Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-23

AhS III HeT uireCtlOn. by ana Dy ne re-
appeared in evening dress, and Gwendo-
line remembered there was dance that
evening in 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 a moment" she
said chokingly, as she passed him COM
ing from the dining room.
at is useless. You have said enough"
was his low reply.
But have reflected carefully-and I
want to speak with you"
He thought she had relented-that she
was stopping to reconquer. A thrill of
exaltation went through him. He had
taken the right cue in avoiding her He
saw how she was to be brought to terms.
He answered indifferently:
''Pardon-I am not a man to be put
on and off like a glove, Miss 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 a
partner. 1t was Saturday evening, and
the house was full of gentlemen. 1t was
whispered about that there was some
thing amiss between Miss Dane and her
lover and half a 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 firta-
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 ap-
parently enjoying himself
The ball ended at midnight. The
| guests went out to see some rocket
thrown to a passing steamer, and in all
| hour everything was silent but the boom
of the breakers under the 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 fire." 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 at closed 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
GwendoEne had followed, but rapid
search and repeated call convinced the
miserable group that Gwendoline was
not among them. A second later and
some of the men We're hastily, wordless-
ly, fetching a 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
colored girl was chnging to her as they
looked out on death together.
No pangs of an Inferno could be more
terrible than Vincent's emotions. In
that instant he knew how-for time OF
for eternity-he loved Gwendoline Dane.
He flew madly toward the burning
house. The proprietor, a cool, strong
man, who was helping raise the ladder
threw himself in Vincent's way.
1--WE will save them from outside he
said. 1T is simply suicide to enter the
house. And" he added, as Vincent
pushed him frantically aside, Il shall
not permit it"
Vincent paid no heed.
Stand back" cried the landlord VIC
lently. Bring blankets. an going
up the ladder"
Vincent stumbled on. Some one heard
him mutter:
1T is just as well. l will die with
her. was not fit for her"
No one knew how he found his way
through the smoke and heat. But there
he was at the window. The colored CIR
had jumped at command and was safe
A shout of cheer went up. But Gwen
doline, strong nerved as she was, shrani
from the leap. They saw her swerv'
backward.
For heavens sake. jump cried /
hoarse voice.
She was giddy. The smoke was pour
ing from the window, when Nincen
seized her in his arms, leaned forward
and passed her on to the strong, excite,
arms that clambered to receive the load