The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-31
-,-c,eASI1E V3ass ffoim then,

u NJ go pUtt3iffffSeat loose from them
nli, and rushed to tho hause. A cry OF
horror followed him as lie disappeared
from sight through the flaming door
way. Tho eye o. man never beheld
him again.
Tho flames swept swiftly through the
house, and burst out at the roof. With
great crash it fell, sending up vol
ume of sparks. The ruins were fierce
ly consumed, and Gro morning nothing
but tho foundation stones, the stones
of the cellar, and pile of gray ashes
were left Of the oil Bryson house.
In time the spot itself was lost to
mems knowledge. The stones were
removed; new soil replaced the ruins;
We Il after year crops covered the place;
tho peoples &c election Of the old
house grew dim: and now, almost sixty
Iraoe has passed from the memory of
the few aged survivors Of the events
which we have been recording.
But over and over again has the
truth Of tho saying hcen proved, "Mur-
der will out" In what way the secrets
Of the Old house were brought to light,
is yet to be related.
CHAP Ei XXIL
HOPES AND DIElIs
The efforts of the few women who
had come to tho scene of the con agra
ton to revive Jcssca met with bit lit
tie success ut tho time. The cool
breeze blowing across her face alter
she was borne from the burning build
ing and wrapped in shawls, gave her a
little consciousness, so that she was
allie to understand the meaning of
what was passing before her eyes. As
she reclined upon the grass, she saw
tho flames leaving through the roof,
aud Kissing l,he sorpents. And she
SRgfa afsga eaG ST hs REsaRAsEs aeE tp say
w-en she Knows that her poor father
, was burned up alive?"> Tho uncon-
seriousness that followed lasted for
days.
| Randall Belmont revived sufficiently
i to direct that both Jcssica and himself
: should be conveyed to Mrs Van Wye IS.
| 1t was done the same evening.
| There was Il week of severe suffer
! ing before him ere lie was able to leave
! his bed, and not in all his after life did
| he lose the scars of the burns upon
| his arms. When he was released from,
| the doctors care, and was able to leave
| his bed and walk about the house, he
found himself weak and thin with his
sickness; but he thought the sacrifice
n cheap ono, if by il he had preserved
Jessica.
It was long doubtful whether his
! heroic efforts and sut1crings had saved
her.
He begged the doctors to be allowed
to see her. He met with a percmptory
refusal. -
only want 60 look at her face"
"No," was tho firm reply. "We dare
not allow it. Her condition is most
critical. Tho least excitement might
kill her. Should she happen to see
your face, know not what effect might
be produced. While her poor brain is
in it's resent condition, no one but her
physicians and Mrs. Van Wyck must
see her"
"Rut she'll live, won't sho?" the
lover asked, with white face and trem.
bling vocc. Doctor, save her, and
you may ask mo for anything"
she is in the hands Of God" Yves
the Solemn reply. "All that our skill
and experience can accomplish shall bc
done; and Mrs. Van Wyck, besides
being devoted to Miss Bryson, is tho
best nurse anywhere about here. Yet
| must tell you candldly, no one bu
this poor girls Maker can predict the
issue"
Belmont had protected Jcssica from
the contact. of the flames, receiving il
this way his own Injuries; but tn,
smoke MhichSshssh bad sinhalafts6
sloep had well nigh. Killed her on tn,
spot.
All that night she lay as one dead
and it was only when the next day haC
worn on well toward noon that fain
sigh from her lips betokcncd that he
HuttcrinS spirit had returned to tn,
cares and trials Of earth.
For some days after life II ng doubt
fully in the balance, while the goot
physicians and the widow wat he'd in
'cssantly beside her. Then, when lif,
had again asserted itself, fever set in
and the rawlings Of her dclir.um wer,
pitiful to hear. Disjointed sentence $
uninielligiblc to those who heard her
but which 'ly spoke OF the sorrow!
of her life, fell fast from her lips
A ain she knclt at the bedside Of he
dying mother, and her fearful promise
was repeated, to be faithful and true tt
her father always, S.ncc there was non,
other left TO love him, Again she CAV,
her reluctant consent to marry Edga
Van Wlck, because her father urget
it. Then there was her appeal to an
other not to sock her, or her fathc
would do him harm; language whicl
tho widow should have understood
but tho inI, anxious soul was to,
much o 'cupicd with the dangers of tin,
sufferer to take much heed OF her dc
iirious words. Other broken sentences
there were, which no one could hav,
translated. When this stage of he
fever had passed she lay perfectly on
sc.ous Of her surroundings, and of nj
that had happened, but weak-oh, how
wcak! For days she lay thus, taking
little nourishmcnt, too feeble to move
a limb, white rs n snowdrift. Plainl,
| could it be seen by the grave aspect o
: ST5stfssiis 5;1essSssthat they. feared that thi
fought only sjsllS Y lila haa Ice s
close. sssos - - b - y -
But yohthand previous bodily be,Iti
were on her side; and Time, the rres,
pnh sician, Mt last triumphed for bor