Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-02-07


the chief interposed and sent three OF
his dare-deyils up the steep ascent. Be-
fore they had gone half way, the two
ghastly figures in that upper window had
disappeared sunk back out OF sight,
and were hidden by the volume OF smoke
pouring ont.
There was little more, thank Heaven
and those brave fellows, to happen. The
window was soon reached, and Mac and
his fair companion taken below. Mao
was terribly burned about the head, lace
and arms, having had to search several
rooms for the girl, who fancied that she
might yet find egress and escape by go
ing down stairs. He had caught her and
dragged her back in the nick OF time,
but both had succumbed to the heat and
smoke-one sapping away their strength
and the other depriving them OF AR.
The firemen found them lying upon the
floor, and conveyed them out OF danger
amid the cheers of the crowd, which
shouted itself hoarse. tried to cheer,
but the sound died on my lips, for when
/ saw my friends scared face and hands
and charred clothing. could do nothing
but kneel at his side and cry like baby
until the ambulance came to take him
home.
He did not die, but outlived the
pain of his wounds; yet when he left his
bed and his room he was another per-
son, SO frightfully disfigured was one
one side of his face and head. Maggie
nursed him as tenderly rs his mother
would have done-faithful Maggie, who
watched him night and DAY. Once,
CHANGING to meet her in the parlor, dur
ing one Of her brief respites, requested
few moments of her time, as l had
something important Mac
to say TO her. 1 had recalled his words,
''If anything happens, you can tell
Maggie whatever you think best, /" and
felt justified, ms much had happened, III
taking advantage of Lis permission to
speak. She looked at me with those
penetrating, pathetic gray eyes, as If to
read my thoughts, but ayerted my
glance, and said:
"Maggie. may speak plainly, and
will you answer my questions without
reserve? As an old friend, l desire to
be blunt and straightforward. have
task to perform, and you can thus make
it easier for both of u.s."
Her look became one OF wonder, as
she said:
"Ask whatever questions you please,
and be assured that all my answers will
be truthful. But please don't be SO
mysterious"
"Do you love Mac2" asked, watch
ing her narrowly.
Love him she echoed. "as if did
not / am not ungrateful."
"Love inspired by gratitude, lacks
vitality and is insipid. Have you no
greater love than that for himi"
"What do you mean she asked,
coming close to me and scrutinizing my
face.
"Do you love him enough to marry
him2"
"Do II All, / wish / could show
you my heart, that / might prove my
love for him; but /, being q woman,
cannot speak. When he comes to ask
if he has kingdom in my heart, l shall
tell him he never was absent from the
throne. But cannot tell him.
"And this young man, this suitor-
Brown2" l inquired when could re-
cover myself.
he Is no sutton OF mine, sne sald,
proudly. . He is good in his way, but
do you suppose that he could supplant
Guardy? How you have misiudged me !
Know this, and remember it that unless
/ marry the man who has made me what
] nm, shall go to my grave unwed.
/ grasped her hand and bore it to my
lips, saying:
Take the advice of an old friend,
Maggie. Go to Mac, throw aside all
womanly reserve, and tell him what you
have told me. 1t will make him forget
his scars. Had he known this before, |
doubt if he would have assembled that
ladder"
"I-Idon' understand, she faltered,
growing MS pale as the dainty collar she
wore, and catching at q chair.
"His heart was breaking. and life had
lost its charm for him since you were to
go out of it; and then l told her all.
She said never a word, but turned and
left the room, leaving the echo of n sob
behind her. am not prepared to state
what happened in the next room, but
Maggie is wife nova matron--and
her name is not Brown.-Frank Lesiie's.