The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-04-26

power on earth shall ever force mo to
wed anotherl' and Alice stood baughtily
erect, with all her mothers pride fash
ing in ber eyes.
Aud Mrs. Romano confronted her in
silent, ,uubeuding determination. 1t
was woman's will against womNn's will
which would couquer?"
"Alice,' said Mrs. R7maine, at length,
speaking In low, hard voice, ''you shall
marry George Welles or leave my house
foreverl Choose between the two"
Il have chosen" said Alice quietly;
and turning away, she walked straight
ont of the room and ont of the house.
Mrs. Rom1ine looked after her with n
tinge OF nneasness, amid the pride aud
anger in her face. In her proud, nmbit-
ious way she loved her child better than
anything else on earth. Her harsh
words had been spoken in earnest, but
she had not thought that Alice would
choose this alternative. She had not
thought that Alice had so much of her
own pride and strong will. And, after
all, she thought the girl would soon
come back. She had no relatives, aud
she was too proud to seek home among
her fashionable friends,
But Alice had other friends than Mrs
Romaines "set." Not far from her
mothers stately mansion stood the iowly
home of one Of these humble friends,
where Alice was ever welcome. Under
that humble roof sho found shelter, and
that night she slept just as sweetly be-
tween Mrs. Thomsons cotton sheets rs
under her silken coverlid at Romaine
Grange
Not that her sleep was undisturbed,
Toward morning she was awakened
by the sound OF hurrying feet and wild
voices ringing through the silence of the
night.
Rising in her bed, she looked and lis.
tened. What blaze cast those Pickering.
angry lights on her chamber wall?
What shout was that, coming loud and
hoorse to her appalled, ears?
FIRE, fire, fire!'
Sho sprang TO the window, and her
cheek grew deathly white as she saw
what mansion vas being devoured by
that most terrible of the elements.
1t was Romaine Grange in llmesl
Hastily throwing on her dress. she
ran ont in her bare feet and rer unbound
hair streaming over her shoulder; aud.
almost flying over the little length of
road, she stood among the crowd around
the burning building
only mother is she safe?"
As if in answer to her cry, camo
wild, unearthly shrek from within the
burning building.
A shudder ran through the crowd, and
Que man said, iu 8 low awed tone:
''Irs the madam! She's in thertl'
Alice grew faint and sick with awful
horror. She clinched her hand despair
ingiy, as she cried, in frantic tones:
MY motherl Oh. will no one save
hel?"
Yes, Alice, 1 will, or perish with
her."
A silence as Of death fell on the crowd
as Kenneth Wayne, the young clerk Of
Case & Lockwood, stepped forth. Aud
as be muflsd himself in large blanket
aud dashed into the burning building a
low cry broke from Alice's white lips,
and she fell swoouing, into the arms OF
Mrs. Thompson.
When she next opened her eyes they
met the proud, bat now loving, eyes of
! her mother.
Very pale she wac and her dark hair
was burned and scorched, while down
one side of her face was the mark Of
slight burn, but otherwise she was un.
| harmed.
oh, mother, you are safe7"
''Yes, dear, quite safe"
"And Kenneth" she asked, eagerly.
''Is here, darlingl' and he was by her
side, scorched, blackened, and burned,
and with his left arm done up in ban
bages.
"Ob, my mothel Oh, Kenneth, my
lovel Thank heaven, you are both saiel'
cried Alice, ferysntly.
"And, Alice my daughter" said Mrs.
Romaine, II will no longer stand be-
tween you and your love. lie has saved
my life, aud will not deny him my