San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-11
THE HAND
.OFTHE
G|::'HHRGIQG SUP
'wuTE MARIE

IN the street below. 'it s'.-,,' f--
81 might reach the east in time, he
cried. "Yes, you are right 1 was act
ing cowardly. The fastest airship in
Alpha is ready, and Nanlcon can drive
it TO its rnnest speed. If the worst
comes, 4 Si...il s,ey,n no rme Good
byp' He kissed her brow 'tendt rly, rnl
her eyes filed as he hastened away.
Down below they saw him spring light
ly into the gold mounted car, and the
| next instant the graceful vessel rose
above the palace roof and sped like an
arrow across the sky toward the east
| A faint cheer broke from the lips OF
the crowd. which seemed suddenly to
take new hope from the kings de-
parture. Some Of them waved their
hats and scarfs, and many watched the
,i,ship till it had disappeared in the
nrky distance.
HE may not get there in'timel
cried the princess. 1T seems to be go
ing down faster than it ever did before.
and be has great distance to go. "
The little party on the balcony were
silent for long time. Presently Ber-
nardino turned her fearful eyes to the
face of Thorndyke. 80.
so voluminous. Do you think all will
60 well?'' sit..t .-a
The Englishman slowly shook his
head. II don't want to depress you
more than you are, but think at such
q time we ought to realize the worst.
and the earthquakes are less frequent,
I but unfortunately il is owing to the
! fact that the volume of water has been
turned away from the pit into the tun
mel Be prepared for the worst If your
| father cannot reach the machinery in
the east soon enough, our light will go
out, and, worse than that. if Prince
Marentel should fail in his next venture
with explosives all hope will be gone. /"
II have never desired to live SO much
as now, " she answered, inclining with
an air of tenderness toward him. Il
never knew what it was to fear death
till-till you came to u.s." -s...t Il!
He made no reply. There was lump
in his throat, and he could not trust his
voice to speech Branasko and Johnston
left them together to go into the cleo.
trio auditorium. They returned in great
haste.
"The prince is ready for the explo-
sion," painted Johnston. "Thorndyke,
old man, this is simply awful. 1t is not
like standing up to be shot at or being
jerked through the clouds In balloon,
1t seems TO me that out there is the end
less space of infnity, and that all the
material world is coming to an end.
My God, look at that hellish fire, the
awful smoke and that black skyl Oh.
the blasphemy of such paltry imita
ton of the handiwork of the Creatorl
We are damnedl ] say damned, and by
q just and angry God.
'Don't be fool" said Thorndyke,
and he threw warning glance at Ber-
nardino, who, with staring, distended
eyes, was listening to Johnston.
INC. he is right, she said in a low
tone. 81 have never seen your world,
but know my people must be woefully
wrong. In your land they say men teach
things about intinity and an eternal life
for the soul, and that one may prepare
for that life by living pure and in striy.
ing to attain high spiritual state. oh.
why have you not told me about thatS
1t is the one important thing i have
long wanted to know if my soul will
be safe at death, but can learn moth
ing of my people. They have always
| tried to rival God, and in their mad
pursuit of perfection in science they
have been reduced to--tEis. That black
| cloud is the frown of God Those mad
flames may burst forth at any moment
and engulf us. " 81.
She uttered a low groanand hung her
head as if in prayer. Johnston and
Thorndyke were awed to silence. Never
had the Englishman loved her as at that
moment. She was no longer simply a
| beautiful human creature, but divin-
| ity speaking truths from heaven itself
He felt too unworthy to stand in her
presence, and yet his heart was aching
to comfort her. ',-.'. -" a..l
She raised her pallid face heayenward
and extended her fair. fragile hands to-
ward the lowering sky and began to
pray. MY Creator, she said reverent-
ly, childishly. II have never come to
thee, but they say that people far away
from this dark land. under thy own sun,
moon and stars, do ask aid of thee, and
[, too, want thy help. Forgive me and
my people. They have been sinful and
vain and thoughtless, but let them not
perish in utter gloom. Forgive them.
oh, thou Maker of all that exists. Thou
Creator of pain that we may love joy,
Creator of evil that we may know good,
turn not from us. We are but thought
less children. and thy children. Give
Us time to realize the awful error OF
our hollow pretensions Give them all
now, at once, if they are to die that
spirit which is aw 49, q in me by the