The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-31
TOM
BRYSON'S CRIME.
ES TUE MAJOR"
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI
DEATH AND DELIvERANcE.
That night had found Randall Bel
mont comfortably domiciled at the
widows cottage.
Mrs. Van Wyck had retirel, the
house had bosn closed, and he had
gone to his ROOM
oEaS SheshHewstfzus l>e- -a1salsl not slaa,, =
SO. instead OF going to bed. he sat 10y
/ tho open window. The night is mild,
as we'll as still; it seems to invite
thought. And he thinks-of her. He
.LSan think of nothing else.
q Long had he sat there, when he fe.t
emself urged by some powerful moIi.
.$tr within. Voices seemed crying in
z his oars: "Fly to her! She is in dan
gea!"
He hesitatcs; he resists. He says to
5 himself, Did she not, with her own
lips, toll me not to come to her?" And
again and again those mysterious
rromptings seemed to fill his ears:
"fly to her! Oh, delay not! She is in
danger"
Whatever tho influence was, whether
the yearnings of his own heart or an
angel messenger from above, it speed
lily be anne too powerful to be resisted.
Quietly leaving the house, he waited
scobfy to 'bridleshis horse, and leaping
upon his bare Dark, he sped down the
4 road like. the wind. The mysterious
oitsss in IA 9 ears seemed to cry, eFast-
He shook the reins, and
an answering neigh, and 'ch tremen-
dons speed as would ha nseated a
less expert rider. AS he tore along the
{ highway, bright glare above the
trees in tho direction of Bryson's
house met his eye. He chung to the
horse, and increasing its pace with his
scries, he turned into the lane, thun-
dered through tho wood, and dashed
up to tho fiame-wrapped house. He
leaped TO the ground just as Tom Bry-
: son, singed by the fire and half blinded
by the smoke, camo staggering out at
the front door.
"Jessica whore is she?" Belmont
cricd.
50 The father shook his head, and
pointed in q bewildered way up at the
upper windows.
Frantically did Belmont dash at the
door; but thick volume of smoke and
flame drove him back. With distracted
eye he marked the window of her room;
tor once he had stood in the hall above
outside her chamber, and moro than
once since had he scanned the uthiK{YS4
ly building,--to eco wrfcn WINDOW was
$ hers The fire had not yet penetrated
hey ond the story above the cellar. It
was rushing out from the doors and
windows below, but could the rooms
above be reached at oil, it could only
be through enveloping smoke and fire.
I'm Gods name is there no ladder
v.x,v u DNls~ L.
Eeople who had come up.
s,ssSOh, yes here's one that we have
X, brought around from the back of
- madness to go up there now."
mand; and, impelIed by stout arms,
the upper end of the heavy ladder lay
against the sill of Jessica's window.
The lover sprang up it, and burst
bodily through glass and sash. The
cAashers Mnas 6llad ssEitA smoke. and it
drove him bacK: but, Hlling his lungs
with fresh air, he leaped in again.
Cropping blindly about, his hands en-
countercd the water pitcher, with
towel over it. He shook out the towel,
plunged it in the water, and bound it
over his face. Able to breathe now
though the floor was trembling under
his feet, he found tho bed His hand
rested on the maiden's face; but she
neither spoke nor stirred. Taking the
wet towel from his own face, he tied it
over hers; and clasping her motionless
form in his arms, he made his way
."t'e window; he emerged upon
h ~. nd holding his dear bur-
den to -. with one arm, he came
unsteadiIy lu lie ground, where eager
A>Sslieved him of his