The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-05-28

Happercraw had asked his permission
to address her.
81 will not force your inclin. tions,
my child" he said, "but it is an ex-
ceilent match. Though, if you prefer
the Duke Of -"
at will be better to be the wife OF
good old man than bad young
one" she said.
Lord Happercraw "wooed her" and
she yielded to the wooing. He was as
OLD rs her father and very grave aud
slow; but he was kindly, and he was
better, as she said, than gambler and
sot who was younger nd the
affair was decided, and she began to
turn her thoughts toward her ward
robe. The very wedding dress was
ready when a great calamity fell upon
her.
Her father died. OF course the
wedding was postponed, and the poor
girl mourned bitterly. She had only
he'd her father in all the world to love,
and her life was very desolate without
him; but, the year being gone by,
Lord Happercraw pressed his suit
~.
She had seen more of Gilbert and his
mother in the interim than was good
for her, she knew. She must remem-
Der her position.
Again the white satin glistened in
the hands of the needle women. Again
the wedding day approached, and Gil
bert fought with himself fiercely. His
mother guessed what was going on,
and fancy Patty did also, and both
hated my Lady Grace for different
reasons.
ga proud, insolent creature" said
Patty.
"She's a right to be proud" said
the old woman. 81 blame her more
for other things"
One night Patty had stayed at the
Acres's farm house for some reason. A
servant had been sick and some help
was needed; and at two in the morn
ing hand had shaken her softly, and
the old danes voice whispered:
"Get up! Look there's q fire
somewhere. It's Cuthbert House,
think"
"Oh!" cried Patty. cit is the
house. l wonder whether she is burn
ing in it,"
Good forbid !" cried the old woman.
whats that?" she cried, and pointed
to . dark figure flying pnst the win
dow.
cts Gilbert"
Away he sped across the fields, fly
ing rather than running. 1t was a
dark night. The flames flashed red
and lurid against the black sky. The
wind drove them to the westward, and
was so strong that the two women
could scarcely fight against it. They
were long while in reaching the spot.
Then they stood agnast. Some one
cried, OTIS his mother; she'll never
see him alive again /" And they saw
that Gilbert was not without, and
knew he was within the burning build
ing.
Suddenly there was cry. The
little crowd stirred with one accord.
A black figure stood at an open win
dow holding burden in its arms, the
flames pursuing it. Ladders were
lifted; strong men dashed up them
bearer and burden were seized and
brought to the ground. A faint voice
cried:
"Tell me that she is safe !"
And those who had unwrapped the
folds of blanket from the other form
answered:
"She is alive. She is not touched
by the flames. Well bring her to in
n minute !"
And the boys began to cheer, md
the servants to cry. AMI Gilber5's
mother got her arms about her son,
who whispered:
Take me home, mother"
care you hurt?' she asked
hoarsely.
He only whispered, cake me
home
And she led him away. Soon he
stumbled, then he struck against a
fence. Then he said, with sob:
Mother, l can't see anything. Pm
afraid l never shall, mother. And
the two women, sojbiDg, led him be-
tween them, aud got him home, and
sent III haste for doctor.
The doctor came as soon as nv Lady
Grace's swoon was over, for she must
be attended to first, and found poor
Gilbert delirious.
"That would pass sooD," he said,
'aud his hair would grow again, and
with care his face would not be
ccarred, but"
"Don't tell me he will be blind 4"
sobbed the mother
81 wish / need not, said the ply
stefan, "but it is the truth, unless God
works a miracle"
Lady Grace camo to herself that
night, but was i'll for some weeks.
She remembered a good deal that shs
had told no one. Certain wild words
OF love whispered in her ear; kiss
upon her forehead; sweet thrill in
her veins that made her forget her
terror even when tho flames pursued
them. She hal rcposed for a few
brief moments in tho arms OF the man
who loved her, and whom she loved.
Her cheek hal touched his cheek
Hor heart and his hal trojbej in uni
son. Never now could she forget.
Love was worth all the world besides,
and she loved Gilbert.
They hid the fact that nc was hurt
from her, md fho could only think
that he feared TO meet her after that
revelation sci fob no I,oI nd % d,