Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-03

'ffNASNf SAf'etAt4ie WY IaAGLas .S AN
looked down into Morals white face. Il
think that gives me right to enter where
the help is needed"
Who told You help was needed?'
Il did" said Nora, steadily. Il went
to the vicarage, Nuel, and asked Mr..
Poynz to come and help US. Oh, Nuel,
let me pass to grandpa
You shall go where you win when
this interloper has left the house, return
ed Nuel making futile effort to regain
his usual tone and manner. $50 it will
be wise of you to say goodnight to him
and let him go"
Miss St. George has not attempted yet
to detair me-" observed Mark, coolly, so
your advice to her is superiluous. l hope
she VIII bid us both good night, for you
and / can do all there is to do. Allow
me to pass"
''Oh, certainly replied DIR. Armstrong.
kissing the words suavely. Il shall be
most happy. l only wait just TO hear--a
mere formula, Of course, by what right
you intrude here"
Stand back, sir, if you please said
Mark. with dangerous quietness. Il will
waste no minutes in words with you
even in Miss ST. Georges presence. l am
as near a connection of Col. st. Georges
as you are-nearer-and you shall Keep
no one from that room where the old man
needs help"
Perhaps because he saw he had to deal
with a strong and resolute man, and per-
haps it was because Nora herself seemed
shrinking from him while he stood in her
A ociIn
You shall repent this unauthorized in
trusion," he said to Mark and Mr.. Poynz
answered that it was very possible, and
pushed open the door with a gentle hand
to look into the ruined chamber.
Before them where they stood a bank
of bricks and mortar, and fragments of
wood and stone, was piled so high that
nothing but the bare, curtainless upper
frame of the bed beyond was visible.
Marks keen, quick eyes took in all the
scene. The fragments of the chimney
were heaped so high against the wall
upon the hearth that only the top of
Col. ST. Georges iron safe was left TO
mark his favorite corner; and on the
hearth itself the mass reached nearly to
hole in the ceiling, which revealed an
other opening in the room above, and let
in the moonlight from the sky itself.
Does he live?" asked Mark, in low,
quick tones, as he turned to DR.. Arm
strong. You have been In. Does he
Iive?"
The dust was suffocating," was the
answer, uttered unwillingly. ut drove
me back whenever | tried to reach him."
1T is suffocating now" Mark said, inn
patiently. Miss ST. George, go quickly
to your own room and rest We will send
to call you-presently. Cot is sitting
here"
He spoke in a tone of authority which
seemed natural to him; but she only saw
that his glance was very kind and anx-
ious, and that he was in haste to do
which her presence hindered;
so she turned at once, like a child, at
his bidding, and left the room.
Bran was still whining dismally in the
shadow; but when Nora went up to him,
and. kneeling beside him, whispered to
him coaxing, tender, pitiful, wasted
words, he grew quiet; catching his breath
lust once, as if in a sOb and then stand
ing quite still, with painting breast, and
wide, hollow eyes fixed upon the moon
light through the open outer hall door.
Kitty finally came and led Nora out
Of the chill and gloom up to the freshly
lighted fire in the kitchen, and something
in its broad frank blaze made the girl
SILVER even in its warmth.
"Oh, Kitty" she cried, with a fright
aned sob, lis grandpa safe? VIII they
be in timer?
Kitty, standing beside the table to pour
out the cup of tea, glanced sideways at
her young mistress, startled by her cry.
Was it possible that Miss Nora could be
anything but glad to be released from
the hard and grinding tyranny which had
given her such childhood and girlhood
as only her own bright, unsuspicious ma
ture had rendered endurable?
ITS about yer grandpa We'll be seem
afther a Vice." she said, soothingly.
"Now, it's the cup o tay yer to be drink
in"
Only a few minutes passed after Kit
tvs departure, but Nora felt as if she
had been an hour alone. when DR.. Arm
strong came in to her.
Mora. my DEAR" he said, as he took
her hand and placed it on his arm, Il
felt you would be anxious, and l am
come to relieve you. We have carried
your grandfather to the empty room on
the other side of the hall. He is rescued
from all that wreck and dust; but we
have not complained Of the labor. Will
you so in?"
She had taken her hand from his di-
rectly, and now her fingers touched for
moment the head of the old dog, who
was following her from the kitchen.
Bran understood the sign, and walked
back to the hearth, with one low, long
howl, which made DR.. Armstrong mutter
an imprecation on his head.
"Will he know me?'' asked Nora, turn
ing to address .Nuel for the first time.
Know your echoed DR.. Armstrong.
astonished. Didn't you understand me,
my love? He was dead when | went in
this moruing-at the first alarm. He
must have been Smothered in a minute"
''Oh, grandpa" cried the girl, as she
fell on her knees beside the improvised
bed on which he lay. "Oh, poor, poor
grandpa"
1t was all that it seemed possible to
her to say, in her great awe and bewil-
derment; in this her first experience of
death-and a death which brought no
anguish. even no great distress.
SO she knelt. whispering in this strange
compassion. while Nuel Armstrong, with
low. endearing words, tried to tempt her
from the spot. She took no heed at all of
his presence. She was thinking Of the
awful suddenaeSs of her grandfather'S
death, and wondering, wondering
her eyes were dry and miserable, and her
heart felt like a stone in her bosom.
"Oh. grandpa, not TO have known that
this was coming. Only 10 feel it when it
was too late 10 escape. Oh, poor, poor
grandpa
Come away, my darling" whispered
Nuel, taking her hand to lift her TO her
feet. But she quietly drew her hand
away, and laid it caressingly upon the
shriveled fingers before her.
Grandpa she whispered, tenderly,
mo one shall take me away.
Il shall feel it my duty to take you
away, Nora" said DR.. Armstrong, in his
cold, smooth tones. Il will not have your
health injured through any false senti-
ment. What did that old man ever do