The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-19

as 1t is! Would not men say was
fortune hunter? Nay, should not
feel like one myself? I cannot even
talk to her like can to other girls 1
should say that she thinks that fellow
Dayre a genius by the side of me. Look
at them now"
The dance was over They were now
at the further end of the salon Lord
Dayre was half head shorter than his
companion. An Unmatched pair phys
ically any one would have said off
hand. But those who knew the circum-
stances might have judged differently.
For in rank Dayre would take prece-
dence of any one at the ball. and in
wealth the mistress of Reeve. an or
phan ruling in her own right, had no
peer.
Neither Ingold nor Mountjoy spoke
| word for the next few minutes.
which seemed like an eternity to one of
them at any rate. Gerald felt perfect
ly certain that what he loved most in
the world was slipping from his grasp,
that his fate was being decided While
the band rested from it's labors, and the
gay assemblage prepared itself for the
next item in the programme.
There seems something specially in
congruous in blank despair gripping the
heart under such conditions. The bril-
liancy of the lights, the beautiful
dresses and conspicuous uniforms all
seemed to mock the gnawing pain at
Gerald's heart.
Bertha Reeve and Lord Dayre passed
the alcOVe. AS lney dld so those words
fell, softly as they were spoken, on
two pairs of ears: II hardly know what
to say; it is all SO unexpected. You do
not wish me to decide tonight?"
May come for my answer tomor-
row?'
Then the speakers passed out of
hearing of those involuntary listeners.
81 cannot stay here" Mountjoy said,
in hoarse whisper, very unlike his
usual tones. 1.-The air of the place
oh
any fuss. They won't miss me. If they
do, make some excuse to Sir Harry and
Lady Gayter. Say was taken bad, or
! something"
slipped out of the alcove. Mechanical
ly he found his coat and hat, and then
went out at the hall door. He was glad
i that the stables were likely to be de-
serted. He had not brought groom
himself. In his present state of mind
he hated to have to make even trivial
| explanations and excuses.
With some little difficulty he manag-
ed to find his own mare among the
| hundred horses tethered wherever
standing room under cover could be
| found. The carriages were outside in
the great yard.
Gerald was just issuing from the sta
| bles when he heard a great shouting
| from the direction of the castle. He
/ let go his mares bride; she gallOped
out of the yard and disappeared.
Mountjoy smelt burning wood. He
| ran toward the entrance of the court
! yard. When he reached the great gates
| his heart stood still. All the basement
and ground floor of Mellans were in
| flames. Panelled and lined, as the fine
old rooms were. with oak, dry as tin
der, centuries old, with great staircase
of similar material in the center, the
castle was just adapted for rapid con-
| fiagration.
AS it turned out afterward, when in
vestigation into the cause of the out
break was made, the fire originated with
the overturning of a lamp in the but
! ler's pantry
/ Gerald rushed to the main entrance,
before which a crowd of guests were
standing They all seemed paralyzed
/ with fear. The young man brushed
them on one side. He could see Bertha
( Reeve nowhere. She must be in the
burning. building stiH. And there was
Ingold, toe, the manufactured best in
| the world.
Gerald dashed into the hall, meeting
! overwhelming smoke. He was choking,
and his eyes were smarting and redhot.
He could hear the cries of girls, the
shouting of men above. In his frenzy
! he could have flung himself into the
flames which danced before him.
/ Then an arm was laid upon his shoul-
der, and he was half dragged, half led,
out 1t was the parson, whose coura ge
was of that order which rises calm and
/
| The men, under Ingold's direction,
were bringing up long ladders.
/ Up and down they went in relays,
! bringing in their arms fainting women.
! The gentlemen above either helped by
! handing insensible burdens to the res
cuers, or stood back to wait their turn.
Half a dozen times Gerald had been
UP and down the ladder he had made
his own. Ingold was at the next. On
! each journey he had brought some one
to the outside air and safety, and then
| handed her to another willing helper to
take away But that some one was not
! the girl for whom, with glad prodigality
he would have given his life. Then at
the last, when almost all were saved,
4 Gerald saw Bertha. He jumped from
/ the ladder top through the window and
ran to her. The flames were at the
back of her. and had begun to SINCE her
light dress. Lord Dayre was still by
/ her side. Just as Mountjoy reached her
she was overcome and tottered back
wards. Lord Dayre with a quick effort
saved her from falling. There were now
only these two and Gerald left at that
end-the most dangerous part of the
great salon. Some devil seized him,
whispering in his ear: She has half
given herself to Dayre; let him save
her. For years the memory of that
terrible lapse haunted him.
Take her, Dayre, and carry her down. y
/ Bertha's weight, much less carry her
down Il the e. LADDER He glanced at the win
DOW, nlleu with the edOylnS smoke; then
he turned on Gerald.
Curse you he said: You know /
can't do it Take her yourself"
If 1 do" replied Mountjoy, II take
her for good and ALL
Then he gathered the girl up in his
arms and carried her down the ladder,
Lord Dayre closely following.
In the afternoon of the following day
Gerald rode over to Reeve to inquire ar
ter its mistress.
Dressed in tea gown, looking very
white and interesting, she received him
| in her boudoir.
I came to ask after you" he said. ITO
| confess-to ask forgiveness"
For saving my life? 1t surely is cas-
lily obtained
81 had the devil in me.'' he cried.
Then he told her all.
$50 you have come to me for absoIu-
tion? she said Then you shall have it
| without any pains and penalties, since