The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-17

l promised to wait month before
ella med her: and in the meantime | was
to keep out Of the way--:o do nothing t,
aggravate her father.
She said she would alone bear what
ever might happen when Mr. Stanton
urged on the marriage, which had beer
appointed for the next week 1t was
hard for me to bear, but there was ey
crything to comfort NE. She was mine
she loved me!
Afraid that I might meet her fathe,
and increase his ADMINISTRATION he was
inconceivably Infatuated against NE
and thus make her lot still harder, fol
| was not afraid of anything he could
do to me, l left the town, thinking !
would remain away some days.
Il did not know myself | could nc
more have stayed away than l could
have done any other impossible thing
I came back that night
had hardly fallen asleep before l was
awakened by cries which startled me into
springing from my bed. My first glance
from the window was in the direction
of the chateau. It was on fire. The
dreadful light illuminated my room
1T was but moment before l was
dashing on toward the hill on which the
chateau stood. The peasants round
about were focking to the place. but
In two minutes had them bringing wa
ter from the river.
1T did not seem to me that the fire
had done much as vet, and | saw that
the wing of the house where I knew
l4aura's room to be was the farthest
from the flames.
stanton was running about. entirely
berett OF his senses, as happens to some
people at such times. lie came up to
me, crying:
Laura! Laura: She is III the studio!
She went there before going to her
room!'
II did not wait to hear any moreover
though l hardly believed what he said
fhe studio, where l had painted the
portrait. and where were many pictures
Stanton had collected, was in that por-
ton of the chateau that was burning.
How / ever made my way there |
know not. To look back upon the deed
it seems an impossible thing to have
done. But I reached the heavy oaken
door-the door which thus far had been
a shield from the worst Of the flames l
burst it open.
Laura was upon her knees OH the
floor. Half-dead with the heat and the
smoke, she stretched out her arms and
cried cut TO me to go backto save my
self.
II took her in my arms Heaven
must have smiled upon me, for sue
ceeded in getting out of the burning
building with my precious burden.
NO one noticed us as | bore her to
the lawn. / did not see her fathers: ev-
erybody was busy. I put Laura down
was nsensible at first. but in few mo,
mcnts she opened her eyes. / called hcl
all the names passionate love could $us-
geSt.
Did that intensity Of love recall hen
wandering spirits?
Her beautiful face was not black
en2d; unconscious.y I had shielded hcl
from that even.
She looked at me: her eyes poured
undying love into mine. Feeb}y, for the
first and last time. she called me her hns
band. Then she died. The intensity OF
the heat-somc breathing Of the flame
had killed her. Yes. she died." repeated
Curzon, with 4; terrible emphasis and q
terrible glance.
What do you think I cared for life
after that? Soon the fire was con
teau was saved. This is her room
Here | have lived for years, and hero
I intend to die-the sooner the better,
Mr.. Stanton left as soon as possible.
| had a fortune left me. Lucky, WASH,
it?' and he laughed in il way that made
me shiver. Il bought this place."
Curzon walked to the window ani
remark III calm. quiet tone.
beautiful prospect. isn't it,
DO you still paint?' l asked, not re
plying.
II have never put a brush to canvas
since l finished that" and he looked al
the portrait.
The we went out Of doors, and soor
went to my hotel.
l left the vicinity the next day. In six
months l was back again. The story
that lonely man had told me had beer
in my mind many times since As was
taking my supper, looked from the win
dow at the chateau.
My host, who was in the room, saw
my glance. and said:
Sad thing up at the chateau The gen
tleman is dead!'
"Deadv' l repeated.
"Yes; he was found lying stark and
still in front of the portrait of Il woman
II" had shot himself"
I listened in awe: but how could I real