Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-05

two girls. >.
"Merciful heavens !" burst from his lips
"The fire must have made terrible headway
inside" He rushed up the steps and rang
the bell violently, while his voice sounded or
the stiffness with the most horribly ominouE
words one can hear in the dead of night
"Fire" I" Fire!"
The house was aroused in moment. Part
ly dressed persons of both sexes rushed wildly
along through the halls, which were filled
with suffocating smoke. The fire had the
upper hand. There was little time to save
aught but precious lives.
Redmond who had at once opened the
door with his latch key, rushed upstairs to
the room which his friends occupied, but was
horri6ed to find the passage in living flame
"Good God" he groaned how shall rescue
them?" He rushed out again and Joined the
crowd who had collected under Louise's win
dow. No sound issued from the room. Per.
haps they were already suffocatsd. Redmond
shouted; no answer. Two men went hastily
for ladder; it would be an eternity before
they returned. Meanwhile they were in the
very jaws of death A tall tree rose firm
and grand near the window. Redmond flung
his coat on the dewy grass and assembled it
quickly. How, he could not tell, but be
gained projecting branch and threw up the
window and vaulted into the room. He was
a clever gymnast, but in his hours of amuse-
ment he never dreamed of this terrible need.
The room was full of thick smoke that al
most stopped his breath. The girls lay un-
conscious in a sleep that in few moments
more would be eternal. He caught the first
one, and supporting her light form in one
arm, with the other he aided his downward
descent, and placed the unconscious form in
hands outstretched below. The lurid light
showed the still face of Louise. Till then
he had not known which one he had res.
cued, for he had purposed to save both, or
die in the attempt. This had been the work
of moment. 1t was only that of another
to re-ascend, perform again the brave deed,
and give to trembling arms the other uncon-
scious form.
Redmond Clarke had large reserve pow
er in his organization but his real strength,
physically, was far from enormous. The
need for the exercise of his tremendous will
being over, he toterred and fell insensible
few rods from the spot were the two girls
lay on scne bedding that had been thrown out
from the burning house.
Kind neighbors were making preparations
for the removal and accommodation Of the suf-
ferers. Louise, under the reviving influence
of the night air, gasped once or twice, and
then slowly unclosed her eyes. She looked
around on the burning building and disorder
ed scene with a strange, unreal sensation.
She rose slowly to a sitting position, and saw
Redmond lying still as death on the dewy,
green sward. The flames leaped and roared,
and the harmless silvery moon light paled
before their lurid, wrathful CLEAN.
"How did come here ?" asked Louise, in
a dazed, bewildered manner.
"You have been carried out of this burning
building, unconscious" said gentleman stand
ing near. THAT person." pointing to Red
mond "saved you both. He has not spoken
since"
"Redmond Clarke !" she said, half dream
lily. "He was not here last night. He went
to Ashland to escape the food" and she
again sank back unconscious.
The three were carried to the same house,
and in few days the girls recovered their
usual health. Redmond's recovery was SLOW
er. He had not robust health, and the anx-
iety and extra exertion of that terrible night,
coupled with cold taken while lying on the
damp grass threw him into a fever, from
which he recovered slowly. The two girls
attended him with thankfulness for the privi-
lege to show their gratitude for the service he
had rendered.
Blanche magnanimousy refrained from
reminding Louise of the thoughts to which
she had given expression on that memorable
day. There was no need. Louise remem.
bered with regret for the injustice. In Red.
mond's eyes she seemed to have developed
into a new character; she was so gentle, so wo.
manly. The elixir of life seemed to emanate
from her presence The undercurrent of her
thoughts ran thus: "Can / ever admire
enough his noble courage?" She wondered
how he came there that night. He had not
returned when she retired at late hour, but
the matter had not been mentioned between
them. In his weak state the physician for
bade the least excitement.
One day she stood looking at him as he
seemed to slumber on low lounge, to which
he had been removed from his bed. He look.
ed very pale, but beautiful as ever.
81 never thought he would prove such a
hero" she said, half aloud. 81 see now how
false are appearances" She touched his
forehead lightly with her soft palm, and then
was turning to 60, but clasp of his large,
white hand detained her.
"I have heard your words" he said, look
ing into her flushed face and unsteady eyes
calmly, steadily. "Will you sit moment
beside me?"
She obeyed the request. The inherent pow.
er of his nature was rising to the surface, and
stronger individuality than her own was
making itself felt above mere physical weak
ness.
"Will you say that you love me, Louise?"
The question was low, steady and firm.
The answer came lower, and wit a slight
quiver in the tone-"I love you."
81 am not exacting a debt of gratitude.
Do you love me Of your own sweet will?'
She looked at him. A new atmosphere
seemed to surround him. He was not to her
the Redmond Clarke of Cd. She reached
her other hand for him to clasp. II do not
love you through gratitude. If you had
saved the life of my greatest enemy l should
have admired and loved you as well.'
She was noble in her surrender, as she had
been conscious in her doubts.
cat last, at last" he said, and with her
hand in his he glided into gentle slumber.
Afterwards he told her Of his dream and
midnight walk. She was puzzled "Ah,
Redmond, we can truly say with Hamlet,
that.
"'There arc more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio,