Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-04
laundry. II was down this that they


for q strong man and IN athlete, and
Harry wss neither. But love and des.
peratlon gave him both strength and
skill TO perform tho descent safely. Only
when about halfway down first his legs
and then his band came into contact with
an iron support to the pipe did he
feel momenlary pain. bnd no
wonder; for passing through the
wall and being clipched on the
inside. il was nearly red hot. A great
tongue OF flame shooting ont from one
of the side windows enabled those below
10 zee what was happening. A ladder
was placed against the laundry wall. and
amid lusty cheers they we're quickly
bali helped, half carried in safety to tie
ground.
Thanks to the blanket, Nina had es-
csped nearly scot free; but Harry Mel
vile wa badly, though perhaps not dan
Oerously hurt. His left hand IN par
ticuar was terribly burned. The Doc
tor was among the lookers-on and ordered
him 10 bed st the Eagle at once, while
he himself hurried off for the lotion
and other necessaries TO dress his wounds.
ne lhllSh NtIt AitOfAAAANAAEN''A HAN@
beds or shakedovns" ct the vlcarage; ;
the gentlemen had plenty to do IN help
ing thor hosts 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 aud led
away. the carriages and harness we're
also saved. Then it was decided to de-
stroy a great straw-stack lest the wind
should shit and the fire be communl-
Gated 10 that md thence 70 the lodge.
By this time all the village vas aioot,
20 that there vas 10 lack Of hands.
A groom had been dispatched for
the FIRE engine at Tho first alarm,
and mean while couple Of garden
hose were played on the fire, but with
ont any appreciable result. About dawn
the engine arrived and commenced ope-
rstioDs on tho lowlysubsidlng conila-
grafton. Though it Was kept only four
miles from Allingdord, the IMAM Who
UNDERWOOD it" Flopt nearly ak further
on, whereby, 80 the obstructionlst town
councillor observed OF tho next meeting,
considerable time was lost" 1t was
broad dsy ere Sir John, bis brother, and
guests. having done all that men could
do. and thanked the villagers for their
willing help, both verbally ana practi-
cally (this last 10y having cask OF treble
X preached in the Yard, drove OF to
Lord Grandvorih's, who had placed his
h0nte a. their dispOgaL
20 it cane about that the Bsronet
spent his Christmas morning in bed. In
tie afternoon be rode over 10 see Harry,
calling at the vicarsge on his way. Here,
clad mostly ia dressing gowns, the ladies'
from Allngsiord House received him IN
remarkable high spirits, notwithstanding
that they had lost all their possessions
Only Nina. IN one OF the Wears daugh-
ter's dressez, accompanied bin 10 the
ruins. which were still smoking sulkllY.
II WAS not an iusplnung sight ana
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 sald, in reply 10 Sir
Johns inquiry after his patient: " Not
80 well rs ! could wish by any means /;
the burns we're bad enough, and now q
FOYER has come to compllca'e matters.
lie seems - have n splendid consutu-
ton though, and that's half tho battle.
/ shall telegraph to London for a nurse,
snl VIC ought TO pull him through IN
fortnight"
But what shall you do till the nurse
comes 2" asked Nina
THAT" he replied, sis Just what l
vas coming to. Can you spare me Mrs
Hickey?" (Nr5. Hickey was the house
keeper) "She can be depended upon,
and will he able 10 carry out my inten-
tons better than the people at tho i'm"
Take her and one Of the maids. too,
Doctor, if you Like said SIR John.
"Nina, You 90 and see about It.
"Shan't we send a message, uncle -
said NinH. Then you and | will wait
in the Eagle till they come, and # any
thing il wanted, can do II"
" Perhaps that would be best. said
the Doctor. lam going TO the vicarage
and will be the messenger myself But
fret come up and zee him."
1hoy entered the inn and went up
stairs TO the fick-room, tho Doctor lead
inc the wsy. AS he opened the door be
held his finger 20 his lips az sign for
them to be silent. Captain Melville was
sleeping soundly.
"Spiendid !" said the Doctor rs soon
M they were outside again. d" But /
take no credit to myself A good consti-
tuition. that's what done IT, If he only
sleeps on for n couple # hours now he 10
as good as cured Now l must be OIL
There is some soup being made for him
down stairs. lie ought to have 1t tie
moment ho wakes. Ia fact, Miss
Darlington, ! think that the best plan
would be to keep it in the room on the
hob.
Uncle, said Nina, as soon as he had
gono and the lsndlady had been dis
patched for the soup.
"les, my dear"
"Captsin Melville has asked me TO
marry nm" 1t was lucky that they
we're not in the sick-room, for Sir John s
long-drawn &" Whew would have most
assGredly walked the invalid.
"And, pray. when was this ar
ranged ?"
"Lrst night"
"In the conservatory ?"
"No."
during the fre?"
eyes"
"And you said?"
eyes"
And suppose ! say no?
e "But uncle, you won't say no."
N"Ob. well. since you seem TO DO Of
that mind | suppose had better not.
Give me kiss, you solemn little rogue,
If they Nre not all bespoken. Ha, La,
hal / think must leave you III charge
here aud 90 and tell George. he said
last night than. these things had a won
dsrful knsck of>coming right. This IS
the best piece of news I've had for many
a long day." Aud &s the Bsronet walked
bach TO the rectory al who met him re-
parked how well he carried his misior-
tunes. 90.
Nina was very happy. sitting at the
fireside, musing and watching her lover
sleep. now sound and healthy, sure sign
that the fever had gone. There Was
something very strange about 1t all and
she could scarcely believe that she was
ssr,a c1rl who had gone 10 bed ID