The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-22
VOLUME XVI.

she had never felt before. The happy
face of her lover, turned upon her from
his distant seat, filled her with a new
enthusiasm, and she sang as she had
never sang before.
Hark! What sound Is that that inter-
rupts the song upon the singers lips,
and causes every face to blanch and
every heart to stand still with sudden
terror II is voice telling in alarmed
tones that the theater is on fire. The
voice ceases, and then the panic breaks
forth. Every avenue of escape is
assailed. Great, strong men, in their
agony of fear, dash weak women and
children to the ground and trampIe
upon them. Wives, relatives and
friends are nothing now-every life is
battling for itself.
The red glare Of the flames; the great
volumes of smothering smoke; the shrill
screams Of the women and children;
the hoarse curses of the men; the groans
OF the injured; the cries of those en-
deavoring to command and rescue
altogether make a terrible and heart
rending scene.
In all this confusion and distress
where is Luciene LIE Fevre, the artistp
There he is, with smoke grimed face
and tattered clothing, assisting that
old terror-stricken man to escape the
burning building. One Of the first to
escape the flames himself, he has re-
turned again and again to aid those
who could not aid themselves. At last
all are saved, and he turns to see if his
Celestine is among the number. No,
she is not there, and no one in the
mighty crowd can tell him aught Of
her.
A sudden chill envelopes bis heart, q
terrible thought takes possession of his
brain. Surely she can not-but, listen!
Hear that terrible scream-a woman's
scream of mortal agony-borne shrill
and piercing to the artists ear, and
causing the blood to turn like ice In his
swollen veins. Looking upward in the
direction of the cries, at a window Of
the burning building, surrounded by
cracking flames. he sees Celestine Bor-
delon, waving her hands and calling
for help. The sash of the window is
down, and the poor girl in her terror
has not the strength to raise it. Even
had she, it would benefit her none. As
leave die in the flames as to be dashed
to death on the stony pavement.
For an instant the multitude, looking
on from below, is silent, and then
mighty shout arises. Something must
be done to save the perishing woman,
and that quickly. 1t is dangerous
undertaking. Already the walls Of the
building are shaking, and the flames
grow fiercer and fiercer.
"Who will risk his life to save yon-
der womanp" some one shouts; but
there is no time given for answer, for
Luciene Lie Fevre steps forth from the
crowd, with compressed lips and de-
termined face, and taking ladder that
is lying near, he plants it firmly against
the trembling wall. Celestine sees him,
and her heart grows stronger; but
when she hears the well-known voice
shout up to her: Have courage, dar-
ling, will save you" her nerves grow
strong as steel.
Slowly, step by step, does the heroic
artist toll upward. Everything depends
upon the utmost care. Again the crowd
is silent. Every lip is moving in prayer
for the success of the artist Higher
and higher he goes! Angrier and
angrier grows the fire. The great
building is now one vast sheet of fame
which roars like ten thousand demons
turned loose from the Internal regions
Now! Luciene has reached Celestine.
1t is but the work of moment for him
to tear the sash of glass away and
stretch out his arms and take the trem-
bling girl. Whispering few words of
encouragement in her ear, he clasps her
hrmly and begins his tortuous, peril
GUS descent. The walls tremble and
shake; huge pieces of burning timber
fall about him; volumes of smoke surge
around him, almost binding and smoth-
ering him. Silently he prays to the
God he has always trusted in, to lead
him, with his precious burden, safely to
the ground. Life has just become of
value to him; the future looks so redo
lent with hope and happiness. Hard,
indeed, it would be to die now.
Slowly, oh, so slowly. he tolls down.
ward with his lovely burden. To the
anxious crowd below every second
seems an age. o, he will soon reach
the ground. Only little space lies be.
tween him and safety. No sound is
'"'S oiiS AO<ti III VI bHC udIutS anu
the hacking of the axes of the firemen
on the adjoining houses.
Merciful heaven The wall against
which the ladder is resting shakes more
and more, and is bending outward. The
hushed, expectant multitude now real
ize that the descending couple are
doomed to death. A smothered cry
breaks the stiffness, followed by a ire
mendous crash and the quaking walls
part and fall forward; cloud of dust
and dense black smoke fly upward, and
Luciene LIE Fevre and Celestine Borde-
lon disappear forever from life.
Next morning two charred and black
ened forms were taken from the ruins
Of the theater building and gently borne
by tender hands to the ctv's lovely
church-yard, and laid to rest in one COM
mon grave. The artists famous picture
was sold. and the proceeds used to pur-
chase a monument, which rises white
and grand at the head of the last rest
ng-place of the ill-starred pair, and
ellis the tragic story of Celestine Bor-
ielon, the famous opera-singer, and Luz
,iene LIE Fevre, the True Hero. ~.
5. Wilson.tn Louisville Courier-Jourmal.