The Penn's Grove record., 1885-03-14

hearing the sound of wheels lea the
principal entrance-we generally used
the east door, and on going to the win
dow 1 saw my sister Ellie alighting from
a post-car laden with boxes. | was ac-
tually dumb with surprise and pleasure,
unable even to. welcome her.
"You are astonished, Maggie" she
said, after counting her belongings and
paying the driver. But | thought you
would like to have me with you, and
here | am. All, how well | remember
the placel'
GLOW is Ernest2 How did you get
away, Ellie?'' | asked curiously. lis
he better2"
poor Ernest! Yes, he is better.
He's dead, Maggiel YOu didn't know,
dear. that he's been in a n1diSOp de Sdnte
for the last twelve months, incurably
mad. He has been mad ever since |
married him. He died a few weeks ago.
Don't talk to me about him just yet,
dear; it is all too dreadful. How do
yoa like Abbeylands2 How do you get
on with the barbarians?"
81 don't think they're SO very bar
barous, EIlle-only misguided and ig-
norant. They seem gentle and tracta-
bic enough, except on one or two
points"
"Hum--and frightening women seems
to be one of their amusementsi' my sis
ter cried with flashing eyes, when had
related everything that had happened
since | came to Abbeylands. They
sha'n't brighten me, Maggie that's
very certain; still l wish you hadn't
come here. You look ten years older.
| Do you remember my dream long ago,
Maggie?"
(which dream, dearP You've had
so many"
about the t%umbledown old house in
Ireland. 1t was just like this. | re-
member it quite distinctly. There
don't look scaredI | dare say I've seen
| a drawing of it somewhere. I've brought
you a present. Mag"
"Of what, dear? Something useful,
| / hope"
"Very-so far as l can judge and
Ellie produced a beautiful six-cham-
bered revolver, from which l drew back
in nervous horror. Its a beauty,
Maggie; and you must learn to use 1t.
I've one for myself too. Wen set up a
target on the lawn, and practise for an
hour every morning. I've been told on
good authority that the finest peasan-
try in the world are as frightened of
firearms as sheep of a shadow. Let
them Just hear us bang away for an
hour every morning, and they won't
trouble us with any more verbal warn
ings, | think"
Ellie was right. After a few days
practice at the target the %peasantry gave
US a wide berth, keeping whenever they
could out of pistol range, and always
regarding US with terror and wonder.
1.-THE White Owls" Miles told us they
were in the habit of terming us.
1t was a clear frosty night with a cut
ting wind from the west. We mad sat
up late chatting over the events of the
past six months, wondering when hos
tilities would cease, and we might have
the children to spend their holiday with
us. 1t had been a very sad Christmas
Eve, the first since the breakup OF our
home; and we went to rest in rather
gloomy spirits, Ellie last as usual. She
alone took a final survey of the prem.
ises, in spite of Arthur's entreaties.
l had not been many minutes asleep,
when | was reused by a gentle shake.
maggie, wake up, dearl Arthur,
the house is on frei'
son fire, Ellie, The children, the
childrenl'
"They are safe, dear. Get dressed as
quickly as you car Wrap up well; 1t
is a bitter night. We must leave the
room by the window. The corridor is
impossible, and the flames are spread
ing rapidly Arthur, take your pistolsl"
But Arthur was already lost in the
hot binding smoke of the passage. lie
had rushed out of the room half-dressed,
with the keys of the office in his hands,
intent on saving the rent books, what
ever else might be destroyed. With
Ellie's assistance | got out OF the house;
and not a moment too soon, for the
flames were spreading rapidly; and,
finding the children safe with the serv-
ants, | rushed off in search of my hus-
band. For a moment | saw him stand
al the window of the office, surrounded
by a fierce rudy glow of fame. In an
other moment he was by my SIDE, black
ened, scorched, with a number of books,
and a large cash-box in his hands.
Take these, Maggie. Guard them
with your lifeI" he cried; and then he
disappeared through the window again,
and seemed to be swallowed up ia the
leaping flames.
What occurred during the next few
seconds | cannot rightly recollect. l
felt myself rudely shaken by the Shout
ders, some of the books and the cash
box were jerked out of my hands, and
then came the report of a pistol by my
very ear and a low groan. The books
fell all in a heap at my feet. At that
moment Arthur appeared at the open
window, dragging the insenslble form
of a man after him.
A portion of the roof fell in with a
terrible crash, a mass of flame leaped
up against the clear sky, a hundred
tongues of fire were thrust out of the
windows of Abbeylands and reflected
in the still dark waters of the lake,
there was a fierce glow of heat, a blind
ing shower of hot smoke and sparks, a
loud sullen roar as the wind famed the
flames, and l became insensible.
When | awoke to consciousness | was
living In a close carriage, well wrapped
up in blankets. Arthur was supporting
my head, Ellie and the children were
opposite, and | could hear Miles on the
box cheering Sarah, my nurse. We
were being driven to Blakeville; for
Abbeylands was only a sullen, smoking
mass of ruins.
1.-The books / said family, ~
dropped them, Arthur
"They are safe, dearest, he whis-
pered, t'thanks to our brave Ellie.
Thank Heaven, we have ali escaped I'M
hurtl''
"Are you quite unhurt, Arthur? |
feared you would never escape from
those terrible lamesl'
my dear, the flames were not near
me and. except for ashes and smoke,
I'm all right"
And that man you dragged out
who was he, Arthur"
THAT don't know, Maggie; and
never want TO know"