Middletown transcript., 1886-02-19

did not answer her, for l dare not
trust myself to meet her face to face,
and listen to the fippant utterances
lofa woman's insincerity from lips that
his had pressed SO lately.
In the lull of the storm at times |
heard the voices in the room below
and then as its violence increased and,
the rain dashed in fierce and itful
gusts against the windowpanes. I sank
into troubled sleep.
How long / slept | know not, but |
was awakened BY a elamorous knock
at my door and the voice of our old
gardener calling in terrified tones
For heavens sake. Miss Maxwell,
open the door. The house is on fire.
and there amt a moment to lose, If
you would escape"
"My father" ! gasped, as l reach
ed the open air !; where is my
father"
"He was summoned to the bedside
Of some poor fellow who was badly in
jured by the storm, and he amt got
back yet; but l must 60 now, Miss
Maxwell, and try and find some help
to save the house if possible.
Gone word more Are my cousin
and our servant safe ?"
Poor young lady, she was almost
scared to death. Yes, they are both
safe; you will find them somewhere
round"
As the old man hurriedly left me, a
sheet of flames leaped from the upper
windows with an angry roar, and for a
moment lit the scene round with an
aWfully brilliancy, and in that NOM
ent saw the white-robed figure Of my
cousin rushing toward me. She
clutched my dress in both her hands,
and, crouching at my feet cried out
"Oh, Mary Mary! for the love Of
heaven, try and save himl"
"Save whom ?" I asked, as I looked
down on the white. upturned face Of
the girl who had wronged me. els
there any living soul within that bnrn'
ing housep
"Philip! The storm was so fearful
your father insisted he should remain
over night. He is sleeping in the Wis
itor's room"
Philip-Philip Gilbert, the man
your beauty lured away from me
sleeping in that housef Do You love
him, Gertrude Harland."
Gas God will judge me, yes.
know we've wronged you, Mary; but
on my knees, though you never may
forgive me, appeal to you to try and
save him from this frightful DEATH
No, could not forgive her, but ]
would try and save his life at the risk
ofmy own. Hooked round in wild
despairing way, but no help was near
I remember rushing into that burning
house and attempting to climb the
stairs, but the woodwork had already
taken fire. Tongues Of fame coiled
round the balusters with cracking
noise. and the heat and smoke drove
me back. Again I assayed the for
lorn hope, and reached the landing
above. I dashed my puny strength
against the door of Philips room with
unavailing effort, and in frenzy o.
| despair called out to him by name
Suddenly the door was opened, and
Philip, half.undressed, was standing
there, and a sob Of joy escaped my
lips, and, sinking in his arms, re
membered no more.
When I returned to a consciousness
of rational existence, they told m'
that the excitement of that night hat
super-induced brain fever, and tina
the angel of death had hovered round
my pillow for many nights an6
days. The summer was over, and
had gained just sufficient strength
to come down to the sitting room
in the evening, where, seated in al
easy-chair. l sought to forget th'
past in the pages of some favorit'
book. It was thus that Philip Gil
bert found me one afternoon. I hat
not seen him since the night that HI
and 1 SO narrowly escaped fright
full death.
"Mary," he said, I've called t.
thank you for the noble heroism tina
saved u worthless life.
"That worthless life is yours, Mary
will you forget the past and let nj
try and make your future happ.
one."
"And what would Gertrude Har
land sayf"
"She, too, is willing to make tn
sacrifice" He paused, embarrassed
and his face flushed hotly.
"You need go no further, Philip
l know the rest. To a sense o
duty or what men sometimes cal
honor. you would sacrifice your love
YOU would give me the hol
low mockery of the name of wifi
while your heart was given to an
other, and you would as surely re