The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-22
BY DWIGHT BALDWIN.
CHAPTER i.

NN~ mocheiJ:
,M@AN> whose watchful ey Q
>Vh~ had detected slight
49,. ~ blaze in one of the
mapnifcent booths, caused by spark
from the electric lamp, had raised the
first cry. A.
throng Of visitors, which, notWlthstand-
ing the circumstance that the evening
was far advanced, still fingered IN the
enticing place.
The incipient blaze, fed by laces from
tar-famed Valenciennes and rich Gobelln
tapestries, became almost instantly
mass of seething flame.
With fearful rapidity the fre-fend ex-
tended his domain, his voracious appe-
tite increasing as his huge red mouth
licked up costly fabrics and destroyed
elegant fittings, until, TO the practloed
ewes of cool-headed men who had wit
messed the great confagration which had
one time destroyed the Garden City, the
enormous structure in which the last OF
. long series of annual exhibits was be.
ing held. appeared doomed to speedy and
complete destruction.
Confusion reigned supreme; children
screamed, women tainted, and men ran
wildly about, seeking IN eeress, and
breaking windows to facilitate their es-
cape from seeming frightful doom.
But high up above the panic, flame and
smoke. above the: arched roof, above all
save the clear vaulted heavens, stood
three persons who seemed in imminent
danger of meeting an awful death.
By means of the elevator that pierces
the roof of the monster bull ding they had
gained high position, from which want
age ground the beautiful lake, cleaning
beneath the beams Of the full effulgent
harvest moon, like mass OF molten Sill
YER stretched out before their eyes.
I'VE are lost, father" and young lady,
I'm whose form and face nature seemed to
have blended in rich profusion her rarest
charms, as she clung convulsively to the
arm of gray-haired, rather feeble-look-
sLostl No! NO! Berenice!" shouted he.
The elevator
rs deserted! The flames surround
the shaft. We are left to die here
alone.
The old man looked downward and
gave utterance to cry of despair as the
glance verified the words OF his daughter.
"This way!" shouted he moment later,
and dashed over the railing towards q
flight of stairs which descended from the
tower to the roof proper.
There the old man paused that his
daughter might precede him.
When well-nigh down, her dress caught
upon a projecting corner, and, with q
cry of terror, she fell forward.
With q spasm Of horror which rendered
Ls,. o1iGa ~ cpooph rnnfjon
the old man saw his daughter sliding
down the arched metal roof Of the build
ing.
Her infancy, prattling childhood,
youth, and budding womanhood passed
like lightning painted panorama before
his eyes, and he closed them to shut out
the seemingly inevitable fate OF her he
loved next to idolatry.
At that instant form rushed past him.
It was that of young man who, like
his daughter and himself, had been gaz-
ing upon the beauties of the moonlit lake.
Save her!" pleaded the fond old faith
Or, hope restoring his power OF speech.
Without word, look, the young man
projected himself forward aud downward
toward the place whore Berenice was
clinging to q small ornamental cupola.
She saw him, and with renewed courage
frightened her grasp.
But her fingers twitched convulsively,
and her face, white as the moonlight in
which it was bathed. told palmer than
words that her strength was almost gone.
The old man uttered o groan Of agony,
for to his excite mind her heroic would
be rescuer could but join her in fright
ful death upon the pavement, far beneath.
With rapidly accelerating speed the
youth sped downward.
With dexterity which bespoke both
agility of muscle and GOODNESS Of brain,
he caught the small cupola and came to 0
stop.
At the same instant the slender jew.
eled hand relaxed, and the form OF the
now unconscious girl began moving on
ward toward certain death.
But fair Berenice st. Cyr had in store
fate other than destruction; clouds
darkness, and tears we're soon to gathel
like the mockery of an aursole around
her sunshiny head, yet death was not t.
be her portion.
The Young man noted her deadly peril
and seized her wrist. Then. with an al
most superhuman effort, in which ever,
nerve and muscle played its part, he drew
her upward to q point of temporar.
safety.
In the meantime, the fire engine ant
hook and ladder company, which ar
housed at the north end of the lon
building, had arrived and made shor
work of the fire, but not until the de
vouring element had wrought damage t
the extent of scores Of thousands OF dol
lars.
Shouts from the throag, which in tn
briefest possible time had grown t
thou ands, now attracted the attention o
the gallant firemen to the imperiled twail
above. Ladders, to whose length ther
seemed no limit, rose as il throu gh tn
power of magic, and q rescuing part
soon reached the roof.
But not even to the powerful arms ol
the skilled and intrepid fire laddies" did
the young man consign his precious
burden. Instead, he bore her away him.
self, and, amid the enthusiastic plaudits
of the vast crowd which filled Michigan
avenue, carried her safely down the tall
ladder.
God bless you!" cried Mr.. St. Cyr, {
iervent tones, as he joined our hero
moment later. you have saved N.
child. my all. This way, John"
In response to the direction, hand
some carriage was driven through tn
curious, pressing people, to the curb
stone.
Lift her in, please" continued tn.
oo,flap,or ha punDu nnen I'll