Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-01

OF the thunder, seemed almost more
than she could endure.
Claude's friend, Mr.. White, and two
or three servants and neighbors had
ventured as far as the hall, and
were the first to hear the shout from
above. Cornelia and Esperance heard
the voice but could not distinguish
the words. Mr.. White hurried out to
them, however-it was all right the
dean was unhurt. Cornelia uttered a
iervent thanksgiving, then again there
was unbroken silence while the peri
lous descent was made down the shat
tered and almost impossible stair
case. Ladders had been procured,
but they had proved too short and
could not be adjusted, nor was the
feeble old dean very anxious to try
them.
Claude had found him in the room
adjoining the observatory, or rather
among its ruins, just recovering from
the shock OF the accident which had
at first stunned him. He was safe and
unhurt, but so much agitated that to
convey him safely down again was
no easy matter. The wooden balus-
trade and more than half the stairs
themselves had been crushed by the
falling-in of the observatory, and the
debris was strewn so thickly on the
remaining portion that walking was
very difficult; more than once the
dean turned giddy, and was obliged to
pause. but at length the worst part
of the descent was over, and they
could see the faces of the watchers
in the hall. They had just reached
the top of the last flight where the
foothoid was rather more sure, when
the dean with fresh confidence began
to move more quickly, missed his
footing. grasped hold of Claude,
slipped down a step or two, but
finally recovered himself.
Claude, however. could not resist
the sudden shock; the dean was next
to the wall, but he was on the out
side on the very verge of the broken
and shattered stairs. FoT an instant
he struggled hard % right himself,
but in vain; the dean glancing round,
held the wall for protection with one
hand, and with the other clutched
despairingly at his rescuer. But it
was useless; Claude fell heavily into
the hall below.
The noise the Mortified exclamations
of those within the house, and the sud
den movement to the foot of the
stairs all served to tell Cornelia and
Esperance that some disaster had
happened. Cornelia at once hurried
up the steps, and Esperance in
stinctively followed her, but suddenly
remembering that she had promised
Claude not to go into the house. she
stopped herself though the longing
to know if he were safe was almost
irrepressible. 1t was the first time
that her VOW of obedience had di-
rectly FLASHED with her WILL the temp
tation was great, but she resisted it,
not knowing that that simple obedi-
ence was to be her salvation. She
could not have borne the terrible
shock of the sight which greeted Cor
nelia as she FASTENED forward inso the
hall and joined the group standing
beside the staircase. Some one had
helped the dean down In safety, but
Cornelia could hardly think of him.
she could only gaze as If spell-bound
at Claudes motionless. rigid form,
wound in his head. Was be only stun
ned, or was this? She could not
frame her lips to the question nor
could any one present have answered
1t. Mr.. White hastily dispatched one
of the servants for doctor, and
Cornelia remembering that Esperance
must be prepared, and spared as much
as possible. returned to the door
But her heart failed her when she
saw the anxiously expectant face OF
the poor little wife-wife was she, or
widow? She held out her hands and
tried to speak, but no words would
come Esperance gathered the
worst from that, but those awful
moments OF suspense had not been
wasted; she was strong enough to
enuure the anguish that awaited her,
anu instinctively she thought first of
sparlng Cornelia.
do not be afraid TO tell me-" she
said, in a strangely calm voice; 'it
can not hurt me more than this.
Claude Isl"
Seriously hurt, dear Esperance; he
has fallen and Is stunned"
you are not deceiving me? You
are sure?'
We hope, darling. We shall be sure
when the doctor comes.
Il must go to him; take me please,
Cornelia,' and she held out her hand
feebly TO be guided
But Cornelia would not let her
come beyond the porch: she dared not
tane her TO the scene OF the accident,
it would be safer. she thought, If
Claude were moved TO the outer
air; and Mr. White and one OF the
servants raised aim and carried him
out
Esperance had turned cold and
faint, but the sight of her husband re-