Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-12-06

y
J This was the first time that either OF chem
a had spoken.
For all reply she pressed his hand and
l turned her face calmly and trustfully up to
) his.
= Had it been Harry's last second on this
= earth, and he conscious of it, he could not
have helped kissing her then.
2 Forgive me, my darling he said, hoarSe-
ly; but love you with all my heart"
, ''And love you with all mine" said Nina,
, simply. Then suddenly she cried: Quick
; There is a trap door in that corner: you can
reach it by standing on the drawers"
Needing no second bidding, he leaned up
on to the drawers, and having felt for the
trapdoor, struggled with all his might TO
open it. It was fastened on the inside with
bolt, which from long disuse had become
completely rusted into its socket. Twice he
put forth all the strength he could get to
bear on the little knob, only TO lacerate his
hands without being able TO stir the faSten-
ing. As he gathered himself together for a
third try, Nina thrust garden hammer into
his hand. 1t was small but fairly heavy
one, whichshe used for mailing up the creep
ers. A few blows with this, another pull.
the bolt yielded, and Harry threw back the
trap. SittiDgin the opening, he pulled Nina
|
| the roof.
Except for little gable in the middle, the
roof was fat. On one side and under the
turret was the blazing house; but on the
other, some twenty feet lower, was the roof
of the laundry, which. being to wiDdward,
had so far entirely escaped the confagration.
| A water-pipe, standing out about two inches
from the wall, took the DRAWINGS from the
| gutter round the turret to a small rain
water cistern fixed against the wall just
above the laundry. 1t was down this that
they must go.
To climb down twenty feet by small
water pipe with only one hand and your
legs to hold On by, and to support lady
with the other, is no easy feat even for
strong man and an athlete, and Harry was
neither. But love and desperation gave him
both strength and skill to perform the
descent safely. Only when, about halfway
down, first his legs and then his hand came
in contact with an iron support to the pipe,
did he feel momentary pain. And no
| wonder; for passing through the wall and
being clinched on the inside, it was nearly
red hot A great tongue of flame shooting
out from one of the side windows enabled
those below to see what was happening. A
ladder was placed against the laundry wall,
and amidst Justly cheers they were quickly
half helped, half carried in safety to the
ground.
Thanks to the blanket, Nina had escaped
nearly scot free, but Harry Melville was
badly, though perhaps not dangerously,
hurt His left hand in particular was ter
ribly buried. The doctor was among the
lookers-on and ordered him to bed at the
Eagle at once, while he himself hurried of
for the lotion and other necessaries to dress
his wounds.
The ladies were accommodated with beds
or ''shakedowns" at the vicarage; the gen.
tlemen had plenty to do in helping their
host and his servants. OF course, next to
nothing could be saved from the house; it
was enough to be thankful for that no lives
had been lost The horses were blindfolded
and led away; the carriages and harness
were also saved. Then it was decided to
destroy great straw stack lest the wind
should shift and the fire be communicated
to that and thence to the lodge By this
time all the village was afoot, so that there
was no lack of hands. A groom had been
dispatched for the fire engine at the first
alarm, and meanwhile couple of garden
hose were played en- the fire, but without
any appreciable result. About dawn the
engine arrived, and commenced operations
on the slowly-subsiding confiagration.
Though it was kept only four miles from
Allingsford, the "man who understood it''
slept nearly six further on, whereby, as the
obstructionist town councillor observed at
the next meeting, considerable time was
lost" It was broad day ere Sir John. his
brother, and guests, having done all that
men could do and thanked the villagers for
their willing help both verbally and prac
IL N1n
X broached in the yard-drove off to Lord
Graudworth's, who had placed his house at
their disposal.
So it came about that the Baronet spent
his Christmas morning in bed. In the after
noon he rode over to see Harry, calling at
the vicarage on his way. Here, clad mostly
in dressing gowns, the ladies from Allings-
ford House received him in remarkably
high spirits, Notwithstanding that they had
lost all their possessions. Only Nina, in one
of the wears daughters dresses. accom-
panied him to the ruins, which were still
smoking sulkily. 1t was not an inspiriting
sight, and they soon turned their steps in
the direction of the village. Dr.. Brown met
them at the door of the inn with a grave
face, and said, in reply to Sir Johns in
quiry after his patient: Not so well as
could wish, by any means; the burns were
bad enough, and now a fever has come to
complicate matters. He seems to have
splendid constitution, though, and that's
half the battle l shall telegraph to London
for u nurse, and we ought to pull him
through in q fortnight"
"But what shall you do till the nurse
comesr' asked Nina.
THAT" he replied sis just what l was
coming to. Can you spare me Mrs. Hick
leya'' (Nlrs. Hickey was the housekeeper)
''She can be depended upon, and will be
able to carry out my intentions better than
the people at the inn."
''Take her and one of the maids, too,
doctor, if you like said Sir John nina,
you 60 and see about it."
''Shan't we send message, uncle!" said
Nina. ''Then you and l will wait in the
Eagle till they come; and if any thing is |
wanted, can do it."
perhaps that would be best,'' said the
doctor. ~ am going to the vicarage, and
will be the messenger myself. But first
come up and see him."
They entered the inn and went up stairs
to the sick-room, the doctor leading the
way. As he opened the door he held his
finger to his lips as u sign for them to be
silent Captain Melville was sleeping
soundly.
''Splendidp' said the doctor as soon as
they were outside again. "But l take no
credit to myself. A good constitution, |
that's what's done it. If he only sleeps on |
for couple of hours now he is as good as
cured. Now must be of. There is some |
soup being made for him down stairs. He i
ought to have it the moment he wakes. In |
fact, Miss Darlington, think that the best |