La Junta tribune., 1899-03-25
CHAPTER Ill

There was part of small stack Of
dry fodder standing not far from the
house, and under the wall pile of
wood for firing. With these Wander
decken resolved upon setting fire to
the house. and thus. IL he did not gain
his relic. he would at least obtain
ample revenge. He brought several
armfuls OF fodder and laid them at the
door of the house. and upon that he
piled the fagots and logs OF wood until
the door was quite concealed by them.
He then procured light from the
steel. flint and tinder which every
Dutchman carries in his pocket. and
very soon he famed the pile into q
fame. The smoke ascended In col
umns up to the rafters OF the roof.
while the fire ragged below. The door
was ignited. and was adding to the
fury of the flames, and Philip shouted
with joy at the success of his attempt.
Now. miserable despoiler of the
dead-now, wretched thief. now you
shall feel my vengeance" cried Philip.
with loud voice. II you remain
within. you perish in the flames: II you
attempt to come out. you shall die by
my hands. Do you hear. Mynheer
Poots-do you hear?"
Hardly had Philip concluded this ad
dress. when the window OF the upper
floor furthest from the burning door
was thrown open.
"Ay-you come now to beg and to
entreat: but. no--no." cried Philip
who stopped as he beheld at the win
dow what seemed to be an apparition.
for instead OF the wretched little miser
he beheld one of the loveliest forms
Nature ever deigned to mold-an an
gelic creature OF about sixteen or sew
enteen, who appeared calm and reso-
lutte in the midst of the danger by
which she was threatened. Her long,
black hair was braided and twined
around her beautifully formed head;
her eyes were large. intensely dark.
vet soft; her forehead high and white.
her chin dimpled. her ruby lips arched
and delicately fine, her nose small and
straight. A lovelier face could not be
we'll imagined; 1t reminded you OF
what the best OF painters have some
times, in their more fortunate mo-
ments, succeeded in embodying. when
they would represent beauteous
saint. And as the flames wreathed
and the smoke burst out In columns
and swept past the window. SO might
she have reminded you In her calm
ness OF demeanor Of some martyr at
the stake.
What wouldst thou. violent young
man? Why are the inmates of this
house to suifer death by your means?"
For few seconds Philip gazed. and
could make no reply; then the thought
seized him that in his vengeance, he
was about to sacrifice 30 much loyeli-
ness. He forgot everything but her
danger, and seizing one Of the large
poles which he had brought to feed
the flame, he threw OF and scattered
in every direction the burning masses.
until nothing was left which could
hurt the building but the ignited door
itself; and this, which as yet for 1t
was Of thick oak plank-hsd not suf-
fered very material injury. he soon
reduced. by beating It with clods Of
earth, to q smoking and harmless
state. During these active measures
ON the part of Philip the young maiden
watched him in silence.
.All is safe now. young lady" said
Philip, God forgive me that should
have risked . life 20 precious. I
thought but to wreak my vengeance
upon Mynheer Poots."
And what cause can Mynheer Poots
have give for such dreadful venge-
ancef" replied the maiden. calmly.
whist causs, young ladyf He came