Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23

level Of his hand, tremendous volume of fame
burst upon him, and compelled him to shrink
swiftly down upon the snow.clad team.
My God !" / cried, the man Is lost The he use
is on fire The house is on fire Anna, look after
Louisa Brand. Katrine ! Katrine Loebeg Pretzel
Pretze !" and beat my fists against Pretzers door,
and kicked at the panels with all my strength.
In less time than take to tell 1t, the entire upper
portion of miser Pretzels house mass of flame
cries and shouts rent the air. doors flung open,
and half naked people rushed out OF their houses
screaming women and children this way and
that. But miser PretzePs house remained fast
closed, and Louise Brand remained mo!ioniess in the
snow, with Ter head in old Anna's lap. l fell back,
while strong men hacked at Pretzers door with
axes Nicolas Brand, casting frantic glances about
hinl-aboye below, every side creamedt to us to
save him. We could not hear his words, the,uproar
great, but wesaw by his gestures that he was
making the agonized appeal to us All they had
broken in Preizel's door, and brave men rushed
into the house to save the mser and Katrne Loebeg
Keep back Master Fink," they cried; "we can
do the work better than you" But they had no
need to attempt to keep me back. was fascinated
By Nicolas Brands deadly peril, and / could not re-
move my eyes from him. His struggles to retain
his hold grew fainter and fainter In his agony and
terror and weakness, his body slipped from the
beam, and he hung in mid-air, sixty feet above
us, supported only by arm. With this
violent movement his clothes became dis
arranged, and from bis loosenej pockets
fell a great number of gold pieces. Yes,
into the snow, like dead birds overweighted by SIM
iaJ ,bab ondt tna
threw themselves upon the ground to gather it,
simultaneously with this new feature of the horrible
scene men issued from PretzeTs house, bearing
two bodies the miser's and Katrne's. " There has
been murder done ~ They pointed TO the wounds
ia the breast Of Pretze from which the blood
was still flowing, proving thst the dark deed had
been but recently committed. But Katrne was safe
in my arms felt her warm breath upon my face
her bosom heaved-her eyes opened. She gave one
upward glance. and the suspended form of Nico-
las Brand, gradually but surely slipping from life
to death.
Murderer p she screamed.
On, my God, never shall forget that scream. II
the knel of love, and hope, and faith, and hap
piness. 1t rings in my ears now. 1t reached Nico-
las Brands in the last moment of his life, and he
knew that bis crime discovered. With wild
shrek his arm slid from the beam, and he fell
through the air upon the stones beneath, sending
shower OF bltolstlined into the faces Of those
who stood near his crushed and mangled form.
Look, Master Fink, look !" said Anna, pulling at
my coax.
Iknelt by the side Of my old sweetheart, Louisa
Brand, and pillowed her head on my breast.
Listen she murmured; the angels still
singing How grand How beautiful The door
OF the Temple is open. The lights are there, but
they are DINNER. see nay boy, my angel baby
boy Nicolas, my dear one, have come to spend
Christmas with thee Ah, he is in my arms / am
happy-I am happy All my pain has gone Closer
-coser-closer ~ And with her lips upon my lips
she died.
You guess, do you not, that katrine Loebeg, the
young woman with the silver hair, is my house
keeper now?
TIE END