Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-03-27
CHAPTER XVII

Vial \ AAlN ~ A.
Constable rested and reflected In the
cistern- 1t did not occur to him, save in
the most ilimsy and passing way, to doubt
the efficacy of the distance in the case of
Lara. She was safe, eight miles at sea,
and watched over by Macready, whom he
had learned thoroughly to trust. Here
was gladness immoyable. Second, for the
present and to all intents, his own life
had been spared. This was not so impor-
tant in itself, but was exceedingly vital
in consideration of the third point-that
she loved him, and had said 80. His first
worry was that Lara might be thinking
him dead.
The aspect of Constable's mind being
touched upon, ii may be well to outline
the state OF affairs as third party
would see 1t. In the first place, there
was a woman in his arms, a woman whom
the fire had touched and in whom con-
seriousness was not; the mother Of the
worlds matchess girl. Then he was sit
ting upon a Shiny stone in subterranean
cell, the floor of which was covered with
six inches of almost scaldins water. and
the vault filled with steam. The volcanic
discharge, showering down through the
mouth of the pit, had heated the water
and released the vapor. An earthquake
years before had loosened the stone walls
of the cavern, and with every shudder of
the earth, under the wrath of Pelee. the
masonry lining the cistern tottered. Then.
his hand had been torn during the descent
Of the chain, and the terrific heat in the
we'll livened bis burns to exquisite pain
f..f~ has tad fhaoa
were mere cutice disorders, and the heart
of the man sang again and again its tune
full story.
Pelee was giving vent to the after
pangs. Torrents of rain were descend
ing. The man in the cistern had lost
track Of time. Though replenished with
rain, the water was still too hot to step
in; therefore, he could not change his
position and relieve the tension Of his
arms. Still. he felt that he owed an as
tonishing debt to the old cistern. No sud
den impulse had brought him there. Since
he had discovered the place in his nights
vigil. and examined 1t more closely the
following day. the idea had become fixed
in his mind that 1t might be used at the
last minute.
The women sighed now and stirred In
his arms. The first gripping realization
took his mind. He waited in embarrass
ment for her TO speak Would the fact
that he had saved her life stand as ex-
tenuation for his rough treatment2 Con.
stable was by no means sure that he was
not about to hear her estimate of him
on the old footing. with the rage of 9
manhandled woman sdded-the whole a
finished document delivered with Mrs
stansbury's art and force. But she die
not yet awake.
His brain worked rapidly now. Sh,
had lain upon his shoulder during the de
scent. Liyid dust had fallen through tn,
orihce. His burns were slight.
His eyes strained into her face. but th'
cistern was dark. dark. The fire hat
touched her hair-he knew that. He
bare arm brushed his cheek, and his who'll
being crswled with fear L
seemed that hours elapsed. Where ha'
| Uncle joey been at the lastf Did Pele
tolerate any favorites? Breen. Soronia
Pere Rabeaut, Mondet. the ships In tn
| inner harbor, the thirty thousand of Sain
Pierre-were they all wrecked In the mill
of the world? But the Madam
was eight miles at sea Pelee had waite'
for the woman. His heart of hearts he'll
this Joy.
The breath OF life was returning to hi
burden. She sighed once more. and then
full pityingly, he felt her vince with tn
pain which consciousness brought.
"What Is this dripping darkness?" b
heard at last. The words were slowl
uttered. and the tones vague L
a great dark room somewhere. in pas
life, perhaps, Constable had heard sue
voice from some one lying In the shad
ows.
I'VE are In the old cistern--you and
Peter Constable" His tones beca ms gla
as be added. But your daughter Is SAT
at sea !"
did you forget somsthing. or did Lar
send you for her parasolf'
IT came for you-came to tell you ho'
much we needed you-how much we feai
! ed for your life, and to ask you on<
more"
: "What-an-extraordi - youth
she murmnred. "Was-there-sver-s
! -darkness-as-thisT
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