Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-12-14

n. ~
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soft dusk, the peace, the faint sug-
gestion Of incense, the lighted candles
in honor of the Christmas season
on the altar, and dotted about among
the quaint little oriental figures Of
the "crib," or "prescipio." all seemed
unreal, a mirage Of peace In the pres
ence Of great danger. The rushing
noise, like an advancing tidal wave.
grew louder. From the doorway
through which he had Just come Belle
yer could see what was happening.
He saw a huge flying boulder strike
the roof Of the hotel, crush it In, and
break away the wall beneath, as II
the solid, ancient structure, which had
w%eathered the storms Of 300 years,
had been a house Of cards, set up by
the hands of a child.
For a moment he believed that the
whole building would go, and the girl
he loved with 1t. But he heard the
thunder of the landslide as 1t swept
down to the sea, engulfing the Santa
Caterina as it went and throwing q
towering wall of water that rushed
in Upon the beach. Then a great ST.
lence fell, broken only by the far
away shouting of human voices
sounding strangely small and feeble
after natures savage uproar. Moth
ing more happened. They we're saved.
Lesley had chung to him speeches.,
almost breathless, and Believer had
clasped her tightly, hardly knowing
how tightly. But now he gently re-
leased her. AS he did SO. she fell
away from him, half fainting, and he
caught her again. with his arm
round her waist.
For heavens sake, tell me that
you're not hurt-that no stone struck
you as we came" he stammered.
mo-" she whispered, for all
strength was gone from her. and she
could not speak aloud. "No-but you
there's a streak Of blood on your
forehead. oh, how can l ever forgive
myself? Yon might have been killed,
1t was all-all my fault. | was q
wretch. You ought to have gone and
left me-"
I'D rather have been killed than dc
that" said Believer. He had forgot
i ten to let her go. She had forgotten
to draw herself away, and so they
still stood together, these two enc
mics, she leaning slightly against
him, he with his arm round her waist
"Oh, why do you say that?" she
faltered. II was SO obstinate-so
wicked. l deserved anything. l won
der you cared"
"But, you see, l loved you," said
Believer, quite simply. IF the end
had to come I wanted it to come fol
me, too" 1t did not seem in the least
strange that he should be telling hel
this, though she had never seen hin
until yesterday and had refused Il
speak to him this morning. They hat
known each other always, now, ant
they could never go back to being
strangers again.
She did not answer, or even appeaI
surprised; but, when her eyes left hi
they wandered all about the chapel
thinking how beautiful it looked ant
how sacred it seemed and how goot
it was to be there.
81 hope" she hassp: but what sh'
hoped Believer was not to know, TO
a pale appeared at the doc
leading into the chapel from the he
tel opposite the entrance from tn,
cloisters, and, at the sight Of the tw'
figures standing together In the Jew
eled twilight broke into sobs.
"Lesley-thank heaven!" she ejacu
lated. 1--WE searched everywhere 70
YOU. They tried to keep me from com
ing back to the house, but / would.
Lesley ran to her mother. III
saved my life" she said.
The elder woman held out both he
hands to him.
, How can l thank your" she cried
! "By forgiving me-if you will" H
spoke to her, but he looked at Lesley
we start newly from this me
D ment," said the girl. Her eyes wer
wonderfully soft and sweet In tn
D chapel's dusk. jeweled by the candl
lights.
( "Come away quickly" implored he
: mother. who knows yet If it Is SAT
!, !even here? 1t has all been so SUI
den, so horrible. I saw everythin
from the terrace-the peasants fal
ing over the cliff from above. the fsl
Q ing boats crushed-oh, ! shall dreai
t Of it always. Signore Vozzi say
/ even il all is well after this. ever
/ one must leave the hotel as soon q
we can get our things together. D
come!"
3 She turned toward the door agaii
drawing Lesley with her. Believer fc
d lowed and at the door Lesley turne
back. He hardly dared to beliey
L that he had lead Alright what her eye
Q said.