The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-06-23

i cane 20 uDArmed, said Lee,
Ard his sister found her husbands rtvol.
yer and gave II to him
On the threshold the young man paused.
He was brave enough to face any danger,
but be hstitsted nov.
1t seems to me that We ought to call the
police, ht said, but Carita puihed him
forward.
We must not delay maybe We can
save her, she said. Be careful, Lee.
Revolver 10 hand ard bis eyes staiiug
ahead, Lee mounted tho thsdowy STARE,
an paused before the door Of the my ster-
ious IA.
Custom led n to koock on the door be-
fore he tiied the knob, though CARTE, at
the foot OF the stalrs, thought he Should
have burst In boldly upon the scene OF the
tragedy.
To the ytutg mau's astonishment, the
door was opened aud yeung Girl faced
him with smiling lips and Innocent, wonder
ing eyes.
IL beg your pard)n, began Lee. |
thought somebody here was In trouble. ]
am Mis-. Hathaway's brother r--on the d ,or
below-l--
He could proceed no further, for the ox-
preston Of the girls face disconnected
him.
What did you hear the asked sweetly,
Why, rather unusual sounds, replied
Lee. We thought we heard cry and
fall, and we feared something might be
wrong.
No, there Il nothing the matter, am
sorry you were disturbed.
Lee WAS sure that her eyes we're twink
ling, and that dimples were trying to sp-
p2ar IN her pink cheeks.
He felt ra, her foolish, ard backed toward
the stairr, with the revolver behind hin.
Pardon me IL | have intruded, he said
ifilly.
But Carita, who had overheard the con-
versation, was not to be put IA 80 easily.
She ran lightly up the stairs, futtering
with excl ment.
Oh, is there anything the matterP she
said interestedly. would have my broth
er come up. was really frightened such
heavy fall, you know, and Ruch cry.
The young girl looked perplexed for an
instant, then she opened the door wider.
Please come in, both Of you, she said.
Now, she continued, when they were
seated In the parlor, feel that an explana-
tion is due to you. The 1)ors between
these fats are very thin, and have often
thought might annoy you, ! am Edith
Madison, and these rooms belong to q
G. u.n Of mine whoi travelling. ! am prac-
tlcing for amateur theatricals, and do
not wonder that startled you. was ter
ribly in earnest to-day forgot everything
but my part. have been studying very
hard; have walked up and down here for
hours committing my role to memory. To-
day | was doing high tragedy, but with a
smile t-.t never occurred to me that anyone
would think wss In earnest.
so the mystery was explained, and Lee
and his sister returned to their rooma.
l,n't che a beauty sail Ire enthusiastic
ally.
Carita smiled.
Why, LIE, are you smtten.
Lee Walden was smitten, though he
would not acknowledge 1t, but Filth Madi-
son met him very often In the hall, and he
always had something to say, while Carta
took great deal Of interest 10 her and In.
vited her to her apartments.
Then they learned that she was an or
pban and poor as the proverbial church
mouse. She was studying for the stage,
to which she hoped her appearance 10 ANA
teur theatrIcals would help her, because
she must earn her own living, and every
one told her she had talent.
Lee Waldron believed she had talent too,
but he could not bear the thought Of her
following apublIc life. Already he WAS
Jealous Of her art.
He thought night and day Of the Young
face, with Its big, brilliant blue eyes and
and frame Of copper-hued hair; even In bis
dreams that vision came to him.
Waking one nigh. from deep slumbsr,
he was conscious OF a sense VI oppression |
The air se,m q dense and heavy with
strange odots. Then fea!ia thought
flashed through his Mid.
What was that roaring and cracking |
without bis door? Those curling yspors
that rose from the lower sill The confr- |
sion Of sounds that suddenly filed the air Z
lie tprang up and made haaty toilet,
and durirg tha. ins Ciri.a appeared,
pale and vice eyed.
The hcuie Ia oa h,e, Lse. shs cried.
somewhe here belJy--il's burning fat!
Get your things tog ther aid hurry.
Then the and her husband disappeared,
AZ d Lee heard the engines In the stree. and |
the cries Of aa .IsI.ed crowd.
when be stepped cut into the hall q
thick burst q smoke dnyehim backward
His nrit ihougbt was OF Edlth Madison
and until be keT she was ssfe be would
rot leave the house.
Tsi,e he tfssy'd q 10 dash through that
murky barrier, but each time be was near
ly cveipoxereG; then be fushed TO the sir l
thsft and calles 10 her, bu. there was no
answer.
The next instaBt he was out upon the
Are escape at the rear Of the horss and was
elambering upward.
Once through the window and 10 her