Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-01-29
AT length ne reached the house. he

AT length ne reached the house, he
looked through window into q
lighted room in v-h'rh woro three
gentlemen and two l,.,,.cs, ami his heart
beat unanimously with Joy when he re-
cognized his master. The others werr
unknown to him. The hall door stooC
open and Ariel entered. Tor moment
some strong emotion overwhelmed him
and he leaned 2gajnst the wall, his
hands pressed to his heart. But quickly
regaining his self-control, he threw
open the drawing-room door and stood
before the astonished group.
"Ariel" cried Marden, rushing for
ward and clasping him in his arms.
ariel! my friend! my brother! Whence
earnest thou, dear boy? How didst
thou find thy master?"
Ariel gently withdrew himself from
the embrace. His face was flushed, his
eyes flashed through the tears that
could not dim their brightness. The
witnesses to this strange scene gazed
silently as if they beheld an unexpected
and brilliant tableau vivant at the
theater, and the first to recover him
self was the boy. Stepping back a
pace, he waved his hand to command
attention, and began to talk rapidly
with his fingers while the group around
him looked on with growing interest.
Marden, to whom alone the sign
language was Ineligible, soon be-
came absorbed in the revelation, and
Nine. Chevreul observed that the smile
gave place to "a grave expression which
anon became stern and even fierce. She
had never before seen that open cheer
full face put ON the "wrinlxled front Of
war;" and at once returned to her "pre-
moniJions." When Ariel concluded.
Marden led Major Chevreul and De Bar
FAC aside, and briefly explained the al
fair. Chevreul offered to send guard
to apprehend the assassins; but the
younger men objected that the guard
would not know where to look for them.
"Lend me sword, Major" said Marden;
"De Barzac is armed. and being on our
guard, we two arc more than match
for the villains"
Chevreul declared that if they would
go, he would accompany them, but De
Barzac argued that the brigands would
not attack il the numbers were equal.
J 1t was finally agreed that Ariel should
60 forward as scout and Major Chew
reul follow the young men at discreet
distance. While tho major took Mar
den with him to select sword, Do
Barzac invented plausible story to
allay the apprehensions of the ladies,
and then the friends took thor leave.
"But where is the boy?" asked Ninon.
HE is gone on before u.s." replied
Marden.
The guests departed and the ladies'
were about to question Major Chevreul
as to the import Of Ariels comnunica-
ton, when he suddenly remembered
some instructions he should have given
De Barzac and hurried after them.
The ladies looked at each other with
anxious faces. They were not deceived
Presently shot rang out. Nine.
Chevreul arose and looked out of the
window. She thought she saw figures
moving in the dim light. Then came
another shot not very distant Sheran up
stairs hoping to get wider view. As
she looked she became sensible of a
smarting sensation in her eyes which
increased momentarily. She CROPPED
her way towards the rear of the house to
call servant. A confused sound came
from their apartments. She pushed
door open and volume Of smoke filled
with tongues of fire rushed into the
room. she recoiled with shrek of
terror. 1t seemed. to be echoed from be-
low. Her senses began to reel, when a
hand grasped hers and led her down by
back passage into the open air, and
then she tainted.
When consciousness returned she
found herself surrounded by her servants
and others attracted hither by the con-
flagration. The flames poured forth
from the windows, and soon the roof fell
in with mighty crash, and shower of
sparks and cinders. The once gay and
happy mansion had passed away in
whirlwind of fire and left but a heap
blackened ruins.
Where'was Ninon Destain? Had sh
perished in the flames? No one kne,