Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-11-23
CHAPTER XXX.-lContlnued.l


falling around her pallid. worn face
The tears roll down her cheeks, at in
Gervals, in large. heavy drops. She is
Weeping over the ashes OF love. over
wrecked hopes. and lost life. Heavily
over her broods the spirit of the night,
gsoding of death.
As the night advances, the clouds
have it all their own way, yelling the
sky with profound darkness and the
winds WA tcrcer. The air is filled with
the alternate shrieks. and sobs Of terri
lisd nature There is heavy rain, with
which the monster sports. dashing II. and
whiriing it, and scattering it IN gusts
and eddJs6. and masses.
Heavy footsteps upon the carriage
drive but the tempest absorbs every
sound into itself Over the gravel,
Which stands out Lightly from the black
ness that encompasses it. moves
4aFwe, dark numbering object 1t IS
man. bearing another seemingly sense
less, upon his back Slowly. staggering
-spa swayinC at times under ee weight
aEa the wind, he advances to the hall
foar. There be lays down his burden,
and seems to ponder for a moment Then
he walks cautiously round the house,
boskisg MP AT all ihc windows. There
is a faint light ia two, but seemingly
emitted only by night tapers. All seem
90 bee sleeping.
He cautiously tries the windows upon
DIE ground floor All were securely fast
ersed- Ia a corner OF the building there
was a smaller window, like that Of
pastry. With his diamond ring he cut
osat one Of the panes Of glass, put his
arm through the cavity and with some
difficulty succeeded in reaching the fast
sning that secured the sash. He raised
z1e window and ept through. He took
a lantern and s,me matches from his
rocket and struct a light
II WAS not pantry he was in, bur a
small bedroom Passing out at the door,
Ne found himself in the servants Offices.
He took off his boots and crept aose
lessly along the passage, until he reached
The corridor. He halted at Silas Cars
tons door and listened with his ear
~ the keyhole All seemed quiet.
Ife assembled the stairs As he reach
e'l the FIRST corridor he became sensible
* a strong, punGent odor and a misti
Rgss in the air like smoke He looked
about him for some cause and crept fur
EheE along the corridor. Beneath the
dcOr, and through the keyhole OF one
I'd Of the rooms. shone red glow
Great heavens. had accident anticipat-
Cd his Intention? Was this FIRE? He
sErned the L~ndle Of the door--it was
net locked. His doubts were solved in
an instant. A body Of hot, binding
smoke rushed into his face. nearly over
gawering him. The room vas in flames,
Hanging across the arm Of chair was
the body of a man. either dead or in
sensible. Lost and awe-stricAau. Rod
xeIi stood helpless and transfxed, gaz-
5ng upon the awful sight,
At that moment Judith. hurryiug out
OF her room. appeared UPON the scene.
Niles away. a carriage containing an
-Sld gentleman is speeding furiously along
the Essex road. Upon the box are two
policemen
Cfn through the pelting rain and the
rushing wind beneath the shadows OF
overhanEing trees and along the open
rOad. the soaked blinded driver scarce
ly able to see yard before him. galIops
she horses.
Look. look" cries a policeman, sud
denly pointing ahead.
There is a glare rising mp in the black
ska wavering, red glare. that bright
Ems and fades, fades and brightens.
sJEne old gentleman within, who. spite
% the storm. is continually putting his
seaa our Of the window to So what
progress is being made, sees it. tco.
Faster faster, for heavens s'ke' he
cries DO you not see that fire? il
must be the Manor House; there is no
other house near
eeShat is that dark object advancing
SO swiftly towards them? A horse. gal
ssgpinE fHriously, darts past Ike an ar
INV. and is lest IA the darkness.
What Is taat| cries the oiG gentle
man, looking out OF the window again
1lnt only the wind hears his voice
The glare lE the sky grows stronger.
esearer lip rise showers Of sparks. and
rtB rolls the red smoke. and faster and
Eazeer speed the horses. until they seem
running race with the wind. match
sng themselves against the tempest
Judith and Rodwen face one another
but only for an instant With II cry
II agony she PUSHES towards her faith
NJ The FIRE surrounds him now. screen
sax him from all human help. The flames
tfd smoke drive her back with their
scsrching breath With wild fury. She
surns upon RodwcII Recovered from
avs momeutary panic. he is flying; hat
AS be reaches the head Of the stairs, She
q upon him. with the grip Of n tieress.
and calling wildly for help.
de struggles dereely. twines his fin
.crS in her long hair and with the
other hand rains heavy blows upon her
read and face. but still she holds on
lever eeasing her wild cries for help.
sTbs- CRIES begin TO mingle with h..
sre the sounds of batterng at doA
The prisoners are aroused 70 a sense of
heir danger. as well as the servants be.
snw. lie will be detected, after ALL and
gfrouga ta.s wild est Of woman. sud
-aenay there is DUH thud-her voice is
siIenced-Ae has hurled her over the
Jslustcrs
Down the stairs ne springs. In the
sail he meets the two terrified servants
aa their night dresses. who scream and
ruE back Quick as lightning lac shoots
sack the pOr ferrous bolts Of the door.
sand the mex Il omcnt is flying along the
ETaveled drive. through the iron gates
aad out into the highway. where he has
left his horse, tied To "A tree. One bound
and h. Is ia the saddle. harefootcd and
aareEeIdcd- one look belinda rcd
glare IS shining through the Window
and away b" dashes through the dark
ness, and the rain. and the bowling wind.
On, on. over the open common. where
she tempest RACES in mrcsisted fury
then under the >waying groaniug tees,