The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-06-07


wura. and With flushed facs and hold,
lnR his uaken stool in his hand took .
lew steps forward.
stNow, y said he, trembling with -
element. there Ii the door,
The ant hunter had risen. He seemed
strangely calm.
a.1avier, " said bic, lyon are making
yourself unnecessary trouble. oaar
no longer initiates me. Once have
I raised my hand against you In revenge,
but I ought not to have done y. Now !
am waiting until the hour itself comes.
a. binding light flooded the whole
room. Then came a fearful clap. The
windows ratified. With o shrek, the
landlady sprang mp, and all rushed p
the window.
'sThat strucki'' said the ant hunter
and sat quietly down again.
Outside deepest darkness reigned. In
vain did we seek 70 pierce Ii. Suddenly
o column OF FIRE mounted to heaven.
The whole village was as light as day.
80 God, my farm buildingsl" cried
Xavier, burying his face i'm his hands.
II believe the hour is here" said the
ant hunter and emptied his glass.
From the towers sounded again the
storm bell. Grewsome were the shrill
tones as they rang through the darkness
OF the night.
ssFirel Fire!'' was next heard through
the village, and the startled people q
hither and thither in the widest excite
ment. Windows were thrown open.
doors creaked on their hinges, and ey-
erybody rushed toward the wooded ridge
from the foot of which o mighty pyra-
mid of flame rose toward the sky.
Shrieking and crying. the frightened
women and children begged their hus-
bands and fathers not to expose them
selves TO danger.
But their alarm was groundless. They
had nothing to fear from that scene Of
horror. Not q finger was lifted to bring
help TO that stricken home. God himself
had hurled the thunderbolt, and where
he kindles the fire--so Ii il related
shudderingly from generation 20 gener-
alton of the peasant folk-billows OF
water are powerless to extinguish it
Idly, therefore, stood hundreds Of
people before the finest farmhouse in
the valley and gazed with impotent hor-
ron into the flames which would soon
engulf it,
With disheveled locks and wild de-
spair in his eyes, Xavier appeared now
and then and threw ont whatever came
to his hand, howsoever worthless it
might be.
The wretched man had lost his sense
A group of women had gathered about
the well, and I'M their midst lay the
farmers wife, who had dropped down
there utterly exhausted from fright and
excitement. She had been with the chill
dren In the house when the lightning
struck the adjoining barn and set it on
fire. When she few from the house, the
rafters were already ablaze.
The women were bathing her head
with the fresh well water when she
opened her eyes and looked anxiously
about.
"Friedel, Loireln she cried. and with
the words pressed the sobbing children
TO her breast
"Mercifnl heavenl My little Tonyl''
she suddenly shrieked, springing TO hen
feet. "He lies mp there i'm his cradle
and will be burned to deathl'
Horror held the b~ystanders spell
bound. It was he~artrending to see thu
poor mother In her despair. It did moi
seem possible for q human being to ofel
help. Already the flames were bursting
from the windows. Even Xavier hat
been forced to desist from his labors
With singed hair and clothing, he ap
peared now in the doorway.
J my babyl My babyi Save m.
babyl'' moaned the mother, wringin,
her hands.
) No one stirred. ANY attempt woul'
have been foolhardy.
"Give me my child, or ! shall diet
! she cried again and rushed herself to
ward the scorching, fiery furnace, az !
10 snatch her darling from It's depths
Y Just then q heavy hand was laid upo
j her shoulder, holding her back.
: Don't do that, Marie, : she heard
rough voice say. lyon have made me
y criminal; now I will take my revengel
AL Icy CHILLI IM4k l10M&h l3 NbAAAn g
these words. 1t was the ant hunter VIII
. spoke.
{ "Josephl Good heayensi Would 20
q kill my child?'' cried the mother, an
g I'm her desperation she chung about hi
knees.
= Quick as lightning the ant huntt
Z pushed her from him and rushed hin
|. self into the billowing flames. A cry !
2 horror burst from all who saw hin
The unhappy man had voluntarily gor
10 his death. Amy instant the rafteI
2 might fall In, and IL he were not suff,
: Gated with the smoke they would bun
y him In their ruins.
2 IA few b~reathIess, horrible momen
y went by. Silently all eyes We're fxt
q upon the fire wreathed windows, whe
Y suddenly there appeared Mt the top o.
q b figure holding . black object high
his hands.
y Catch iti'' sounded from abov
. Twenty hands were stretched into q
@ air and caught the cradle which the 81