Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-12-20
Sq-ire Hollis, callopinr across fields


ridden him down. Bat he is up and
away aga.n, and rides as ne may, the
squire is not the first to reach the burn
ing walls OF II lis Hope.
Smoke ana f4r1e are bursting from
the threshold and roof-tree; the whole
rnair building Is roaring, exuIans
yolcano.
''Fo. Cots cake come on" shouts
thc sqairc, noarsely, lighting his way
,>rougA the sLowerlpg sparks and tt al
bling brands, to the rear Of the burn "
homestead.
The wary, keen-eyed parsonage in
fiiclaI gray, WHO has ridden with l4im
irom Tie village, IS at his elbow, but
the wild, Tying figure Is there before
them
Out of the binding smoke breaks
a distranght creature, tossing her arms
aloit, and sLriekHg with pain and
terror.
Squire Hollis clutches the mad.
woman horcelv.
where IS my cnld-my Ismay z
he pants; bu. Aunt Dornda can only
point sAuoderingly upward, her face
distorted with awful, wordless fear.
The entire grounl floor of Hollis
Hope IS a turmoil Of surgin fame; the
roof and ou walls, facing southwark, are
yet intact, though the trelis is kindling
here and there, and the sturdy Old ivy
wr.thes II the fervenc heat.
With a horrible groar the frantic father
seeks TO hurl himself VI ;thln the blazing
rorta.s, Lut strong hands seize him and
hold him back from death. What
Lnman ala can avail the hapless one
shut up within those raging furnace
walls?
Harl 4 great shout from the rapidly
gathering multitude on tie lawn Far
up, benea:i, the kidding caves, behind
yon ivy-bowerea window, - white vision
os childish beauty and terror CLEANS for
breath, and is gone! AID far UP the
sray-stono facade, cllnslng TO vine and
trelHs, and climbing litheiy and swiftly
as a panther, tolls dark figure up
and np
1t 6rasrs the broad stone window.
ledge at last, gripping with desperate
s'lencih some friendly projection, while
itrce llow topples the stout sash IL
ward. With an agile leap the dark
shape follows, and is swallowed VI
II the sitting, smohe-yalled dimness.
But only for moment, ont Of the dark
ness 1t fits again, pursued by arrowy
tongues OF fire, with something limp
and white ciasped to his laboriug breast
He springs to the wide stone sill, and
stands full III the glare OF the cont.i-
grafton. by - it IS Trapeze Tom p
q voice cries excite ,lv, aud then the
multitude watch him and the great lad
der that trusty hands are rearing agaius.
the wall!
For a moment he hovers on the crum
bling verge of destruction, deity and
rapidly mutlling some heavy fabric aboat
the flall form that nestled with Il his
arm. There is q dull crasfl--a whjrl-
wind Of flame rears up. He crouches
and covers as billow Of fame rolls over
him aud recedrs again. Then carefully
shielding his helpless charge, he drops
from his perilous perch, and, step by
step, tolls down the ladder os death
-
Tom Hylton, alias Trapez Tom. ex-
acrobd and inccnd!ary; Sau Fraucisco-
States Prison COR lie; broke jail year
ago. Been dodsiu' ever since. Desper.
ate critter. But he's settled his score,
and passed il his checks ike man p
The keen-eved of1icial lifts his hat,
and stands uncovered as they lay him
down. The luri1 spectre Of :he, hy-
gone crime, doCsiny his vagraat steps
by day ami night, has hunted him
down at last
They lower him soitlv--he is only a
vacabond tramp, with the brand Of crime
upon him. bat the smoke-erined hand,
hat tough him, the bearded faces that
held above him. are teller and pitiful
The red warning of daybceak trembies
roslly in the East. bnt for lin the eternal
darkness Is gathering fast.
''Oh, papa, take me TO him. They say
that he Is dyiag-And lie gave his lie :or
mine !
At the sound OF that silver-sweet voice
beauufui smile lights the d-shsurod
lace, the heavy lids lift s little.
lsnay kneelang beside him. weeps bit
.er.v al the sight OF the f4ne-scorched
forehead aad u2see.ng eyes
How a-e you feeling now, M brave
tel.ow p the squire asked huzkily. =
But the pale hps Only answer:
''Sle was Ike ny little sister-6ead
long ago-and she was klcd 10 ne"
TIE alt:e-:ag lbs are Ga.e.-:Ae still.
ness oI Peace e1:o.ls A.ol ---.i lis
sA4.Aiag AID l-anpl4g are ellei.