Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-03

| three others came forward ana made tx
lift the poor clay from the floor, where
| it lay so inert.
Slowly, slowly they raised it, laid il
fair and straight Before hand fell t.
the side there came straight overhead
an appalling flash, a deafening noise.
The old house shook and quivered, groan
ing through all its timbers as it's big
stone chimney toppled half to earth.
at nowed it. I told We, but ye
didn't believe it, said the man who had
shrunk from laying hands on the dead
man. The rest stood silent, in awed ex.
pectance of they knew not what. II
might be even deadlier flash. But the
storm king had done his worst. Very
shortly the wind sobbed itself out; the
rain ceased; the thunder drew away to
the river valley. AS the east Redeemed
for dawn, stars were peeping in the sky
through wells of lacy mist.
THANK God and my friends for day
light! never thought to see it again, "
Major Overton said fervently, his hand
on Dare's shoulder Suddenly Vance
gave a sharp, low cry. He stood at the
rooms end, critically contemplating the
lightning's work. AS the rest turned to
look no darted across the wido hearth,
caught something that lay amid the
masses of loosened rock, waved it i'll
front Of them, crying out:
''The record, the recordl Major, no
matter who saved your life, have as
good rs found your fortune"
There indeed was the missing volume,
released by the lightning stroke from
it's 80 years. entombment
"Open it quick. quick, - Major Over
ton almost shouted Vance hurriedly
turned leaf after leaf, then silently held
the book before the old mans eyes.
Then fine hubbub broke out, for
there, plain to view, undisputed, indis-
putable, the Overton claim was fully
confirmed upon those yellow pages.
"How ON earth did it ever get here?"
asked Hildreth.
Major Overton thought minute, then
said slowly:
~ remember now. They were build
ing this chimney when the first hint
came that our title was in dispute.
Bruce Stirling no doubt stole the book
and gave it to old Ike to hide for him.
Ike as q conjure man easily terrified the
black chimney builders into putting it
here. No doubt it was in sort of niche,
where, if need WERE it could have been
reclaimed. Dare was right. That ac
counts for the path. Jincey knew and
all these years has como here to gloat
over her secret.
"She repented at last. See what she
gave me-" Dare said, laying in the law
yer's hands the papers from the bottom
of the chest. After one glance he said:
"The day of miracles is not past, ma
jor. With the deeds, the record, our case
is won. You, Miss Dare, are the greatest
heiress in the state"
Allen Fauntleroy came forward, hold
ing out a hand to the major and to his
granddaughter. Both were eagerly
clasped, though Dare drew her hand
quickly away, noting that it bore yet the
stain of Royal Cleve's blood.
Heaven only knows how glad am
that this wrong is righted at last that
after so many, many years you are to
come into your own, ;" Allen said, look
ing full into the old mans humid eyes.
Major Overton half turred away his
head. saying:
''Sir, in the presence Of death we for
get much, very much. am an old, old
man; you just upon tine threshold. Into
your hands commit both the fortune
that is mine and the woman to whom it
must rightfully descend. do not say,
Take care of them. Your conduct for
the last month proves to me that you
could do nothing else. -
Allen drew Dare to him and led her
out into the fresh, dripping morning.
AS they crossed the threshold where
their fate had so strangely eliminated
he said, looking over his SHOULDER at the
rigid figure they left behind:
Dare, darling, 1 do not envy him
any more. Poor fellow! He loved and
lost you! And though he died for your
life, it is my privilege to live for your
happiness. "
Dare said, Il love you, Allen" but
she, too, looked back at the dead, and
her sigh was half a sob.