The Portland daily press., 1895-07-08

huge bundle of bedclothing which he
threw down upon the floor, doing all this
very quickly in spite of his apparent easy
calmness Then sudden thought seemed
to occur to him. and he crossed to the door
again and opened it. A volume of smoke
and flame rushed in, and he shut the door
quickly and walked to the window.
81 very much regret, my dear Miss Fal-
coner," he said quietly. turning from the
window and standing with his back to it,
'tthat the more romantic method of escape
must be tried, and that you must make a
public exit from the window. 1t is a con-
siderable height from the ground, and
there is a large and extremely excited
crowd beneath, all Of whom appear to be
calling out varied and confusing directions
in many strange tongues. Doubtless your
escaped husband is also below-praying. :"
She was moving quickly to the window
in her excitement, when he put out bis
hand and stopped her.
"You had better not, )" he said. "You
would only be interfering with my part OF
the business and causing unnecessary ex-
citement to the extremely large crowd.
Men have been known to drop dead from
excitement. Plenty of time for that when
you have to make your public appearance
"a little later on. There is plenty Of time
/ assure you"
She looked at him for moment, as if
scarcely understanding his strange mood,
and then sank into chair and covered
her face with her hands. His face was a
little whittier perhaps as he knelt beside the
bundle of clothing and began quickly to
tear it into wide strips, knotting the strips
together as he tore them off, but for that
there was no change in his demeanor
Perhaps after all" he said presently,
glancing up at her as he strained at knot
in order to be sure of it's safety, Hyou
would rather not 'escapep That phase OF
the question had not appealed to me be
fore, admit. Perhaps you would rather
stay here and die in the 1urid light of the
flames in a highly romantic manner and
with the arms of discarded lover around
you, while the genuine article waits below
in the roadway, praying. Would that be
better, ehe''
She did not reply. She only rocked her
self to and fro and kept her face hidden
1t was one of those moments when all out
side circumstances fade away from the re-
membranoe She seemed to think that she
was alone here with the man whom she
had wronged, and that she was beginning
in the light of flames to read his character
and to know him as she had not read and
known in more peaceful hours. He was
still rapidly tying the knots when he spoke
again.
It's somewhat peculiar that we should
meet in this fashion, May Falconer-oi
May Owen, I suppose it is now; there's e
species of fate in 1t. Good people woulc
say that Providence sent me; for my part
give it up. I came here filed with wrath
against you; the closing scene finds me
imbued with feelings of absolute peace,
tinged with substratum of wondering
gratitude that 1 should have been reserved
for this. I am to restore beauty to the
arms of pining husband, who is in safety
below. I have become an unconscious ex.
ponent and apostle of the domestic virtues.
Strange is it not?"
Still she did not answer. She only
rocked herself to and fro, and he thought
that she was crying.
May suggest that you should move to
this side of the room?' he said gently.
The flames are taking good hold of that
door, and it is-to use a newspaper phrase
well alight. The time is getting short
now. Have you anything to say to me?'
"Only-only that I am very sorry, she
said brokenly
Yet, it was rather a mistake" he re
piled, calmly rising to his feet and shaking
out the improvised rope. "Suppose we say
nothing more about it He moved toward
the window with one end of the rope in his
hand. "The crowd is of great size, and
some benighted idiots are planting lad.
ders," he murmured. "The ladders won't
reach and the aforesaid benighted idiots
are being scorched, but are still manfully
shouting. There goes that door," as
great crash sounded, and shower OF
sparks and flame shot into the room and
burst toward them. ''I thought it would
scarcely last much longer. Come; are you
ready?" >.
She rose quietly and faced him with
white face. you won't mind my blind
folding you,'' he said, slipping handker.
chief deftly across her face as he spoke,
You'll go through your performance Sc
much moro gracefully"
AS he put his arms across her shoulders
to tie the knot, he stopped his head and
kissed her quickly on the lips. "For the
last time, )" she heard him whisper softly.
But she tore the handkerchief off and
clung to him with new perception upon
her of his purpose
oh. no-no-no!'' she cried. "Not
that-not that! We can go together, Mark. :"
1--WE can't" he said quietly. "Come.
little one, be firm for my sake. The time
has come now-my time" He slipped the
handkerchief back into it's place. and she
lay half fainting against his breast. She
felt him pass the rope quickly and deftly
about her and knot it.
Come" he said, "it's getting hot here
Now, then, that's ton the window sill
Trust yourself entirely to me. No, don't
touch my hands. There-goodbyl Keep
quite still"
Even as she uttered another protest she
felt herself swing out into space and low
cred rapidly through the air, felt the heat
OF flames that darted out at her, heard the
nearing murmur of many voices, and she
tainted In friendly arms
But whatever his purpose may have
been, or whether he fulfilled it, or whether
the closing scene was accidental none ever
knew clearly, for he dropped the rope he
held when he saw her safe and staggered
back into the flames that wound about
him, and they saw him no rnore.-Firefy.