San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-11

" 1Ou1 ' Anu Will u SUI Sud hlSllh VI
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 in
corner of the balcony the begrimed and
tattercd man fell on bis knees He knew
not the meaning of prayer, but there
was sen ething in the -reverent attitude
of the princess that drew his untutored
being toward his. Maker He covered
his face with his hands, and his shaggy
lad sank TO his knees.
Johnston FASTENED back into the au-
ditorium. Returning in a 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. 4.....s Is i, .....-
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" .,e "a,
just then Branasko raised haggard
face and looked appealingly at the prin-
cess. She caught his eye. u .53>
Fear nothing, good man. I" she said
1.-The. God of the Christians will not
harm us. We are safe In his hands. j
felt it here in. my heart when l prayed
to him.. Oh. why havemy father and the
other kings Of Alpha not taught us that
grand, simple truth? But before l die
want to leave this dark pit of sin and
look out once into endless. world filled
ipace. . ,s-...f.. D., T.. - s. :.
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, fof
Bernardino was eagerly pointing to the
sum-. ...-..- s.- ,....l t.... ....,
"Lookp' she cried gleefully, with
the merry tremolo of a happy, surprised
child 1.-The sun is not moving. Father
has been successful 1t is good omen
God will save us. -a-t i--
1t was true, The sun was standing
still A deep silence was ON the city
The Grove DIS in the streets neither moved
nor spoke. Without murmur or com.
plant they stood facing the frowning
west Suddenly the silence was inter
rupted by low volcanic rumble. The
earth heaved and rolled, and far away
in the suburbs of the city the spire Of a
public building fell with loud crash.
| A groan swept from mouth to mouth
and then died away.
1.-The cloud is increasing rapidly
said Thorndyke II can really see little
hope. / shall return in a moment. p"
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: t '-
"The dam built by Prince Marentel
has been swept away The ocean is
pouring into the internal fires. There is
scarcely any hope now" Branasko
groaned, but Bernardino's face was
aglow with celestial faith. She shook
"a
her head. rA ...r go -.-
"They will not be destroyed in this
way" she said. "They have had no
chance to know God. :" iv s....i-
"It all depends ON the explosion,
which may take place at any moment. "
And Thorndyke took her into his arms
and whispered into her ear, Il do not
care for myself, but / cannot bear to
think of your suffering pain" 80
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
ON the balcony could now scarcely see
the people below them. The fall of
damp ashes was resumed. The, air had
grown hot and close. --.3 ..,.
Boom, boom, boomi The streets OF
the city rose and fell with the undulat-
ing motion of swelling sea. Blacker
and blacker grew the sky, closer and
closer the atmosphere. damper and
damper became the fog, thicker and
| thicker fell the wet sand and ashes
perhaps we would be safer in the
1 slftStsf oueSSsbCu fhothuy NOS ohoNAhS
Bernardino closer into his arms ''The
palace may fall ON u.s." But the princess
shook her head. Father would not
know where to find me. l shall await
him here. :" Branasko had edged nearer
to her. His eyes were glued on her
face, and he hung ON her words as if his
fate were in her hands. He had no re-
gard for the opinions of the others
"The explosion will soon take place
now unless something has happened
contrary to the expectations of the
prince, " said the Englishman.
Booml Boomi Kr-kr-kr- boom The
noise seemed to shake the earth to its
center. Now. the faraway pit was
belching forth fire and molten lava rath
er than steam and smoke, The flames
had spread out against the slipping roof
of the cavern and seemed to extend for
a mile along tine horizon. "They can do
nothing in that heat" exclaimed John
ston "They could not get near enough
to the pit Thorndyke, old fellow, ]
! can't see a ghost of a chance. We might