The morning call., 1894-06-03

even in furtively cycling her brother 10 see
how he took it.
In another moment all thought of leav-
ing the theater was rendered futile by the
occurrence Of a terrible catastrophe.
The dress of one OF the oallet-girls
caught fire from a spark that fell from a
torch carried in procession, and she ran
screaming from the stage, enYelOpeG il
flames, and. in her mad rush, cOmmun-
Gated the fiery element 10 every l. ttam-
mable object within reach. Great ribbons
OF flames went leaping to the flies. The
music ceased; the members of the or
cheStra, abandoning their instruments.
fled for their lives.
A general stampede followed. Yells of
mingled fear and Savagery rose upon the
air. Brute force thrust aside poor irreso-
lutte feebIeness in the fight for life. There
was 10 room left for pity or for chivalry.
Lady Wooler was among the first TO fly.
Her brother vaiUly attempted TO detain
her, telling her that she wCuld inevitably
be trampled down and killed. But even
while he stopped over little Ella, trying to
reassure her, Lady Wooler was gone.
Try and nvertake her!" cried the girl,
eXcitedly. II will stay here until you re-
turn! See. am quite calm"
Are YOU sure?" asked Glendale, irreso-
lutely; then he Obeyed, with considerable
reluctance.
Come with me-" commanded quick,
eager voice. II am sent to show you the
way of escaped"
Ella shrank back as she recognized the
dancer.
IL promised 10 wait here until he re-
turned" she replied. with feeble resistance.
II am sent fer you," repeated Calvadoro,
sternly.
did he send you-SIr Rupert?"
The dancer did not answer, but stood
waiting.
"Oh. what am 1 to do?" cried the girl.
desperately.
"Come" answered the woman. and Ella
obeyed.
1t was strange and devious way they
now traversed, passage used only by the
stage carpenters. In places they needed
TO stoop and almost crawl before they
could proceed. Ella felt afraid, but did
not venture to show her fear. There was
something appalling about this silent guide
of hers, this creature with the burning
eyes and the still tongue.
Once they were stopped by woman,
who lay right across their path. She had
a child. an iDfanT, in her arms. and she
seized the cloak Of Nine. CalvadoTo and
almost dragged the dancer 10 the ground.
MA petitei Save my child" she cried
breathlessIy. II have sprained my foot
and can go no further. Oh, madame, for
the love of God, save my child! J"
Nine. CalvadOro recognized her for the
wife of one of the workmen employed at
the theater. She stopped and took the
wailing infant from its mnther's arms.
81 will come back for you," she said, in
her deep tones, and then hurried on with
Ella.
AT length the windings were all ira
versed and the free air of heaven fell upon
their faces gratefully after the sitting
smoke within.
The dancer put the child into Elias
arms.
''You are quite safe now" she said; she
will come to you directly. As for me, !
must go back to that poor woman"
You cannot go back" cried the girl,
elinging to her deiiverer; lit is like going
to death. See, the flames are coming out
al the rOofP'
Would you have me break my word,
and leave her 10 die there ?'
She was turning away, when she sud
denly paused, and taking the girl by the
shoulders looked her in the face
You are different, she exclaimed. in a
hOarse whisper II was never like YOU
never. Your eyes are clear as those OF a
child and your breath is as the breath OF
flowers. N'importe! Tell him | saved
yOu-savcd you for himl"
And then Ella. in transport of graft
tude. kissed her preserver on the mouth,
Another moment and Nine. CalVadoro
had disappeared.
At the first turning of the circutous
! passageway she encountered Sir Rupert
Glendale. rushing toward her In a frenzied
manner The injured woman had directed
him. but he had not stayed 10 assist her.
Love is sometimes as cruel as hate in its
| selfish indifference TO all but the object OF
! its affection He was so absorbed in the
thought of Elias danger that the rest of
the world might have persisted before his
eyes and he would have cared nothing.
| When he saw IneZ coming back alone he
seized her fercely by the arm.