Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-10
rno.o ,vho we're looking, however. saw

a place OF safety just as. with a ihiSn'S
roar. the burning structure gave way
sending a myriad of sparks skyward as II
crushed in like an eggshel.
Roger was not seriously hurt. True,
be bore upon his arms burns that would
never be wholly lost, but they would be
sacred scars, for they were received
while he had in his arms the girl ne
loved.
When he recovered his senses he found
| Carol bending over him, supreme love
written on every lineament OF her sweet
face. Her soft lips pressed kisses upon
/ his wounded arms. Between those two
no clouds could ever come again: they
had been baptized in fire, and the BOND
4 was cemented forever.
His face and hair had escaped because
he had been wise enough TO cover them
with wet cloth, all but the eyes. and
he had ducked his head when passing
through the flames.
Presently he was able TO arise, and
then he found group near by, bending
over form upon the ground. 1t was
the Captain.
a HlIuukt idAt HdA OARhEhA SStfNNHNA
ali those whom he had wronged to see
the arch-schemer die. Above him stood
the Russian detective, Scared little
from contact with the flames, and yet
still worth a dozen dead men; Law
renee Richmond. Jack. and the girl who
had been the wife OF the dying man, as
she believed-Nora Warner.
Kneeling beside the Captain was the
gypsy, Barbara Merriles.
The two men, locked in the room and
with the fire roaring around them, rem
dered desperate by their situation, had
hurled themselves against the door, but
the effort was useless, and they would
undoubtedly have been burned alive but
that the detective CHANGED TO remember
an axe that was lying in a small closet.
With this they assailed the door by
turns, like two great Farnese Hercule,
but 1t was aln.ost too late, for the smoke
was filling the room, and, when they did
manage to smash the lock Of the door it
was only TO find themselves face TO face
with huge pillows OF seething flames that
swept up the stairs and licked up the
woodwork.
The Captain rushed down first. and
was Just in time to receive the crushing
blow from the rafter outside the build
ing
Thus did the vengeance of Heaven
overtake the plotter, when that Of man
seemed almost without hope.
He lay there dying nowhere could |
be no mistake about that-and his eyes
-.
lighted up by the glare OF the still burning |
remnants OF the haunted mill.
When he saw Roger approach, sup |
ported by Carols arm, something that |
was almost a smile came across the
dying mans face, and he beckoned for |
them to draw still nearer.
Death has caught me, cousin" he /
hoarsely whispered. as they bent over
him. II have wronged many in my life,
but now all IS over, and 90 to pay the
penalty. Is there one here who can say
he or she will not forgive me? In the
name Of Heaven, do not refuse dying
man this request"
All were silent. No one denied him
this and although his voice grew weaker
AS he proceeded, his face lighted up
MORA, 1 see you have found happi-
ness with that noble young man,
and il Is not so hard to forgive nor can
you, cousin. now that all the clouds are
cleared away, look upon this diving
wretch with anger. Lawrence Richmond
you will find the false paper l held over
fou on my person. 1t was a forgery.
or you were innocent OF the crime,
.hough circumstances aided me in secur-
ng my power over you. Jack Avenal. L
know you now. Your sister is at last
'venged. As for you, Barbara, poor
;irl, once l loved you better than aught
Use in my life. Had l let that love
eign. would have been a better man.
nut | trampled it under foot, deceived
ou; and became worse than ever: but
his swear - once / really - loved
ou."
The poor gypsy girl uttered cry ana
I'D her face in her hands, overmastered
y emotion. Capt. Grant was almost
one, but, turning his eyes upon the de-
ectiye, he gasped:
1T will serve you just as well--you
now il was-dead or alive. can defy
-you-now.
He was dead
Heaven be merei full to his soul, for he
sd never known what mercy was in this {
'orld, and there were more hearts than {
hose present at the time of his death {
hat were crying out for vengeance be-
ause of this evil man.
They buried him in the country church. {
ard with the barrels, though he Hide
erved this distinction, and tried to for !
ct him.
Nora Warner went home with Carol,
nd they two became great friends. The
alter was as happy as the day was long,
nd delighted TO hear Nora tell of what a
oble man Roger Darrell was.
Nora knew Lawrence Richmond of old.
Or they had met before. She was the
aughter of a wealthy Virginian, and no
DOR obscure girl. He had imagined G
hat she had done him harm. but it all o
lrned out that she had once, in her
'omanly indignation, upbraided him for {