The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-31

| Ddyre WAS uall d ueau SAo4 4tei e1As'n ~
his companion. An Unmatched pair
physically, any one would have said
| off-hand. But those who knew the cir
| cumstances might have judged differ
emily. For in rank Dayre would take
| rank 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 Mouutjoy spoke
word for the next few minutes,
which seemed like an eternity to one
Of them at any rate. Gerald felt per
fectly certain that what he loved mos:
in the world was slipping from hia
grasp, and his fate was being decided
while the band rested from its laborS,
and the gay assemblage prepared it"
self for the next item in the pro-
gramme.
There seems something specially in
congruous in blank despair gripping
the heart under such conditions. The
brilliancy Of the lights, the beautiful!
dresses and conspicuous uniforms all
seemed to mock the gnawing pain at
Geralds heart.
Bertha Reeve and Lord Dayre passed
the alcove. AS they did so these words
fell, softly as they were spoken, on
two pairs Of ears: Il hardly know
what to say; it is all so unexpected.
You do not wish me to decide to-
nights"
May I come for my answer to-.
morrow"
Then the speakers passed out of
hearing Of those involuntary listen
erS.
II cannot stay here" Mountjoy said,
in a horse whisper, very unlike his
usual tones. The air of the place
chokes Inc. I shall get away without
any fuss. They won't miss me. If
they do, make some excuse to Sir Har-
ry and Lady Gayter. Say I was tax
en- bad, or something"
With a squeeze Of the hand Gerald
slipped out Of the alcove. Mechani-
cally he found his coast and hat, and
then went out at the hall door. He was
glad that the stables were likely to be
deserted. He had not brought a
groom himself. In his present state
Of mind he hated to have to make
even trivial explanations and excuses.
With some difficulty he managed 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
stables when he heard great shout
ing from the direction Of the castle.
He let 90 his mares bride; she gal
loped out of the yard and disappeared.
Mountjoy slnelt burning wood. He
ran toward the entrance of the court
ward. 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 tinder, centuries old, with 4 great
staircase of similar material in the
centre, the castle was just adapted for
rapid conflagration.
AS it turned out afterward, when
investigation into the cause Of the out
break was made. the fire originated
with the overturning Of a lamp in
the buffers pantry.
Gerald rushed to the main entrance.
before which q crowG Of guests were
standing. They all seemed paralyzed
with fear. The young man brushed
them to one side. He could see Bertha
Reeve nowhere. She must be in the
burning building still. And there was
Ingold, too, the man he loved best in
the world.
Gerald dashed into the hall, meeting
overwhelming smoke. He was chok-
ing. and his eyes were snarting and
red hot. 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
shoulder, and he was half dragged,
half led, out. 1t was the parson,
whose courage was of that order which
rises calm and resolute to the greatest
emergency.
The men, under Ingold's direction,
were bringing up long ladders.
Up and down they went in relays,
bringing in their arms fainting wo-
men. The gentlemen above either
helped by handing insensible burdens
to the rescuers, 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