Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-10

There was not a second to lose. Inc
poor lady could not speak, but raisins
her hand she poinred 70 the blazing
building. 1t was enough.
"God help me!' fell from MS shu'
teeth.
Then, bracing himself like giant pre-
pairing for mighty battle, he rushed ior-
ward, hurting himself through the barrier
of fierce flames that crossed their angry
tongues before the doorway.
He found the stairs more from instinct
than sight, as the place was full OF smoke
Up he went with great leaps. AT the Top
he could see nothing, but cropping ms
way along, he cried aloud:
carol, oh, Carol, my darling, where
are your"
Oh, the bitterness In his voice IL
spoke OF heart-breaking, racking pain
but there came no answer save the roar
ing and cracking of tho flames as they
fed upon the dry timbers OF the Old
MILL
He CROPPED his way along a passage
until he came to a door 1t refused TO
give way at his touch, and rendered des-
perate by the situation, he raised his
foot and sent it down with crash.
Entering, he found the interior full OF
smoke, and yet it was more bearable
than out in the hall, because of the closed
door.
A slender figure arose and staggered
toward him. With cry he held out his
arms for her.
"Carol. my love. my life, thank God
you are alive" he cried, as he folded her
in his arms and crushed her TO his heart.
you = forgive me - Roger loved
you'll believe in you now as | do in
Heaven !" the poor girl gasped. her first
thought at this time, when death seemed
so near, being Of the abyss that had sep
arated them.
"Hush, darling, Heaven will forgive us
both. l have forgotten all-everything |
but that l love you better than the whole /
world. As proof of it, witness me here /
TO save or die with you.
He had shut the door in order to keep /
out the dense volume of smoke until he /
was ready for the final plunge. and after
hastily wrapping several blankets about
the precious form of the girl, who was
clad only in loose wrapper OF her
mothers that she had thrown about her
when first awakened by the dense smoke,
he opened the door.
What terrible prospect
The hall and stairway were still full OF
smoke, but he would no longer have to
grope his way along either, for the ruddy
flames, dancing and forking out their d.
abolical red tongues, as though in ilend-
Ish glee, lighted up both.
How was he ever going to run the
gauntlet with that precious burden In his
arms?
Was it possible TO escape by the win
dow? One glance in that direction told
him that such thing could hardly be ac-
in fact, that it was impossi-
Die for the fire was already glaring in
through the glass with evil eyes.
Drawing a long breath and pressing
Carol still closer to him, for he felt that
by this baptism Of fire she was given TO
him for all time and eternity, Roger
dashed boldly into the flames and down
he stairs.
Had he been alone he would have
aiken flying leap TO the bottom. and
'ery probably have come out almost I'M
'cathed; but now his progress was much
ilower, and he received many a fash
rom the tongues Of flame that darted out
his way and that.
Heaven knows how he passed through
hat fiery ordeal The consciousness !
hat he held in his arms all that made
lie dear to him gave him additional ,
courage and strength.
Several times he heard what he fan !
lied were the voices of men, hoarse and ,
oad, accompanied with rapid blows, but y
e knew not what to make Of them, not 1
'eing aware OF the fact that two mortal
ouls were locked in a room near by, and i
lmost sufocated by the smoke and fire. !