The Monticellonian., 1898-10-28

At these words Arbuthnot lost his philosophical self-eontrol.
 q must ask you not to touch the papers on my desk" he said, hastily. ''f allow Sarah to brush and dust every thing in the room but my desk, and that I attend to myself"
 "Of course, you fly at my throat when I offer to do anything for you" said Agatha, angrily, letting her hand fall on the desk and crumpling several of the loose sheets together. "I can't speak 10 you but what I do wrong. That comes of marrying a genius! You're enough to make any woman want to drown herself"
 T beg your pardon If I spoke has tily," said Arbuthnot, ruefully contem- plating the sheets of paper which Agatha was fast crumpling into balls; "but I've nearly finished my book, and these sheets of paper are rather valu- able"
 Agatha threw the balls onto the table.
 And this book is to make you fa. mous?" she asked, with bitter con- tempt. "I suppose, when it's published, everyone will come and envy me be- cause I'm the wife of the genius, George Arbuthnot."
 Her scornful emphasis only brought a smile to Arbuthnot's face.
 "f don't know about that" he said, good-temperedly, but it's the best work I've done yet. And if it's suc- cessful, Agatha, I shall be able to buy you that diamond bangle you coveted the other day"
 But even the reference to the dia- mond bangle failed to move Agatha.
 How long will it take you to finish il? ?. she asked, slowly, looking down at the untidy desk.
 T hope to finish it by next week." said Arbuthnot, triumphantly. Two allowed Lorrimer, the Weekly Review man, to see some parts of it, and he's expressed a very favorable opinion and thinks it's bound to be a success
 Agatha's eyes narrowed at the cor ners.
 "Lorrimer's fool,' she said, an- grily.
 It was one cold afternoon, ten days later, that Arbuthnot stood on his doorstep in the act of inserting his latehkey, smiling at some pleasing "reminiscences of his recent talk with his publisher.
 Suddenly a wild, terrified cry broke from the house, followed by scream after scream, reiterated with such iu- tensity of anguish that Arbuthuot him. self caught the infection of terror, and fumblcd with trembling hands at the latchkcy.
 At last he mdnaged to open the door and run into the hall. A fearful sight met his eye. From his study door flew semething-aH object eHveloped in writhing flames, and from it there came piercing, agonized shrieks. Az the draught from the open door flew fiercely down the corridor the flames Ieaped higher and higher round their living prey, until ArbHthnot's sick ened gaze saw nothing but brilliant ball of fire.
 God! it was Agatha! Mad with tor ture, the flaming figure rushed toward him and threw out it's arms in agony. Arbuthnot caught il in q tight em brace, and with all his strength hurled himself and the shrieking figure onto the carpeted floor and rolled over and over until at last the flames were beaten cut and he knew the fire was conquered.
 Three hours later the doctor came softly downstairs. He had used all his skill to bring life back to the disffg- ured body that now lay motionless on the bed. Il was all in vain. Agatha's injuries were beyond all help, and she had lived only three hours after Ar buthnot had carried her upstairs.
 Her husband had never left her side, and, though badly burned about the hands and face, had scarcely realized his own injuries, As he looked at that cruelty difigured face, now swathed m bandages, T rush of tears blinded his eyes, and he knew that all past differ ences were swept away, and that Agatha would live henceforth ii his memory only as the woman whom he had once loved with all his heart Be fore life fickered out in that suffering body Agatha opened her eYes once and met her husbands gaze fixed with intense pity and love upon her face. To Arbuthnot it seemed that she plead ed dumbly for forgiveness, but even as lie looked the lids closed again, and in a few moments Agatha's spirit had slipped into the great silence.
 When all was over, Arbuthnot stopped and kissed the cold, pale lips
 Later in the evening he went down stairs 10 his study As he entered the room a shudder ran through his body; he remembered the figure of flame that had leaped into his arms but few hours ago, and his heart was torn at the thought of Agatha's sutferiDgs.
 And yet il was mystery how she had caught fire. Presumably she had been warming herself in his study, and her thin grenadine dinner dress had swept too near the flames. A few dull red embers still burned in the grate. Arbuthnot lit the lamp and sat down mechanically 10 his desk.
 Thank God for work!. he said, with deep sigh. "At least can forget for time"
 He opened the deep drawer wherein his pile of manuscript laid ready for the printers hand One or two omis- sons could easily be reetihed now, and the work would soothe his weary heart and brain. But-the drawer stood empty. Hastily he pulled out it's coun- tcrpart. No; that, too, held nothing With feyerish hands be rnmmaced each