Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-01

ldlJ hfe III tut uOuSe. ut NJ uiel las
tened off "Cuttance," resumed the lie !.
blame me for obeying my superior. l
am here because I couldn't help it. q
don't command, but will do what can
for you."
"Do you expect me to believe your"
demanded the colonel half craze! by HIS
situation. "You tried to make traitress
Of my sister, and now you lave come TO
slay my dearest. Is this what you mean
by doing what you can?'
Seaton made no reply for IN instant.
Aud your sister," he then inquired,
with faltering voice-"is she here?
"You needn't fenr for her." snecred the
colonel. "She is out of reach Of your
brutes. You may do your worst to lis
freely, for sent her away this very day."
Your wife must be seen to-" Seaton
burst out. II will go;' and leaving tho
colonel under guard, he ran forward. Bat
he was met by the returning tide of men,
and an order from the captain TO re-em-
bark. The pillagc was completed Slaves
were being driven into boats tho air was
full of cries, songs, oaths, and drunken
laughter As they were putting out into
the creek, the lieutenant and Col. Ralph
heard hoarse voice in one of the other
barges. We've put key Of powder
there" it said, "under the woman md its
brat, and the train is lit"
Then the colonel threw towards his
cnptor, in the dim light, one look of alb
iect despair and entreaty.
Here, men, put back" commanded
Seaton, swiftly, in loud voice, 81 drop
ped my pistol ut the landing. Back wa
ter-so Give way now.
.. I Il. I L..
Col. Ralph felt the knotted rope around
his arms suddenly part. He took the
hint, bounded up. sprang out, and was
flying like an arrow toward the house, be-
fore n man had time to think of shoot
ing.
"Let him alone" shouted Seaton, who
was standing up with his sword drawn
"hes out of our reach now" And to him
self he muttered, Good help him T.
The men who had been charged with
setting fire to the house had hit upon the
tiendish plsn of beginning the work by
an explosion which should destroy moth
er ard child but with a pious regard for
their own safety, they made the train n
long one, and kindled it only as they en-
barked.
In the bedroom the colonel's wife lay
helpless, knowing well what had been
prepared for her, and in the agony of her
approaching fate she held close to her
bosom the baby who was to share her
death as she had shared with him her
life.
The powder coil began blazing with
spiteful hiss, and thin track of fire was
scored through the grass for several inch
es. Then it paused an instant, and burn
ed more slowly. Again it flashed up as if
it were some harmless little creature of
the night which had been resting-an
uncanny sort Of glow-worm, indeed. 1t
continued to shoulder, or to rush hastily
on, splitting out golden sparks in fairy
showerlets that barely scorched the grass
blades. Now it lighted up with its eltin
glow u nodding wild flower or clover bios
SON. the next moment it famed up
around an impudent beetle that had got
i'll its way, and left him lying there a mo-
;ionlcss cinder, Tho serpent Of fire had
seventy yards still to go, and could not
delay for these slight accidents. And now
it was coursing along with sullen heat
beside the bounds Of the family Gene
terry. One seeing it there might have
fancied it the droppings from a funeral
torch. But not for those mute folms I'M
der the low mounds was il sparkling its |
fire was to illuminate an awful obsequies
for the living in that house SO near, aud
always nearer.
The wife, too weak ~ rise, and morcov
er, paralyzed by fear, almost imagined
that she could see through the walls, and
note this insidious advance Of the death
light. She had been left in darkness, but
every instant she expected to see the pre-
fhnn 10 ho
bursting roar which for her was to end all
earthly consciousness.
All, there it was-a light But the ex-
plosion did not follow. "You arc safe
safe, my darlingr This was all she
heard. 1t was Ralph who had come 10
the bedside, bringing candle, which he
held carefully you may be sure.
When she saw him she lost conscious
ness it is true, but only i'll fainting
fit.
After the war was over, Lieut. Seaton
came to see them. The old cnmities had
been forgotten.
81 caught the ire-snake just in time,
said the colonel as they talked over the
lAaraud. at had got almost to the steps
when l stamped the life out of it"
"And it is really true, announced Sally
who was sitting with them, ''that the lieu
tenant cut your bonds with his sword"
"Pray how do you know that ?" asked
her brother.
Sally blushed. 81 made him tell me to-
lay" she admitted.
Eyes," said the colonel, II owe much
to Seaton. l owe it to him that l am not
4 stricken man for life.
"Well, Cuttance," put in Seaton,
there was another train laid all the time
which you have not succeeded in extin-
gushing"
"Eh? How's that !" demanded the
young veteran.
"The conHagration, if may call it So"
the lieutenant, "took place this
Could you forgive me if l
were to carry your sister away ?"
Col Ralph smiled with courtly air.
'If she consents" he asked, chow can l
resent ?"
And it was arranged that the lieuten-
ant should resi- gn his commission and re-
main in Virginia.
The weather ON the eastern shore was
50 mild you could hardly have guessed
from anything in the air that Christmas
had arrived. But the lovers knew it, and
had good reason to it was also their we'd
ling day. Little Ralph, now over two
years old was made to put their hands
together. The colonel gave point to this
in brief speech ut was
Ralph" he said, "whose peril and rescue
me to you, Seaton. And re-
member how that day the thought of my
child Disguised me with war, SO that it is
Iuiet just that he should have joined
your hand with Sally's on the natal day J..
Of the Holy Child, the Prince of Peace.
ho- al
nave come to think there are two things
he world cannot got along withdrawn
md children"
Sand trains" added Seaton, mentally. :