The Winslow mail., 1899-04-01
a smile to-Arhuthrots 5 face.

a smile 10 -ArbuthEot's : face.
Il don't know about that" he said.
good-tempcredly. "but it's the best
work I've done yet. And if it's sue
cessful, Agatha, L 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
ii ?" size asked, slowly, looking down
at the untidy desk.
Il hope to finish it by next week"
said Arbuthrot. triumphantly. 1--we
allowed Lcrrimer, the Weekly Review
man, to see some parts Of it, and he's
expressed very favorable opinion and
thinks it's bound to be a success"
Agatha's eyes narrowed at the cor
i ners.
"Lorrimer's a fool" she said, an
grily.
1t was one cold afternoon, ten days
later, that Arbuthnot stood on his
| doorstep in the act of inserting his
latchkey, smiling at some pleasing
eniniscences Of his recent talk with
his publisher.
Suddenly wild, terrified cry broke
from the house, followed by scream
after scream, reiterated with such in
tensity OF anguish that Arbuthnot him
self caught the infection of terror, and
fumb with trembling hands at the
latchkey.
AT last he managed 10 open the door
and run into the hall. A fearful sight
met his eye. From his study door few
something object enveloped in
writhing flames, and from it there
came piercing, agonized shrieks. As
the draught from the open door flew
fiercely down the corridor the flames
| leaped higher and higher round their
living prey, until Arbuthnots 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 cut it's arms in agony.
! Arbuthnot caught it in a tight en-
| 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 disfg-
ured body that now lay motionless on
| the bed II was all in vain. Agatha s
injuries were beyond all help. and she
had lived only three hours after Ar
buthrot 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 thai
cruelty difgured face, now swathed II
bandages, rush of tears blinded hi:
| eyes, and he knew that all past differ
ences were swept away. and thai
Agatha would live hencefcrth in hi:
memory only as the woman whom ht
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
he looked the lids closed again, and
in 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 to his study. AS he entered the
room a shudder ran through his body
he remembered the figure of fame that
had leaped into his arms but a few
hours ago. and his heart was torn al
the thought of Agatha's sufferings.
And yet it was a 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 CRATE
Arbuthnot lit the lamp and sat down
mechanically to his desk.
THANK God for work." he said, with
deep sigh. cat least l can forget fol
a time"
He opened the deep drawer wherein
his pile of manuscript laid ready fol
the printers hand. One or two omis
s:ors could easily be rectified now. and
The work would soothe his weary heart
and brain. But-the drawer stood
empty. Hastily he pulled out its coun
tcrpart. No; that, too, held nothing
With feverish hands he rummaged each
! pigeonhole, turned everything out OF
his bureau, sought on the chairs, the
tables. The manuscript had disap-
peared!
A fearful thought darted into his
brain. He ran to the freplace-his eye
| fell on some charred ashes in the fen
| der.-Black and White.