The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-22

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! Lifted hts hand In gesture of fGrerclL and
turned dbruptLu uWuu.
intense fascination had drawn her once
more to tho east window, and there, Us
tho dancers formed, alone, almost un-
noticed, she slowly turned and her eyes
met his. Ono last, long. intense gaze
and, in one impulsivo movement, as
though no read In her glorious eyes the
kindling light Of lovo that matched
his own, ho would have sprung to her
side, but, with sudden recollection of
tho barrier between them, he gathered
himself, lifted his hand in gesture of
farewell and turned abruptly away
The music crashed into no opening bars
Of tho lancers and tho dance began.
For moment longer Helen stood
there. Again that powerful fascination
seemed to luro her to draw aside tho
curtain and gaze forth across the white
expanse of tho parade to where the
guarded prison stood, within whose
walls was Gagged the savage creature
whose life was linked so closely with
those OF many there besides her own.
Ihon tho thoughJ Of that other, tho
man whose love. all unwittingly, she
had won and the fear that, glmcing
back, he might see her shadow as when
he came, caused her to draw hastily
away. In all that gay and animated
scene, as once moro she faced the merry
throng, Helen Daunton stood alone.
The dance went blithely OH. Chat and
laughter and the gliding, Rhythmic
steps OF many feet mingled with the
spirited music of Fort Frayno's capital
orchestra Even Mrs. Farrar's sweet
face, so long shadowed by sorrow,
bcamed with the reflected light OF the
gladness that shone on many another.
Longing to be alone with her misery,
Helon turned to seek the seclusion of the
dressing room and had almost reached
Its threshold. when, over or through the
strains Of the lancers and the howl of the
wind without, thore camo somo strange
sound that gave her pause.
Somewhere out upon tho parade she
heard tho distant, muflled crack of the
cavalry carbine. Another, another far
ther away, and then, mingling with
thom, hoarse, low murmur as of many
voices and OF commands indistinguisl-
able through the gale. Louder grew tho
cI;mor, nearer came the sounds; then tho
added rush of many feet i'll the N0join-
ing barracks OF X troop, the quick, stir
ring peal of trumpet, sounding some
unfamiliar call. Overstraintu and ex-
cited as wC~a h,r ~ :, {, airing for
him against Mhcln the Mr.tI!. of the gar
rlson WAS reused, sho could only con-
ncct tho sounds of alarm and confusion
with him and his hapless fate Sho
g. nd fn hn
tcntion, for among tho dancers tho
gound was still unheard
Again the shots and shouts, the rush
OF hurrying feet Oh tho broad Yeranda
without. Again and nearer, quick and
imperative, the thrilling trumpet call.
Then, close at hand the loud bang Of
tho sentry's carbine and tho stentorim
shout of 'Firc!" And then, just as the
music abruptly ceased III response to
the colonel's signal, bursting in at tho
door, followed by a couple Of troopers,
came Rorko, rushing for ladder that
had been in use during the day.
"Its that mudman, Graicc, sorr!"
no cried in answer to tho look in Lis
commanders face. "EIe's fred the tow
o., and he's burnin to death. -
Sprimging to the window, Helen
Daunton dashed aside the curtain, and
all one glare Of flame, the RuHrdhousc
! burst upon the view. A black ladder,
silhouetted against the blaze, was being
| raised at the instant the curtain fell
| from her ncrvclcss hand. Will seized his
cap, made one leap to the door, despite
Kitty's frantic effort to scj2e him; then,
missing htS saber, whirlcd about and
rushed from point to point III search Of
1t. Divining his object, the girl threw
herself i'll front Of tho settcc, behind
which she had concealed it, and, when
| ho sought to reach around her, dcspcr-
ately, dotcrminCdly fought him of.
| Selling u cnp the colonel vanished into
| the night. Throwing over bis shoulders
the fret mantle he could lay his hands
on, which happened to ho Lucrctias,
Wayne followed his leader. Will, do
| layed and maddcncd, only succeeded i'm
| capturing his sabcr hy forcibly lifting
| Kitty out Of the way; then he sprang to
tho doorway to join the men hurrying
| from distant points to the scene. Orms-
| by, too, had rushed after the colorcl,
and only women wcro left upon tho
| floor. These, horror stricken, yet fus-
cinated, had gathered about the east
ward window, where Helen Daum!on
crouchcd, unable to look again uron the
frightful spectacle. 1t was Ellis who
hurled aside the curtain, just as old
Rorke, rc-entering, sprang to tho middle
Of the hall
"Como away, ma aaml For the lovo OF
God, miss, stand clear Of that window !
The poor divil's climbed to tho top, and
the cannon powdhers in the tower"
With moan OF despair, Helen burst
through the group and toward the open
doorway, as though sho herself would
HE to tho rescue. Rorke, with one leap,
regained tho threshold and thrust her
back.
"My God, can TO ono save him?' she
Dried.
"Save him, ma a'aml It's sure death
to tho man that dares to try it. Any
moment it may blow up. They're rush
In clear Of it now. Tho colonel's order
cd them all back. Mol God OF hivjn,
some ones climbin tho ladder nowl
It's Captain Lealel Oh, don't let him,
menl Dhrive him backi Oh, what use
In 1t? Did man evor live that could turn
Malcolm Leale from the duty he deem
ed his own?" And away rushed poor
Terry. Ellis sprang to her mothers sido
just as. to the accompaniment OF n
| ahriak from, Riffv,a 1ipo tbara Damn a