The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-08-29

surely, he will follow me to the grave.
Think you there can be two wives in the
grave? No-no-no-one-on
only one"
Frances dropped her head into the lap
of her sister. and wept in agony.
do you shed tears, sweet angel?' con-
tinued Sarah, soothingly; then heaven
is not exempt from grief. But where is
Henry? He was executed, and he must
be here too: perhaps they will come to-
gether. Oh. how joyful will be the meet
ing.'
Frances sprang on her feet and paced
the apartment. The eye of Sarah follow
ed her in childish admiration OF her
beauty.
"You look like ny sister: but all gooo
and loTely spirits are alike. Tell me,
were you ever married? Did you ever
let a stranger steal your affections from
father, and brother, and sister? If not,
poor wretch. l pity you, although you
may be in heaven"
"Sarah-peace. peace-I implore you
to be silent" shrieked Frances, rushing 10
her bed, ''or you will kill me at your
feet"
Another dreadful crash shook the build
ing to its center. 1t was the falling of
the roof, and the flames threw their light
abroad, so as to make objects visible
around tine cottage, through the windows
of the room Frances few to one OF
them. and saw the confused group that
was collected on the lawn. Among them
were her aunt and Isabella. pointing with
distraction to the fiery edifice. and appar-
emily urging the dragons to enter it, For
the first time she comprehended their
danger; and uttering wild shrek, she
few through the passage, without con-
sideration or object.
A dense and suffocating column OF
smoke opposed her progress. She paused
to breathe, wh.u a man caught her in
his arms and boie her, in state of insen-
sibiliry. through the falling embers. The
instant that Frlnces recovered her recol-
lection, she Per ceiyed that she owed her
life to Lawton, and throwing herself on
her knees. she cried:
Sarah, Sarah. Sarah. Save my sis
ter, and may the blessing of God await
you"
By this time the flames had dispersed
much of the suffocating vapor, so that the
trooper was able to find the door, and
in its very entrance he was met by a
man supporting the insensible Sarah.
There was but barely time to reach the
lawn again before the fire broke through
the windows and wrapped the whole build
ing in q sheet of flame.
"God be praised." calculated the pre-
server of Sarah; lit would have been a
dreadful death to die"
The trooper turned from gazing at the
edifice to the speaker, and to his aston
.shSent. instead of one of his own men,
he beheld the peddler.
'.Ha. the spy" he exclaimed; "by
heavens, you cross me like r spectre"
Captain Lawton," sail Birch. lean
ing in momentary exhaust on against the
fence. II am again in your power, for L
AN neither flee nor resist
1.-The cause of America Is dear to me
Is life." said the trooper; but she cannot
require her children to forget gratitude
and honor. Fly, unhappy man, while yet
you are unseen, or it will exceed my pow
er TO save you
MAY God prosper you. and make you
victorious over your enemies" said B1ch,
rrasping the hand of the dragoon with
an iron strength that his meager figure
did not indicate"
.HoId," said Lawton: ''but a word
are you what you seem?-can you-are
you"
"A royal spy" interrupted Birch, avert
ing his face, and endeayoring to release
his hand.
Then go, miserable wretch said the
trooper, relinquishing his grasp; "either
avarice or delusion has led noble heart
astrayr'
The bright light from the flames reach
ed a great distance around the ruins, but
the words were hardly past the lips Of
Lawton before the gaunt form of the ped
dler had glided over the visible space and
plunged into the darkness beyond.