The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-23


FIRE had possibly saved her life.
Airline lay upon a lounge.
She, too, had suffered somewhat
from the terrible experience. although
no; SO severely as her lover, but to
Charles ravished eyes she had never
looked SO charming as when she held
out both hands to him. while blushes
chased each other over face and neck
God was indeed good to us. Charlie.
she said. after he had bent down and
deliberately kissed her with the air OF
one who holds a proprietary right.
"I echo your words. my darling;
and l venture to say I am the only
man in New York to whom that fear.
full fire brought good luck"
"Ah, but you richly earned all that
and more-you who fought SO des-
perately to save me. Where would I
be now only for you? oh. Charlie,"
bursting into a food Of tears. as she
remembered how he had swept into
her room and taken possession of her.
leading her through devious ways at
last to safety and life.
"And who was 1t dragged me away
from the hungry nav Of the flames
when they seemed sure of their prey?
All, my dear girl. the honors are pret-
ty nearly even. It seems to mel We
belong to each other. and Heaven give
me the power to make your life hap
pyi"
"Oh, Charliel doubt can never enter
into my soul. After what has occurred
could not live without your love.
am only contented with you"
They spent happy half hour.
Then Charlie remembered that he
bore message.
"Aleck and your father are below.
They met in the strangest way during
the fire: IL certainly looks as though
the hand of fate was in 1t. At any
rate, they are both anxious to see you"
he said.
Capt. Brand claimed his daughter,
and this time there could be no mis-
taking the genuine thrill that awoke
in Arlne's heart when she saw his ge-
NAL face and heard his voice. which
at once aroused memories OF long ago.
While the great metropolis was
wrapped in mourning on that sad St
Patrick's evening, a happy group dined
in the other hotel.
Capt. Brand related many of his ad-
ventures In a modest way, entirely dif-
ferent from the braggadocio of the i'm
postor.
Again and again his eyes rested
tenderly and proudly on his lovely
daughter; she had been in his thoughts
g.. Ia
with the wild Arab tribe with whom
he had been associated; and he had
hard work indeed to believe it was not
a dream.
Aleck, too, seemed to grow more
manly, and Charlie felt sure he had a
grand future before him. The follies
of the past would serve as guideposts,
directing him to the straight and mar
row road that leads to happiness.
AS for Charlie. peace had come
upon him such as only the mariaer
knows when at last his storm-tossed
barque slips into a safe harbor where
love and home await his coming.
He looked into her beautiful face.
where the lovelight and glow Of happi-
ness dwelt forever more. and thanked
Heaven for the bountiful mercies that
had carried them through the perils
of fire to such peace and hope.
No cloud dlmmed their joy on this
night of thanksgiving, save the pity
they felt for those who had lost loved
ones in the awful calamity.
The shock must for long time hang
upon them-it could hardly be other
wise; but young hearts recover from
such things by and by, and at length
1t would only be sad memory, to
arouse sigh or plying tear.
Through Arlines ready hand num-
Der of those who suffered in the fire
found temporary relief; her purse was
open to any reasonable demand; and
when. some months later. she sailed
for England with her husband. many
n grateful heart breathed prayers for
her safety upon the deep.
THE END.