Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-09-21

claSpeu WHlCii Slo lelU Ill nio o"H e'' '
capped, managing to say, with conVulslV'
smile:
ga keepsake J"
Frank Tevis closed his hands on the tritie
without thinking to look at il until he hat
taken one or two turns up and down the room
heartily condemning his own folly and 'un
kindness. When he opened his hand he founf
something carefully wrapped in silver paper
He unfoIded it and beheld-a champagne
cork
It would be difficult to analyze the young
mans feelings as he made his way to his OWL
apartment. He had escaped-met with the
refusal he had hoped for-but somehow Mi
heart was not as light as might have been ex
pected over the result.
When Harry came to his friends room
shortly after, he found little difficulty in per
suading him to put off his return to the city
for day or two longer. The truth was
Frank felt in. no humor to bear the badl
mage of companions who left on the afternoon
train. When they were gone, he frankly
explained the situation to his friend.
seUpon my soul, old fellow, do not see ex
actly how I can help you. 1t is very awk
ward but it would have been more so fol
you to run away; the other girls would have
been sure to suspect something; whereas
you may safely depend on Blanche's dellcacJ
and discretion so that by remaining, and act
ing as usual, the whole thing will be forgotten
as joke"
"You seem to have very high opinion Of
Miss Blanche ?'' said Frank, a little earnestly
"Indeed, have, my boy and if my heart
were not irrevocably pledged in another dlrec
tion, you should not carry off the prize easily
But come, let us take STROLL
Il. Tto1,tc hol recovered
euuanimity by dinner time and was enabled
to meet Blanche with the usual quiet polite
ness he had always observed towards her
while not the slightest demonstration on hel
part indicated what had occurred between
them.
The evening was rather dull one, and al
retired at an early hour to rest preparatory
to an excursion which had been planned fol
the morrow.
1t was far in the night before .Tevis sue
ceeded in wooing sleep to his embrace, and
even then his slumbers were ftful and disturb
ed. In fact, he had not long lost conscious
ness before he was aroused by the startling
cry of Fire ~ followed by commotion and
eXclamations of alarm among the inmates OF
the mansion, who gathered hastily on the lawn
in front. Frank dressed hurriedly and Joined
them. The confagration had occurred in a
wing in the building, the lower story of which
was occupied by the domestics, though the up.
per part reached only through passage from
the main building, was furnished with guest
rooms An alarm bell was rung and groom
dispatched to the village for help. Before pro-
ceeding to fight the flames with such means as
were at hand Harry Brinton looked to ascer-
tain if the family and servants, all OF whom
were in state of dishabille, were safe. and to
{ho fp
little distance off.
''All right, believe" he remarked-'no
my God, where is Blanche ?"
s'Oh, Heaven Harry" exclaimed Grace
Carleton, ''she's over there ; she would 60 off
by herself last night"
Horror and alarm seized on every one.
Hurrying to the front of the portion on fire,
where the flames were rapidly spreading, the
two young men saw the white-robed figure of
the girl at one of the upper windows which
was open. Suddenly aroused she had fled to-
wards the passage, but driven back by a cloud
of smoke, had naturally turned to the window
for escape. .,.....
Quick for your lives ladders from the
stable - exclaimed Harry to the servant men
who had followed him.
''No time for that" shouted Frank, "the
flames are bursting from the lower windows ~
and like flash he was off, entering the main
building with the arrangements of which he
was acquainted, and fighting his way through
binding and suffocating smoke, to the cham
ber where Blanche was The window which
she had opened kept the room momentarily
clear, but there was not a moment to be lost ;
the flames were cracking beneath them, and
the planting of ladders on the outside was
well nigh impracticable. With foresight,
Frank caught towel from the stand soused
it in the water pitcher, and gently yelling the
young girls face, snatched a cover from the
bed, and enveloping her with it, took her in
his arms and fled through the passage Clouds
of smoke and tongues of flame confronted
way had caught fire by this time, but wrap
ping his precious charge more closely he trod
the fire path boldly and firmly the burning
steps creaked with the weight and he had
barely time to give his burden into the arms
of Harry Brinton when they gave way and he
was borne down in the ruin.
Strong, willing hands were ready for the
rescue, and, though not disfgured, Frank Te-
Wis was badly burned and received some inju-
ries. Save the shock to her nerves, Blanche
was unharmed.
The BrintOn mansion was almost totally de-
stroyed, but the inmates found shelter at the
hospitable home of a near neighhor until some
necessary arrangements for their comfort and
removal and thither Frank Tevis was carried.
He endured considerable suffering aud re-
quirel careful attendance. For several days
his eyes had to be bandaged but he was con-
scious of a gentle step about his couch, and
that deft willing hands ministered to his wants.
From HAIRY he learned that Blanche suffered
only from the shock, which made it necessary
to keep her apartment but that she sent him
her grateful thanks for her herOism in her be-
half.
Why did something very like a pang of dis
appointment come over Frank at this lnfOr-
nation Had he hoped that the gentle nurse
and the rescued maiden were the same He
had remarked that she refrained from holding
any conversation with him, only urging him
in low voice to be quiet. His curiosity was
TALLY removed the bandage from his eyes-a
quick retiring figure, robed in black, was all
he saw.
GA Sister of Charity" he muttered to him
self with sigh.
This conclusion by no means satisfied him,
however, and when she appeared some time
after, having suitably arranged his bandage,
Frank feigned sleep. She stood at his side
placing her hand lightly upon his brow, when,
quick as thought, her wrist was clasped and
the saucy fellow was looking in her eyes.
blanche! -
"Frank-Mr. Tevis ~ exclaimed the star
tied girl.
LET it be Frank, dear Blanche. If my
poor eyes could speak they would tell you how
dear that name sounds from my lips
"But you should not
eyes l should tell you how true love for
you has stolen into my heart. Can you for
give the past and try to love me little 20
Ineffable tenderness beamed from her eyes
as she whispered, with a frankness worthy OF
her noble nature