The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-02-01

YEARLY along the not sands, saw Julia
Marquand and Alex Vincent standing
hand In hand, waiting to take the cool
blue breaker that was slowly rolling to-
ward them.
He his gone back to herso easily,
was dwendoline's choking thought.
She went TO her room and sat think
ing. Miss Chasworth was a mere tame
cat" not to be thought Of as q source of
counsel. GweudoIine had to settle the
problem for herself She felt herself
grow old and staid. She felt that it was
for her, first of ALL to sustain her dig
nifty. She had broken her engagement
IN peremptory fashion. But she must
not act childish1y. Alex had accused
her Of subjecting herself TO criticism.
She must hold her impulses in restraint
and behave Ga befitted proud old Gideon
Danes granddaughter Perhaps Alex
would help her to make this termination
Of their dream as dignifed and incon-
spicuous as might be. She would not
fly like some crushed, defeated Great
ure. She would carry herself calmly,
tell some smooth lie, ais others did, about
important business calling her suddenly
back to Virginia, and then In d day or
two she would leave, the sooner the bet
ter, heaven knew would fly fast as
steam could bear her back to her mount
ains--to Blanche to her solitude and
her miserable memories
She did not go down to dinner, but
before tea time. carefully dressed in rich
black lace, with the Dane diamonds,
which she had not worn before, around
her throat and in her ears, she took her
seat on the piazza, with novel in hor
hand whose words she did not see.
She saw Vincent come in with corr
pany OF young men from sailboat, and
go hur1iedly to his room, without look
ing in her direction. BY and by he re-
appeared in evening dress, and Gwendo-
line remembered there was dance that
evening 10 the house. Shortly after Miss
Marquand came down in pale blue gauze,
with myrtle about her fair bare shout
ders, looking unusually pretty.
They meant to defy her, Gwendoline
perceived. Vincent's vanity could not
endure her dismissal. She was to be
made to suffer for it.
Let me speak to you moment, she
said chokingly, as she passed him COM
ing from the dining room.
ssIt is useless You have said enough"
was his low reply.
But have reflected carefully-and
want to speak with you.
He thought she had relented that she
was STOPPING to reconquer. A thrill of
oxval+a4;fx,, x1a,,< <y,,<,,,r~l, I,;.x, n tr,1
taktn the right cue in avoiding her. He
saw how she was to be brought to terms.
He answered indifferently:
Pardon am not a man to be put
on and of like glove. Hiss Dane,
She passed on. He had misunderstood
her. That was bitter. But she must
endure it all
Vincent and Julia Marquand led the
german that was danced that evening
Gwendoline forced herself to accept
partner. It was Saturday evening, and
the house was full OF gentlemen. It was
whispered about that there was some
thing aniss between Miss Dane and her
lover, and half dozen young fellows
crowded around the southern beauty
as she was called. She was very calm
and gentle, but she did not permit her
self any retaliation in the way of firtar
ton.
Vincent was annoyed with himself, an
noyed with Miss Marquand and with
the world in general, but he had gone
too far to stop short. He didn't mean to
have it said that he was not ready for
the rupture which had evidently oc-
CURED. So he was animated, and APP
parently enjoying himself.
The ball ended at midnight. The
guests went out to see some rockets
thrown to q passing steamer, and in an
hour everything was silent but the boom
of the breakers under tho sultry sky.
Another hour still, and then some
sleeper, awakened by a glare upon his
chamber wall, started, to hear the omi-
nous crackle Of burning woodwork, and
then through the great crowded hotel
rang the cry of 'sfirer' Through the
corridors breathless women, some with
children in their arms, flew half dressed,
choking the stairways between the
scorching balusters; while men hoarse
with shouting Numbered atclosed doors.
The great structure burned like finder.
The flames leaped in riot, licking the
peaks and gables with long. fierce point
ed tongues.
The shuddering guests, SO narrowly
escaped, huddled helpless, watching the
raging destruction. Suddenly wom-
ans voice shrieked through the silence:
"Gwendoline Dane."
1t was Miss Chatworth. She had been
reused among the first, and Miss Dane
had led her to the stairway, which in
her confusion she could not find, and
started her down. She supposed that
Gwendoline had followed, but rapid
search and repeated call convinced The
miserable group that Gwendoline was
not among them. A. second fater and
some Of the men were hastily, wordless-
ly, fetching ladder from the barn.
They had seen two women's faces at an
upper window-the window OF one OF
the servants rooms
Alex Vincent had seen them, too-had
seen that one calm in her white gown
in the rosy glow Of the spreading flames,
was Gwendoline Dane, and that frantic
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