The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-09-01

hats and scarts, and many Watched I'LL
airship till it had disappeared i'll tn
murky distance.
"He may not get there in time!
cried the princess. "It seems to be so.
ing down faster than it ever did before,
and he has great distance to co.
The lfpttls party On the balcony were
silent ior long time. Presently Der
nardino turned her fearful eyes to the
face of Thorndyle.
1.-The smoke and steam do not seem
SO voluminous. DO you think all will
go well?''
The Englishman slowly shook his
head. Il don't want to depress you
more than you are, but think at such
a time we ought to realize the worst.
It is true the clouds are not so heavy
and the earthquakes are less frequent,
but unfortunately it 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 60
out and, worse than that, if Prince
Marentel should fail in his next venture
with explosives all hope will be gone. "
81 have never desired to live SO much
as now," she answered, inclining with
an air of tenderness toward him. II
never knew what it was to fear death
! till-till you came to us. !"
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 60 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 slot 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 sky! Oh,
the blasphemy of such paltry imita-
ton of the handiwork of the Creator!
We are damned! I say damned, and by
q just ana angry GOD. -
'Don't be fool" said Thorndyke,
and he threw a warning glance at Ber-
nardino, who, with staring, distended
eyes, was listening to Johnston.
Ono, he is right" she said in low
tone. 81 have never seen your world,
but I know my people must be woefully
wrong. In your land they say men teach
things about infnity and an eternal life
for the soul, and that one may prepare
for that life by living pure and in striv-
ing to attain high spiritual state. Oh,
why have you not told me about that?
it is the one important thing. I have
long wanted to know if my soul will
be safe at death, but I 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-this That black
cloud is the frown of God Those mad
flames may burst forth at any moment
and engulf u.s. -
She uttered low groan and 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.
She raised 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
I, 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 u.s. 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 by the
awful majesty of thy anger. Hear me,
o God!" And with a 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 a
strange, helpless way, and then in a
corner of the balcony the begrimed and
tattered man fell on his knees. He knew
not the meaning of prayer, but there
was something 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
head sank to his knees.
Johnston FASTENED back into the au-
ditorium. Returning in moment. he
foaad the Enslishnlan tandeTly lifting
BerraTlino froI. her knees and Branas-
10 sts,i croucl.iag in corner.
That is ia news?" asked Thorn
dyke.
Everything IS ready for the explo-
sion. The prince seems only waiting be-
cause he dreads failure. The people in
there are so frightened that they cannot
move from their seats. =
just then Branasko raised a haggard