ! Del
la!'
, Della heard every word from her
retreat, but she thought OF the cam
bric dressing gown and the little
feet thrust into ill-ftting slippers
and she held her tongue.
sIf / could but catch Aunt Bird.
' gets eye!' she thought to her
+ self. IF she would only look thi;
r wayy'
t 'Silverpen ? cried Mr., Bookstan
. baugh, catching his companion
/ arm, where, in the name of com
s mon sense, are you going? Dom
YOU know it is dangerous t.
t stir any nearer to those fyin;
a sparks 2
f Let So Of my arm, Broollstan-
s baugh ! cried Major SiIverpen, il
accents of concentrated wratI
+ and scorn. Dangerous! VIII
talks of danger when she is i
s peril ]
It 'But do listen to reason, man
I If she is inside that burning shell
DO human efforts can rescue her
: pie aded Brookstan baugh.
~ L will rescue her, or | will per
;, ish in the attemptP said Silverper
- as. he rnshed forward.
y You are mad p exclaime e
Bookstanbaugh, in an angr
IL voice.
. Bat before Major Sil~erpe
IL could over the rustic stile whic
T, divided the apple orchard trol
q the garden, a slim figure, all
oi white, with golden tangle I
hair down its back, darted from I'll
t, lila; thickets and confronted hin
y, Stop. Major Silverpen 7 sal
h Della Fielding. sIt is as Mr.. Boo
1e stanbough says-there is no nece:
of sity for risking your life.'
i Della p he cried.
at He stood before her pale, shocl
III cd. cony1lsod with the thrOes of