Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-05-03

him, offered 20 help. When all was
ready, they crept along the western side
OF the house with little difficulty But
when they reached the corner, they
went down like planks. They tried
again and again, and then came back
into the house tired and disheartencd.
The short afternoon had passed; the
early darkness made the terror OF the
storm more awful. Maud still strsin ID
her eyes through the deepening gloom.
The storm at that moment was at its
height. Clutching the window-frame
tightly with her fingers, she pressed her
dilated eyes against the pane, and saw
with speechless horror the roof of the
large barn swept off as II it had been pa
per- II was all the more terrible be-
cause not sound of the falling timbers
could be heard above the ceaseless roar
ing of the wind.
1t was an awful night No one
thought of sleeping. They clustered to-
gether about the fire in silent terror.
From time to time Mr.. Little spoke re-
assuringly. There was no danger for
themselves, he said; the house was firm
ly built; large beams passed diagonally
from floor to ceiling through the parti-
ton walls; it was not possible that they
could give way. But the awed hearts
were not easily assured. Maud alone
had no thoughts for herself or the safety
of the house. She had seen the roohess
barn, and she strove to picture the fate
of Thornton and the two men with him,
without food, without fire, with no root
to shelter them, and perhaps crushed by
falling timbers, for it had been too dark
to see the extent of the disaster. She
told no one of the sight which she had
witnessed. Only she and Little knew
what had happened. All that was best
in her came to the surface that long, ago
nizing night. Never again could she ST.
lence her better, nobler self. Very base
and contemplate seemed all her
wiles, her caprices, her coquetries. II
had been her wild folly that had placed
Thornton in this danger. If she had not
delayed the mon they could have re.
turned 10 the house before it was toe
late. II he were alive when morning
dawned he should know how bitterly she
had repented.
She remembered how she had trhed
with him when once, the summer be.
fore, he had told her that he loved hcl
moro than he had ever loved any thing
before or ovor could again. She had
not meant to drive him away from her
she had only meant TO tease him for Q
little. But he had taken it all in earn
cst, and now, of course. he had ceased
to think of her except TO despise her
II he had continued to love her, woulc
he have been so long silentp She lit
tie knew that tho man who was all sin
cerity could not understand the insin
ccre.
He would never care for her now, o.
course, and she loved him with all the
force Of her strong, ungoverncd heart
After that night OF agony she could new
er be the same.
The pale daylight dawned upon he
white face. The wind died slowly down
as tho sun came up the troubled sky
The ruin of the night was revealed TO thu
weary watchers.
Three men came slowly up the hill
tired, hungry, half-frozen, but safe
They had made comparatively warn
nest for themselves in the hay, wher
they had passed the sleepless night
The part Of the barn which sheltered
them and the cattle and horses had beer
uninjured, and not o man or beast hat
been hurt by the falling beams.
Mrs. Wellington could not be induces
to remain an unnecessary moment in tn
terrible place, and late in the after
noon the subduad party were in the car
returning TO BOSTON, Thornton con
fessed that il was the most uncomfort
able night he had ever passed, but tina
he would cheerfully have undergone ia
greater hardships for the reward that
brought him. Before they reached tn
city he had learned of the agony whicl
the nights suspense had been to Maud
and she had acknowledged her love TO
him in answer to the passionate rcitera
ton Of his devotion to her. And thi
was the work of IN East Blo,O -Baxdr