Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-06


NO" said Betty with warm f,ush;
Il am not exactly engaged % him. but
4 understand. Shall we go down
nowY'
They came down in silence. and
found Clarence de vaux smoking a
cigarette.
~You ought not 10 light that in herr" /"
said George sternly. You'd better
throw IL away"
ssirr' said Clarence, giving him .
prolonged stare. u smoke where ]
choose.
sThen you had better choose such
places as can not be jeopardised by your
folly.n said George curtly. Betty.
wouldn't let him smoke In here.
Il don't sec any harm in Mr.. de
Vaux's lighting cigarette il he wish
es," she said with rcsentful fash Of
her dark eyes "You must not allow
your personal feelings to provoke you to
rudeness, Mr.. knox,
Il had no intention of being rude y
George said quickly. "But warn you
that II you are not careful tonight this
barn will be in ashes tomorrow.
"Tou are prophet of evil" said
Betty carelessly. IF you are ready, Mr..
de Vaux, we win 20 in. Are you gong.
GeorgeP Well, goodbye. suppose we
shall see you tonight"
'Ihardly think So" George answered.
And, lifting his hat. he left them to
walk back to the house together.
The evening brought with it fine
September moon, mellow and full. The
ladies and gentlemen were all in cos
tune, and Bctty's dress was wonderfully
| becoming.
"You look like poem incarnatc," !"
whispered Clarence de vaux, as they
glided over the floor together. won't
you give me few moments in the cupo-
Ia whom this is overp The moon is per-
feet and the landscape is divine to-
night"
"Oh. dearr' cried Betty, as q breeze
swept through her curls and drifted
them backward. Elbow cool IL is up
here! wish I'd brought my shawl"
"Shall / get it for youp" De Vaux said
devotedly.
III you will be SO kind. It's white
cashmere. hanging on q peg by the
| door,
He started down again with alacrity.
The band was playing d merry tune as
he made his way to where Betty's wrap
was banging.
It was just slightly above his reach;
but he jumped for it, and succeeded in
bringing it down only something else
came with it.
A Chinese lantern hanging near was
caught in the fringe Of the shawl, and
fitted off the wire, falling over the
beam right into the midst Of the hay
NOW.
In an instant the place was in flames.
Like magic o contlagration seemed to
be conjured up, roaring around the
huge rafters and breathing forth .
choking mass OF smoke.
There was one wild scream. The
music ceased with crash, and every
individual rushed towards the one door,
Clarence de Vaux among them. They
had but one tliought-to escape from
the burning structure.
I Betty, alone up in the cupola, was all
unconscious of her danger until the
smell Of smoke sent her to the staircase.
A few steps down, and she was con-
frpnteds BY the fire. whichshut OF her
passage completely.
With wild cry for help, she ran up
stairs again, and clambered out on the
roof. But there was no help for her
there. The barn was gahled, and its
| slanting roof made it impossible to take
q step without Immediate danger.
They saw her below, and a shout Of
agonised helplessness went up to meet
her cries of terror.
Down on her knees Betty dropped.
aOh, God, help mel she prayed;
And then she heard q voice that had
always carried comfort and security to
/ her heart
-This way, Betty" George Knox
cried.
And then his strong arms threw
about her q heavy horse blanket whose
wet folds protected her from the flames
while he bore her through their midst
down the fiery stairway and out in the
cool night, where she was safe once
more. M
Betty never knew how they made that
perilous escape, for when she came to
herself, they told her George could moi
see her.
He was horribly burned poor fellow
and raving wildly.
/ Clarence de Valx had vanished.
Public opinion, condemning him for his
base desertiOns Of Betty IN the hour 81
mortal peril, had branded him q cow
ard, and be had left town in a hurry.
It was some weeks before George
Knox again opened his eyes consciously
on the world, and saw Betty wringing
out the soft linen cloths that had cooled
his burns and slowly tempered the rag
i ing fever in his head.
Betty he whispered "Are you
/ safep''
1 Eyes, dear.a' she answered with i
\ smile whose gladness George felt in
every part Of his being. You saved
me. Not q hair of my head was hurt 7
s.Thank Heaven!n he said softly Il
tried to spare you, Betty. /. loved you
so!'' n
i Il know you did, = she said kneeling
down at his side and taking one Of his
poor bandaged hands In hers, .and
loved yon too, George, though was MOI
quite sure oft But I am now,n she
added tenderly, ..and, George dear, ii
you will take me now, i will marry you
whenever you like. Y n
..Oh, Beftyr' he cried. ..My darling,
| are you snrer
She bent over him with 4 look which
there was 10 mistaking. and then