The Irish standard., 1892-12-10

the steps and In the passages.
Absorbed as the people were with the
spectacle, there were some eyes sufficient
II disengaged to note the presence OF
Captain Bligh's tall form on the ground.
There were silent nudges and .Well-did-
you-evers' whispered behind hands.
Just as the captain was pushing his way
toward the door there was crash of
falling crockery from above. The cap
tain looked up and saw it was one Of
those giddy Wood girls, who had lost her
head and had thrown toilet set out Of
the window.
The crowd in front of the house swayed
back, then parted, and two young men
came out bearing Miss Mayhem in her
armchair well wrapped in shawls. As
they neared the gate with their burden
the captain, who had followed with long
strides, stepped in front of them. just
then the roof Of the l. part fell in with q
noise like thunder and all eyes were
turned that way.
'sWhere are you going?" the captain
asked in his brief, curt tones.
''They told us to take her to fuckers,
next door"
.'Leave the lady to me- and the tones
were again decisive. 81 will see that she
is safely housed. You will be needed
back there at the fire.
The young, fellows knew Captain Bligh
by sight and judged him responsible.
They were only too glad to get the job
off their hands and to rush away into the
thick of the excitement.
The captain picked up the chair as if it
had been a feather and strobe with it
swiftly across the road, making a long
slant to avoid the groups of people who
were hanging over fences or thickly clls-
tered together under the wayside trees.
''Theyve got it under control, he
heard one man say, ':and the main build
ing isn't so much as scorched. It's a
good thing to clean out the old rookery.
The insurance people will have to re-
build. The captain strobe on. with his
heart going like the piston of steam en-
CINE and his strength redoubled, until
he came to dark clump of NAPLES in
lonely retired part Of the street, where
not cat was stirring. because every
body had run to the fire. Here he set
down the chair. and STOPPING took Miss
MAYHEM in his arms. She was very
light like a child Of ten years. Her eyes
were closed and her pale lids shone in the
fitful CLEANS Of light. He could feel NO
puIsation Of the heart. Had she tainted
OF was she dead-killed outright by the
~ i,f
turned him cold from head to foot.
There was only little pale moon of q
face to be seen through the shawl in
in which her head was swathed.
He carried her swiftly through the
dark street to his own door. which he
pushed open with his foot, then CROPPED
his way with his burden through the I'M
lighted passage, and turned in at the
living room, where the glare Of the ex-
piring flames still fitfully illuminated
the windows. He laid her down on an
old couch in one corner of the room,
then felt for match and q candle, and
when he had kindled light he timidly
approached the place where she lay.
Her eyes were still sealed. but the shawl
had fallen away, showing the white hair
still in thick tresses and softly curled at
the ends; the thin delicate cheek, with
its refined contour, pale as marble; the
blue veining Of the lids, the sunken
temples, the forehead that seemed
touched with sanctity, as if a martyrs
crown rested upon it: the sensitive
mouth drawn slightly with pain. but
still bearing the trace Of infinite sweet
ness and patience.
The beauty of that face so far trans
cending the loveliness Of the young girl OF
whom he had been dreaming that after
noon seemed to press George Bligh to
his knees, and hard, dry sots shook his
breast. 1t was long time before she
opened her eyes and then they rested on
his face, apparently without seeing any
thing or being conscious of where she
was. He had taken one Of her slender,
chilly hands, and was softly chatting it
between his own.
Don't you know me, Viniey he
whispered, bending toward her ear. !.
Puzzled lines ran in her forehead and
then suddenly the light sprang into her
eyes, "Why yes, Of course | know you
you are George B}igh.' Then she
paused, as if trying to frame question
for which the words would not come,
and said at last:
where am |, Georgc?'
"You are here in my aouse, Vinie;
brought you here in my arms away
from the FIRE"
ooh, yes" said she, growing brighter.
Il remember now. was alone IN the
house; Ann had gone to meeting. Then
saw the people all running aud heard
them calling, Fire! And | don't seem
to remember what happened after that. :
Her gaze was wistful and questioning
now as it rested on the captains face.
There seemed so many things she wished
to ask, but for which she could not frame
sentences.
You are not afraid to ttust me, vi
nie?''
..oh, no, George with little smile
about her pale lips. "Why should be
afraid? have always trusted you.
81 guess, Vinie, I've been most crazy
with love and remorse all day. Ever