San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-15

which was rapidly gaining upon them and
bringing its two extremities closer and
closer together as if to stop them in the
flight. Yegor noted the progress of the con.
f1agration with despairing gaze, but took good
care not to communicate his terrible appre-
tensions to his companions.
Suddenly, Nadege stopped and said to him
in faint voice:
81 can walk no longer, Yegorl"
"What is the matterl" asked the young
man.
II don't Observation-Disclosures perhaps.
My limbs bend beneath me. It's impossible
for me to advance another step"
''Then will carry you," answered he,
resolutely.
He cast aside his burden and, Selling the
young girl in his arms, bore her courageous
ly away.
Nadege noticed the advancing flames and
comprehended, as Yegor had done, that they
would speedily cut off their retreat!
"Oh, heavenw cried She 81 am re
tarding your pace and exposing you all to
DEATH"
mo, mol" said Yegor; 1--WE are getting
along very rapidly, and you are no heavier
than turtle-dove!"
But, Yegor, see the flames which the
wind prevents from rising above the trees
They will soon be upon us; already the
smoke stiles me. Save yourself-save Lad
islas! Hasten-hasten! If necessary, sac
rifice mel"
Sacrifice you, Nadege9 How can you
talk in that way' If you die, it will be only
after myse.f ave succumbed"
'Ah! this is TOO much" murmured Mad.
ege. 'Ican hold out no longer. 1t seems to
me that my life is leaving me. Yegor, adieu
but never forget mel"
AS, in feeble voice, she uttered these
words, which the roar of the conf1agration
would have overpowered, had not Yegol
gathered them from the lips which murmur
ed them, Nadege lost consciousness.
In the prevailing ruddy light, Yegor die
not perceive her pallor; but he saw that hel
eyes were closed and realized that she haG
swooned
'What is the troubled" cried M. Lafleur
who, with Ladislas, was few steps in ad'
vance.
"Ah see, my dear Monsieur" answered
the young man. "She looks as though she
were dead"
1T will amount to nothing" replied the
Partisan, brskly. But the accident is to
be regretted. Where is the package you
were carrying~
81 left it at the foot of tree; it contained
all the little possessions Of the dear child.
The torrent is not far distant, is it'"
mo; hear it," said M. Lafeur., "a dash
of cold water will revive her."
LET us hasten on"
Now, blazing fire-brands fell upon their
path and it was necessary to Step over them
Several times Nadege's dress narrowly es.
capped taking fire, The smoke grew thick
and rendered their progress uncertain
Happily, the noise Of the torrent already
rose above the din of the forest, shaken tc
its very foundation by the scourge which
was devastating it.
At last, M. Lafieur saw the torrent.
1--WE are savedl" cried he.
The torrent was broad enough to oppose
to the ravages of the confagration an insur-
mountable barrier. Yegor found ford,
and, in the sinister light of the flow of fame
from which they had all Just escaped, at
tempted to cross it. While the Partisan and
the lad were disembarrassing themselves Of
the burdens they had carried, Yegor passed
over the torrent, clasping Nadege convul.
sively in his arms, and deposited her safe
and sound on the other bank.
NJ Lafeur aided Ladislas to pass from one
stone to another.
At the spot where Yegor had lain Nadege
upon the moss, an outiutting rock formed
suitable temporary shelter.
81 trust her to you, Monsieur Lafieur!"
cried Yegor. 81 am going to try to recover
what abandoned"
''What, Yegor! are you going back"
"Stop him, stop him, Monsieur Lafleurr
exclaimed Ladislas, who, kneeling beside
Nadege, was bathing her forehead with
piece of dampened linen.
But Yegor was already far away
"Stop whom!" asked the young girl, COM
ing 10 nerseI.
"Yegor," answered the lad. sadly.
''Where is hel" demanded Nadege, lifting
herself up and looking around in fright.
"Ahl remember; he carried me away and
saved me from death. Where is he!"
He will return shortly" responded M.
Iafieur, affecting an assurance he was far
from feeling.
Nadege opened her eyes to their full ex-
tent and peered excitedly through the smoke;
she clasped and wrung her hands in I'M
speakable anguish. The precipitate beat
ings of her heart marked eternities Of suf-
fering.
"Ah, heaven why did he return to that
furnace!" murmured she. WAS it not
enough to have escaped from It'll You
should have prevented him, Monsieur LAT.
leur!"
at was for you that he returned, answer.
ed the latter to justify himself; 1T was tc