Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-29
gaAuFRCR. ct. \ ERnAINShEE: jEESSSSf

still. L suppose that she was paralyze
with fear; and the ladies who were nea
screamed very loud, but did nothing
Then some impulse seized me-perhap
instinct would be better word to use
considering my age. I threw mysel
upon the child, and, beating at the fir
with my hands, mercifully succeeded il
e1tinguishing it before it really got hold
My wrists were so badly burned tina
they had to be wrapped up in wool for
long time afterwards, but with the ex
ception of a single burn upon her throat
little Stella Carson was not much hurt
This is all that remember about tn,
Christmas tree at the hall. What hap
pened afterwards is lost to me, but t.
this day in my sleep I often see littl'
Stella's sweet face and the stare of terror
in her dark eyes as the fire ran up hen
arm. This, however, is not wonderful
for I had, humanity speaking, saved thu
life of her who was destined to be my
wife.
The next event which I can recall
clearly is that my mother and three
brothers all fell Ill of fever, owing, as
afterwards learned, to the poisoning OF
our we'll by some evil minded person
who threw dead sheep into it.
1t must have been while they were III
that Squire Carson came one day to the
vicarage. The weather was still cold
for there was fire in the study, and ]
sat before the fire writing letters ON a
piece of paper with a pencil, while my
father walked up and down the room,
talking to himself. Afterwards knew
that he was praying for the lives of his
wife and children. Presently servant
came to the door and said that, some one
wanted to see him.
cit is the squire. SIR" said the maid,
"and he says he particularly wishes to
see you"
every wen," answered my father,
YEARLY, and presently Squire Carson
came in. His face was white and bag
gard, and his eyes shone so fercely that
l was afraid OF him.
Forgive me for intFuding on you at
such a time, Quatermain," he said, in a
hoarse voice, ''but tomorrow I leave
this place forever, and I wish to speak
to you before l go-indeed, must speak
to you"
"Shall I send Allan away said my
father, pointing to me.
"No, let him bide. He will not under
stand" Nor, indeed, did at the time,
but remembered every word, and in
after years their meaning grew on ME.
"First tell me-" he went on, chow are
they?" and he pointed upwards with his
thumb.
"My wife and two of the boys are be-
yond hope" my father answered, with a
yroan. 81 do not know how it will go
with the third The Lords will be dc ner'
1.-THE Lords will be 'done," the squire
echoed, solemnly. "And now, Qslater-
main, listen-my wife's gone"
"Gone" my father answered. "Who
With"
with that foreign cousin of hers. It
seems from letter she left that she al
ways cared for him, not for me. She
married me because she thought me
-ich English MILFORD. Now she has run
through my property, or most Of it, and
sone l don't know where. Luckily,
'he did not care to cucumber her new
,areer with the child; Stella is left to
me-"
THAT is what comes of marrying .
,apist, Carson" said my father. That
vas his fault; he was as good and
charitable man as ever lived, but he
vas bigoted. ''What are you going to
lo-follow herr
He laughed bitterly in answer.
Follow her. he said: "why should I
ollow her? IL | met her might kill her
n him. or both of them, because OF the
hame they have brought upon my child's
ame. No. never want to look upon
Ter face again trusted her, tell you,
nd she has betrayed me. Let her go
nd find her fate. Eut l am going too.
am weary of my life
"Surely, Carson, surely said my
ather, '.you do not mean
NO, no: not that. Death comes soon
nough. But l will leave this civilized
World that is living lie. We will go
light away into the wilds, my child and
and hide our shame. Where? | don't
now where. Anywhere so long as there
re no white faces, no smooth, educated
ongues."
"You are mad, Carson, my father an
wered. ''Eow will you lives How will
on educate Stella? Be man and live
down."
Il will be a man, and will live it
own, but not here, Quatermain- Edu-
alton! Was not she-that woman who |
as my wife-was not she highly educa-
cleverest woman in the coun-
Y forsooth. Too clever for me, Quater- |
lain-too clever by half. No, no, Stella |
hall be brought up in different school;
it be possible, she shall forget her very
anne. Good-by, old friend, good-by for /
yer. Do not try 10 find me out, hence
nth shall be like one dead 10 you, to
Oh and all knew" and he was gone.
Mad" said my father, with a heavy
gh. His trouble has turned his brain.
ut he will think better of it
AT that moment the nurse came bur
ing in and whispered something in his
IT. Ny fathers face turned deadly pale.
e clutched at the table to support him
IL, then staggered from the room. Ny
other was dying.
1t was some days afterwards, do not
aow exactly how long, that my father
ok me by the hand and led me upstairs
to the big room that had been my mo-
er's bedroom. There she lay. deei in
IT coffin, with flowers in her hand
long the wall of the room were ar