Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-07

this was the Arst time he had seen her,
she had reached Seville only the day be.
fore.
I left the ball early because my head
achcd and, on reaching home, went to bed
at once.
I had probably slept four or I'VE hours
when the roll Of drums echoed through
the streets, and the loud ringing Of the
bells announced n fire. My orderly rushed
In to wake me. dressed as quickly AZ
possible and hurried to the scene of the
confagration
Near the cathedral" shouted d Issy.
who met me not far from my lodgings. and
we both hurried to the scene of the fire.
"Why did you leave the ball so early!"
he asked as we pressed on.
I replied that my headache had forced
me to go.
at ended only an hour ago had
scarcely gone to bed when the alarm was
given" said d. Issy.
Just then We reached the place Of the
fire. The cathedral was brilliantly H.
lumined by the glare the flames were al
ready blnzing high above 1t. The Span
iards stood looking at 1t In crowds hut no
one had raised a helping hand till our
soldiers set to work. just as We arrived
the fire reached large and very handsome
house which stood near, with such fury
that aid seemed useless To tear 1t down
seemed to be the only way to stop the
progress of the flames.
D. 1ssy. as engineer quickly assumed
command and ordered that the two houses
adjoining the burning building should be
pulled down at once
Just at that moment We heard A pierre
ing shrek. ID lssy looked up-who can
| describe his horror when he saw. high MP
In the burning house. his beautiful part
ner. the Marchesa Almontez. calling for
| help.
without an instants hesitation he rush
ed into the burning building. whose flames
made a wall of fire behind him. The
shouts that followed were deafening, but
no one dared to follow. for the flames
bazed more and more fiercely, shroudng
| the whole mansion.
~ Issy and she whom he hoped to save
were inevitably lost and. in less than
| fifteen minutes. n heap of smoking ruins
would rest upon their lifeess forms
by the destruction of the two houses
the cathedral was saved and the fire
| checked.
In dun despair at the death Of the he
role d Issy returned to my lodgings. and
noticed on the way that one feeling reigned
verywhere--sincere sorrow for d lssy.
Even the Spaniards admired the French
mans heroic courage and selfsacriiice he
should have been Il Spaniard they said.
| A few days after some ono knocked at
!
| ;omary in Madrid When opened II
d. Issy stood before me. | shrank back shud
dering. believing that saw his ghost but
he laughed in his winning manner and held
out his hand
81 am alive. md I've come to ask You
| to do me u friendly service he said en-
tering
Tell me about 1t =" I cntreated. 'Iiow
was 1t possible for you to escape!"
He stretched himself comfortably on th'
sofa and began his story.
"One glance at the woman shrieking fol
help showed me that it was the beautiful
Marchesa Almontez whoI will confess Il
nowhad made a powerful impression up
on my heart. TO save her I would gladl,
have risked my life though did not ever
think OF that at the moment Rushing int
the burning building. | dar,ed mp the ston
stairs An invisible hand guided M
Alright. The Marchesa came running dow
. corridor TO meet me. Oh. my friend
how lovely she looked. Her unbound hal
was floating around her marble white neck
She ran toward me, but when she had al
most reached me. glanced at her scant
clothing. stopped and. with n loud cry
fed like hunted deer in the opposite dl
rection. toward the flames, into which sh
would have plunged. had | not caught he
! and seized her by the arm.
For Heavens sake | cried. you vii
kill yourself and me-. She turned an
looked me in the face an instant 70
4 moment ! stood motionless. overwhelme
? by the knowledge of my love for her. the
slasping her in my arms da shed down tn
stairs. Everywhere flames were hissin
around us. But n vaulted passage led {
n summerhonse in the garden where bet
ged her to wait until ! Joined her wit
some women's clothing, which | did a fe'
moments later Then went throug
the garden and reached another quarter c
, the city. We are to b. married next weel
n and you, my friend, must be present at til
= ceremony
A ] warmly congrat lula ted him and. wee
after. with several ladies and comrade
% followed the happy pair to the altar.
u (Copyrighted. 1908, by The Foreign Stor
a Syndicate Co, Burlington, VT