The Press., 1894-03-22

run aDOuG the no1gnDOfhOOQ-hand man Jim, who was always engaged to work for the Summerses' whenever the Carltons most needed him-every- thing, everybody, occasioned bitter let ters or wordy arguments between Vic torine and the widower.
 Harry and I, who had contrived to meet very frequently and who would have been very happy but for the bitter "reminiscences and high principles of them in vain. Very often l felt like quoting Shakespeare and requesting Harry to "be some other name," since Summers was so intolerable to Vic torine. And how things would have ended I cannot imagine, but for the oc- curence of an event which suddenly altered everything.
 Victorinc was extravagantly fond of novels of the romantic sort, over which she often wept profusely, and her can dle burned for hours in dangerous prox- imity to the curtains of an ancient four post bedstead which had been our great-grandmother's. Vainly had striven to banish it to the garret and in- troduce modern brass one. Victorine denounced the idea as northern foolish ness ; The association of that bedstead endeared it to her. She could not sleep save under those dimity curtains with knotted fringe, and her only light was candle light. Therefore one night {, catastrophe occurred.
 The howls of our dog awoke me. Through my open door l saw flashes of crimson light. Ss7- e came pouring in thick and black, aid knew that sis ter Victorino had set something on fire at last I staggered out into tho hall. Two strong arms seized me. was borne to window against which a lad der was proppcd.
 It was MT. Summers wko had grasp ed me.
 "Victorinc' I cried. "Ch. ny pool sister! Oh, my Victorine''
 Then other hands graspel me. l was carried down the ladder that had beer set against the window, and Harry bent over me and kissed me and dashed into the house again.
 Aunt Emily. who slept over the kitch en, was already safe. She clasped me tight, and sinking on her knees began to pray with wild, camp meeting fer | vor:
 70 Lord, 0 Lord, look down upo1 us! Q Lord, show de power of dy hand o Lord, help us! o Lord, help us!''
 For my part, was speeches. ant could only pray in silence. It was { terrible experience, but it was happily | brief one. The two men appeared a the window, bearing Victorine, wrap ped in her red cloak. She was scorched breathless, but not seriously harmed | While we were uttering our thanksgiv ings. MT. Summers disappeared and re turned with our fathers portrait an( several ancestral peoples in black cour | plaster.
 | 'The fire is out, he said. My sol has quenched it with a few buckets O wateE. Nothing is destroyed but the beo furniture. But I thought that thes had better be removed from the walls invaluable relics as they must be-
 Victorine burst into tears.
 "Sister Persis,'' she said, thank thi brave and chivalrous gentleman cannot.
 Madam, ; replied MT. Summers, :" rejoice to have been of service"
 Really, although she had a blacl smudge on her chin, never saw Vic torine look so sweet as when she smile' upon the man from the north and gay him her hand.
 The vendetta is over," said t l 1, 1o4 l. ,1, ing his face and hands, which were a black as Aunt Emily's with smoke an, tinder smears, at the blue pump out side the kitchen door. "The vendett is over. prophecy that Victorine vii make your father her special her | hencefOrth. '
 So indeed it proved. After soundin MT. Summers praises for two days Vic torine suddenly proposed to ask thos brave gentlemen to supper.
 "That is, if they will come, " she add ed, with a gentle sigh, rememberin her many encounters with the elder C the name.
 "Oh, they will be delighted" I re piled.
 "Yes'm, Miss Persis," Emily re sponded, reckon dey ain't nebber ha real, for true Virginny supper.
 "Oh, they visit at Mrs. Mockridge' and her Liza knows how to cook,' sai sister, "and everybody has heard ( Miss Kate's pound cake.''
 Was that jealous gleam that say in sister Victorine's eye as she mad mention of Miss Kate?''
 "Liza kin cook we'll enough" sai Emily, 'but reckon kin beat hel and Miss Kate she cyant play pianne muffin like my home ladies kin."
 So the invitation was sent and aC cepted, and we had a very pleasa1