The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-07

remained but parts of the four walls.
q The three men walked quietly toward
the ruined building. A broad veranda
ran around three sides, most Of the floor
CT which was thick with bricks. mortar
| dust and general remains OF the wnole-
| sale destruction which had overtaken the
! place.
As they turned the corner grewsome
sight met their eyes.
| Stretched out upon the debris which
| covered the floor from sight lay the bod
les OF three people, one man and two
women. They were covered with dust,
but were otherwise uninjured.
With ashen face and shaking hands
Ralph Jennings reverently approached the
inaninate forms and carefully removed
| the dust from the faces Of the two Wo-
men. AS the features Of both we're re-
| vealed to sight he uttered sigh OF TO-
lief.
"she Is not here" he said softly.
"Who?'' asked the others involuntarily.
"She whom seek" was the reply.
Both men fastened to apologize, but
| Ralph raised his hand.
ut was quito natural" he said, With
| a sad emile. There Is no reason why
| you should not have done SO. I do not
| know II am glad or sorry. Let us look
| further"
They made their way into the building.
| but It was evident that there were no
bodies there or they would have been
easily found. The grounds, as well as the
| plants and trees, were all covered with
the fine gray dust. Fearing shook it from
the blossoms Of plant, and most beau
tful orchid burst into view, en- tkzay UNI
hurt in spite Of Its covering; In fact 1t had
proved Its safeguard.
LET us look down near tho waters
edge before we co." said Ralph. making
his way in that direction. II do not
want to leave stone unturned"
They walked toward the harbor, look
ing carefully from side to side. but see
ing nothing.
TT is useless" remarked Meadows, the
British officer There are no bodies
here, and If 1t Is within the bounds OF
possibility, which think that 1t Is,
should say that the person for whom you
seek had left here"
II do not know where she could co.
nor do understand why she should
leave" said Ralph. ''She said nothing
in her last letter to her father that
would show that she contemplated de-
parture. She was not to return for an
other MONTH"
"she may have been frightened by tho
warnings, and suddenly taken her de-
parture," said Fearing, wishing to COM
fort the other. but doubling II there was
much hope
but do not see why she should not
have notified US If such was the case,
She may have gone away In great
haste, been taken up0p some vessel, and
so made her escape. In the haste to get
away. the horror, and fright OF it ALL the
impending disaster, she probably had no
time to think Of more than her own safe
ty. You must hope for the best. Mr.. Jen-
nings. How many were there In the
family with whom she yua 9tnppinp2p
Three, and judge that the bodies on
the ,veranda are theirs They answer to
the description that have had. Father,
mother and daughter. But it Is not like
she hesitated a moment-'it is not like
Miss Montague to leave when her friends
were In danger
Probably they did not think that they
were IN danger" said Fearing. ut is
said that many laughed at the warnings
which were given, and insisted that there
would be no eruption up to the last. They
may have told her to go If she thought It
best"
They were now retracins their way
toward the heart Of the city.
What shall You do now. Mr.. jon
nings?' asked Meadows. 1T may be
permitted to inquire"
II suppose that the next thing to do
is to go to Fort de France. and mako
thorough investigation there. If she is not
there I shall not know what to do ex-
cept to give up and go home"
The others were silent; they had nothing
to say. They could neither OF them lie to
him. nor offer vain hopes. for the chances
of the girls having escaped were entirely
against reason, and they knew it we'll It
was useless to insult his intelligence by
idle words Tho facts were too patent,
too horribly plain, to be overlooked or
talked to ons side. "A solitary girl might
have made an attempt to escape. but as
for its succeeding, 1t was quite out OF the
question.
They continued on their way toward the
boat in silence.
CHAPTER XIV.
Parting with Meadows and Fearing, az
ter expressing his gatltude to them for
their assistance Ralph was rowed out to
the steamer
He found Minnie awaiting his return.
Did you fin any trare of Miss Kate.
sah?" asked the girl.
mot sign. Minnie" was the quiet
reply. II found the bodies OF the others.
but no trace OF her OF any name, nature
or kind
do you think dat she got away. sail?"
II can only hope so. my girl2 he an.
swered, as he turned away to give the |
captain instructions. eft. de France, and |
let US hope for better luok there" he |
said to that funetlonary.
Life had now become hut hope de-
ferred to Ralph jennings. He could |
hardly persuade himself that there was
any chance that the girl could have pos
siloy escaped. and yet there was that
chance. It seemde to him that If she |
had been at the de la Touches that he
would have found her body, melancholy |
satisfaction 1t must be admitted. but at
least certainty, and such torture as he
was now undergoing would be relieved.
He gazed at the smoking mountain as
they steamed slowly out of the harbor,
and wished that he. too, had been there
to share her fate. If death had come to
her through It's agency,
With unseeing eyes he looked at the
rulings now, disappearing in the dis
lance, His thoughts We're of Kate. and
of her last words to him. Finally he
sighed. and turning away, walked to the
shady side of the vessel.
Seated on the deck was Minnie. her
hands crOSsed idJv In bar Ioo Hcho