Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-29
cuAprrR Xxx

/ flames had licked his flesh, the Wnole mn
was tottering and threatening to fall. 1t
had yielded itself so completely to the
demon fire that it burned like finder.
| Just at this time man staggered from
! the door. threw up his arms as falling
burning rafter struck him. and dropped
! like a rock. No one dared 20 to his as
sistanee, for the whole mill was about
to topple over in that very direction.
| Those who were looking, however, saw
second figure emerge from the. building.
He stumbled over the Captain, stopped,
and, raising the fallen man. bore him to
place Of safety just as, with mighty
roar, the burning structure gave way.
sending a myriad of sparks skyward as It
crushed in like an eggshell.
Roger was not seriously hurt. True,
he bore upon his arms burns that would
never be wholly lost, but they would be
sacred sears, for they were received while
he had in his arms the girl he loved
When he recovered his senses he found
Carol bending over him, supreme love
written on every lneament of her sweet
face. Her soft lips pressed kisses upon
his wounded arms. Between those two
no Clouds could eve: come again; they had
been baptized in ire, and the bond was
cemented forever
His face and hair had escaped because
he had been wise enough to cover them
with wet CLOTH all but the eyes, and
he had dueked his head when passing
through the flames.
Presently he was able to arise, and
then he found group near by, bending
over form upon the ground. 1t was
the Captain.
: strange fate had brought together
al those whom lie had wronged to see
the arch schemer die Above him stood
the Russian detective, Scared a little
from contact with the flames, ard yet
still worth a dozen dead men, Lawrence
Richmond, Jack. and the girl who bad
believed Nora Warner.
Kneeling beside the Captain was the
gypsy, Barbara Merrii-s.
The two men, locked in the room ond
with the fire roaring round them, rem
dered desperate by their situation, had
hurled themselves against the door, but
the effort was useless, and they would
undoubtedly have been burned alive but
that the detective CHANGED to remember
an ak that was lying in a small closet.
With this they assaulted the door by
turns, like two great Farnese Herculae,
but it was almost too late for the smoke
was filling the room, and, when they did
manage to smash the lock of the door, ii
was only to find themselves face to face
with huge pillows Of seething flames that
swept up the stairs and licked up the
woodwork.
The Captain rushed down first, and was
just in time to receive the crushing blow
from the rafter outside the building.
Thus did the vengeance of heaven over
take the plotter when that of man seem
ed almost without hope.
! He lay there dying nowhere could
| be no mistake about that-and his eyes
wandered from one face to another light
| ed up by the glare of the still bEning
remnants of the haunted mill.
When he saw Roger approach, support
ed by Carols arm. something that was
almost smile came ac, IS the dying
mans face. and he beckoned for them
! to draw still nearer.
Death has caught me. cousin he
hoarsely whispered, as they bent over
him. II have wronged many in my life,
but now all is over, and l go to pay the
/ % nalty. Is there one here who can say
he or she win not forgive me? In the
name OF heaven, do not refuse a dying
man this request"
| All were silent. No one denied him
this, and, although his voice grew weak
er as he proceeded, his face lighted up
strangely.
Mora, see you have found happiness
with that noble young man, and it is rot
so hard to forgive: nor can you, cousin,
row that all the clouds are cleared away.
/ Lawrence Richmond. you will find the
J false paper l held over you on my per-
son. 1T was a forgery, for you were in
nocent Of the crime. though cir UNI
stances aided me in securing my power
over YOU Jack Avenal, / know you now.
Your sister is at last avenged. As for
you. Barbara, poor girl, once loved YOU
better than aught else in my life. Had
let that love reign | would have been
a better man, but | trampled it under
foot, deceived You, aud became worse
than ever; but this | swear-once really
- loved you"
The poor gypsy girl uttered a cry and
hid her face in her hands. oyernastcred
ly emotion. Captain Grant was almost
gone, but, turning his eyes upon the dc
tectiye, he gasped:
at will serve you just as w,,l--you
know it was-dead or alive. ! can defy
-you-now.'
He was dead.
Heaven he mercful to his soul, for ht
had never known what mercy was in
this world. aud there were more heart,
than those present ut the time Of hi,
death that were crying out for vengeane,
because OF this evil man.
They buried him in the country churcl
yard along with the barrels. though he il
deserved this distinction, and tried lc sor
get him.
Nora Warner went home with Carol
and they two became great friends. Th
latter was as happy as the day was long
+, aud delighted TO hear Nora tell Of wha
, noble man Roger Darrell was.
> Nora knew Lawrence Richmond of old
= for they had met before. She was III
daughter Of a wealthy Virginian, and n
, poor obscure girl He had imagined tina
y she had done him harm. but it all turne
II ont that she had once. in her womanl
A Indignation, upbraided him for his cor
- duct toward his wife the story of whic
j she had hearS
Nora married Jack Avenal. whose 81.
h ter had been one Of the dead mans vi,
If Tins, which accounted for Jacks hatre,
fe and they have always been a happy COT
e pie. The past is shut out; they live
the present.
u Roger aud his sweet wife know +
a. wants. They are all in all to each othe
le ana the two old folks. dandling the lit
g grandchildren on their knees bless hea'
al en- for the light that has come to thei
IA after those long Years ~ darkness