The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-10

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.
Sheraised her pallid face heavenward
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 awakened in me 10y the
awful majesty of thy anger. Hear me,
o Godh And with sob she sank on
her knees, clasped her hands and raised
them upward. Thorndyke tried to lift
her up, but she shook her head and con-
tinued her prayer in silence. A marked
change had come over Branasko. He
looked at Johnston and Thorndyke in
strange, helpless way, and then i'll
corner of the balcony the begrimed and
tattered man fell on his knees. He knew
not the meaning of prayer, but there
was something i'll the reverent attitude
of the princess that drew his untutored
being toward his Maker He covered
his face with his hands, and his shaggy
head sank 10 his knees.
Johnston FASTENED back into the au-
ditorium. Returning in moment, he
found the Englishman tenderly lifting
Bernardino from her knees and Branas-
ko still crouching in corner.
what is the news?' asked Thorn.
dyke.
Everything is ready for the explo-
sion. The prince seems only waiting be-
cause he breads failure. The people in
there are so frightened that they cannot
move from their seats. +"
Just then Branasko raised haggard
face and looked appealingly at the prin-
cess She caught his eye.
Fear nothing, good man," she said.
1.-THE God of the Christians will not
harm us. We are safe in his hands. /
felt it here in my heart when l prayed
to him. Oh, why have my father and the
other kings of Alpha not taught us that
grand, simple truth? But before l die l
want to leave this dark pit of sin and
look out once into endless, world filled
space.
A joyous flush came into the face of
the Alphian. His fear had vanished.
She had promised him safety. He bow
ed worshipfully, but he spoke not, for
Bernardino was eagerly pointing to the
sun.
Look" she cried gleefully, with
the merry tremolo of happy, surprised
child. 1.-THE sun is not moving. Father
has been successful. 1t is a good omen.
God will save us. +"
1t was true. The sun was standing
still A deep silence was on the city.
The crowds in the streets neither moved
nor spoke. Without a murmur or COM
plant they stood facing the frowning
west. Suddenly the silence was inter
rupted by NV volcanic rumble. The
earth heaved aud rolled, and far away
in the suburbs Of the city the spire Of a
public building fell with loud crash.
A groau swept from mouth to mouth
and then died away.
1.-THE cloud is increasing rapidly"
said Thorndylle Il can really see little
hope. l shall return in moment a"
While he was gone Bernardino knelt
and prayed. Again overcome with fear,
Branasko crouched down in his corner.
Another shudder and rumble from the
earth, another long moan from the peo-
pie. Thorndyke came back. He spoke
to the princess:
"The dam built by Prince Marentel
has been swept away. The ocean is
pouring into the internal fires There is
scarcely any hope now." Branaslo
groaned, but Bernardino's face was
aglow with celestial faith. She shook
her head.
"They will not be destroyed in this
way" she said. ''They have had no
chance to know God"
1T all depends ON the explosion,
which may take place at any moment"
And Thorndyke took her into his arms
and whispered into her ear, II do not
care for myself, but l cannot bear to
think of your suffering pain"
She answered only by pressing his
hand. The clouds were now rolling up
ward in greater volume than ever. 1t
was growing darker. The little group
OH the balcony could now scarcely see
the people below them. The fall of
damp ashes was resumed. The air had
grown hot and close.
Boom, boom, booml The streets of
the city rose and fell with the undulat-
ing motion of a swelling sea. Blacker
III