Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-05-05

fore, around her throat and in her
ears, she took her seat on the piazza,
with novel in her hand whose words
she did not see.
She saw Vincent come in with a
company of young men from a sail
boat, and go hurriedly to his room,
without looking in her direction. BY
and by he reappeared in evening
dress, and Gwendoline remembered
there was dance that evening in
the house. Shortly after Miss Mar
quaud came down in pale blue guaze
with myrtle about her fair bare
shoulders, looking unusually pref.
ty.
They meant to defy her, Gwendo-
line perceived. Vincent's vanity
could not endure her dismissal. She
was to be made to suffer for IT.
"Let me speak 10 you moment"
she said, choEingly, as she passed
him coming from the dining-room.
"It is useless. You have said
enough" was his low reply.
But l have reflected carefully
and l want 10 speak with you"
He thought she had relented-
that she was STOPPING TO reconquer.
A thrill of exultation 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 glove, Miss
Dane"
She passed on. He had misun-
derstood her. That was bitter. But
she must endure it all.
Vincent and Julia Marsuaud led
the german that was danced that
evening. Gwendoline forced her
self TO accept partner. 1t was Sat
urday evening, and the house was
full of gentlemen. 1t was whispered
about that there was something
amIss 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 per-
nit any retaliation in the way offlir-
tation.
Vincent was annoyed with himself,
with Miss Marquand and the world
in general, but he had gone too far
to stop short. He did not mean to
have it said that he was not ready
for the rupture which had evidently
occurred. So he was animated, and
apparently enjoying himself.
The ball ended al midnight. The
guests went out 10 see some rockets
thrown 10 passing steamer, and in
an hour everything was silent but
the boom Of the breakers.
Another hour still and then some
sleeper, awakened by a glare upon
his chamber wall, started, to hear
the ominous crackle OF bnrning wood
work, and then through the crowd
ed hotel rang the cry Of
"Fire !"
Through the corridors breathless
women, some with i'dren IN their
arms, flew half-dressed, choking the
stairways between The scorching bal
listers, while mes, hoarse With shout
ing, thunde'ed at closed doors.
The great structure burned like
finder. The flames leaped in riot,
licking the peaks and gables with
long, fierce pointed toogues.
The shuddering guests, so mar
rowi.y escaped, huddled helpless,
watching the raging destruction.
Suddenly woman's voice. sbrieked
through the silence:
Gwendoline Dane !"
It was Miss Chatwosth. She had
been reused among the first, and
Miss Dare had led Der 10 the stair
way, which in her confusion she
could not find, and started her down.
She supposed that Gwendolne had
followed, but rapid search and re
peated call convinced the miserable
group that Gwendoline was not
among them.
A second later and some of the
men were hastily, wordlessly, fetch
ing ladder from the barn. They
had seen two women's faces at an up
per 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 Gaendoline
Dane, and that a frantic colored girl
was clinging to her as they looked
out on death together.
No pangs of an Inferno could be
more terrible than Vincent's enc
tions. In that instant he knew how
for time or for eternity-he loved
GwendolIne Dane. He drew madly
toward the burning house. The
proprietor, a cool, strong man, who
was helping raise the ladder, threw
himself in Vincent's way.
"We will save them from the out.
side," he said. at is simply suicide
to enter the house. And,n he added
as Vincent pushed him frantically
aside, II shall not permit it,"
Vincent paid no heed.