The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-12-01
so AS BY FIRE.

l read the invitation over and o,,.
yet the certain words seemed D Nv OVet
themselves like letters Of fire. U W Nanp
brain. Request your presence spUa ~
marriage of their daughter No. a, aa
to James Stanhope PreSslvn JsJh, ses
No wonder | could not conn nusurd
for scarce two weeks before 'tp a1eld
my darling Dorethea in nv a rau vel
had from her own lips an ssS I, aug
that she would he true 10 mo y"
ter what happened. | fell how ~ la'
yet upon my lips. the preSsnra ~ I'Ssti
arms about my neck. How ,ber a, us
believe that she was soon ~ 'Vui0
the wife of another? At last b IonyI
cred, doubling and angry, | threw ,ia
invitation upon the table. TELLING r wv
self that it was some mistata ,d n
foolish Jest of one who had discovonaJ
my secret; but as it fell it dislodgo5
letter which had escaped nv nos,'
and, picking it up. | found it direc,od
In her well-known handwriting
Dorothea had been Informed nv i.
father that she was promised TO prss
ly, an enormously wealthy man fovT
years her senior, and when She prora,;
ed and told of her promise to me M
was laughed at ana told that she mr,i
obey.
Desperate and at bay my little Ova
gave in, and preparations We're mai
for speedy marriage
The day before the appointed date
took the train for the distant CITY h
which she lived, hoping against bou
that something might prevent tile mat
riage, which meant a lifetime Of nis
cry to her as well as to me-. The grqs-
concOurse of guest had arrived ofrs|
me, and the handsome rooms, decoatl
ed with flowers and gay with govDJ
and flashing gems, were already ecbOI
ing to the soft strains Of a hidden ord
chestra.
Suddenly the notes Of the welding
march were struck and the welding
party came slowly down The .leaa
broad stairs. the lights from a myriad
of candelahra fastened To the side wall
of the stairway adding beauty to thd
scene.
Six maids in white came first. Then
the bride, my beautiful Dorothea
deathly pale beneath jup veil which
hung around her like a mist Her hand
rested lightly upon the arm of The agj
bridegroom. who had srnh an air d
proprietorship toward r.a poor yiIl BIZ
wealth was about to purchase that
longed to strike him across the fac
with my clinched fists
! They were midway Of the stair
when the heavy hall door was throw
open to admit a late conner. As
opened the wind. which had been r'
ing. rushed in with a furious SWi
and catching the vel which envelope
Dorothea, tossed it above her head. 1
an instant she had caught fire lroT
one of the candles. 1t hoyyred over he
head like n blazing halo. then IN
twinkle she seemed enwrapped in
blazing flame. Those behind her fe
back shrieking. The man who wa
about to promise to cherish aud prote
her for life pushed her from him IN
frantic haste, and, daShing down Il
stairs, flung himself pauic-slrlcA'
among the terrified guests.
But as he dashed down he passed
figure fastening up, tearing OIL his co
as he ran. "Thank God" ] cried
1 threw my coat over her head al
drew her to my breast, crushing 0
the cruel flames with gentle ION
Then l bore her unconscious form
her room, still Uttered with bridal
cry, and laid her OH her couch. =.
"You are saved, my little love
murmured passionately, land hcI, 4
life nor death shall part US azan' l
sound of my voice seemed to bring
back to life, for she opened her :!
and smiled at me, as if comprehend
that her life now belonged 70 me
had saved it.
But for weeks Il fierce battle
waged for that precious life. ntll III
ly the crisis was safely passed anu
knew that our darling Dorothea
spared to us.
"She is yours-this little hTahu
snatched from the burning SaIu
father" placing her hand in NINE r.,
heart was so full Of happiness 'n'
forgave him his former cruelty