El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-04
Ordeal By Fire
A short story.

[ GuLlIE4E u A4AAAbGA - Jul FH-N-- .
/ fierceness qIite uncomfortable
where's George?' suddenly de-
manded Mildred Of her mother, lady
Deane. "Selwynl SelwynF' she called
/ appealinglv to her fiancee-
a tan young man, wearing dressing
gown. emerged from the shadow OF the
night into the freight
Hasn't he-come out-yetE he
must be asleep in his room
Very firmly SelWyn Darlington led
/ the agOnized girl toward her mother,
/ stupefied condiuOn upon a low settee.
Come, lady Deane, look after your
: your son L will do"
7 As he entered the burning building
| the flames burst through the upper
/ windows, and caused the climbing Gle
mats to craCkle like fireworks
! Let me 60 mother! 1 can't lose both
one Of the maids attempted to re-
| strain her. but the impetuOus and 1ren-
/ zied girl had already reached the col
| story windows were now agloWs and
| the trees on each side OF the drive TOOK
/ upon themselves q weird, unearthly as
] pect. Far down among the shrubs sur
: rounding the Dutch garden the sur
J face Of the ornamental water gloWed
They're back. Thank Godi'
( The spontaneous reclamation came
I from the servants. now scattered about
! the lawn in terrified groups. Through
/ the shadow of the pOrticC could be
! seen the figure OF man supporting
Stand backI' commanded -selwyn
/ Darlington as he stunt led forward
/ forward across the scOrching grass
/ A moment later he collapsed with
! the sWOOninR form Of Mildred IN his
] arms. as with deafenlng CRASH the
roof fell In
On the following evening Selwyn
! Darlington was writing IN MS oacne-or
/ apartments. His valet entered with
SHOW the lady in at -oncer
/ SelWTn hastily placed some papers
| in the drawer of his desk When clad
| entirely ii black Mildred entered her
/ lover was appalled, at the change
I single night could work upon Won
I an. Her carriage was erect as ever
I and nothing could destroy Ine pefLecL
| symmetry Of her 1eatures YET IN nef
! ewes SeIWyn detected violet shadows
[ such as mental anguish alone could
Ever since last night I have been
! torn between two emotions, equally
hateful to me- Ihe Ilrsl IS srleL s s5l
: here her lips parted and trembled-
[ that I should have given my love TO a
The word stune selwyn like the cut
/ Of a whip. He controlled himself with
! difficulty.
! Go orr he said .
AIldred's dark eyes flashed eontemp-
/ tuOusly as she continued nOlQ1ns out
M first anxiety is to rid myself
| OF such an OdiOus reminder OF my
my mistake"
/ word, placed il In the desk drawer WIZ
his papers In a voice trembling with
I emotion, Mildred went on
| I could nave IOrSlESn you ~ =
] if YOU had only tried on, why old 1
I follow you into the houseE Have you
no explanation to offer 60,
/ Let US be explicit" said SelWyn-
! You came into the hall after me- and,
| instead OF seeing me upstairs endeaT-
4 urine brother. VOW ell,
1 YOU found me skulking in the shadow,
Just in time to prevent you from rusn-
7 Strangely enough. although con
Z frOnted with positive evidence OF her
s lovers cOwardice. Mildred could not
I bring herself to believe It II was an
/ so contrary to Selwyn'S nature Al
though admittedly or a duettanIe as
position, he was by no means 1Laooy
/ and weak. She could recall many little
incidents when his behavior was alto
/ gether irrecOncilable with his coward
Ice OF the previous night Mentally
she compared him with. her DrOIneE
| George. a totally different character
| George had never thought above
horse and dogs. still. he had been no
coward 1t had come to her ears that
in the old days SelWyn had Irequett
I given him assistance IN moments Of
4 knock at the door interrupted her
SEWN excused himself. and prom
ised to return within a few minutes.
Left alone Mildred experienced a re-
D vulsiOn of emotion She did care Tor
( Selwyn-in spite Of every thing! Why
did ne not speak-Offer her some eX-
planatiOn2 His silence angered her.
/ She reprOached herself bitterly for low
Z ing a coward In the heat OF her pride
she had enclosed brief, singing note
with the returned engagement rms
/ Somehow she wished now that she had
( left il out Her eyes lighted upon the
writing desk She had observed nlm
not remove the note from the packetE
: If ne returned. she could explain
q
] picked up the little box. her attention
J was arrested by the heading Of let
4 ter. 1t was addressed to -CI1lston, Dale
! Immediately underneath she read
! Re George Villiere Deane. De-
What had seIwyn to do with her
/ brothers private affairs- she askel
the prOprlety OF the action. she read on;
! The news OF my friends death VIII
/ doubtless nave already reaeneo you !
sion agents, have an account aSalnst
Z him for some $4,000 kindly inform
! amount. and that they must not accept
even per check Of the deceased.
9Seiwyn' Darlington"
/ Her interest thoroughly aroused
! Mildred lifted up. the paper and reaa
| er's handwriting. 1t ran:
| Dear Old Selwyn=-Explain as best
sent check for S6S,OOO in payment Q!
racing debts Tomorrow they viii rms
me out I haven't a penny in the bank
I Make 1T as easy as you can for ma
| Goodbye George
When. a few moments later. Selwyu
| returned, he found Mildred lying bacA
in a chair unconscious. Clasped ugnl-
! ly between her fingers was her Drotn<
I er last letter. Gradually she came -
| You found him-after the explosion
] -dead?" You knew he was dead pc
{ fore YOU. returned to the blazing
| hOuse2''
/ SelWyn nodded
| The explosion we heard was pls-
4 tOl shot and the pistol shot was lht
cause OF the fire2'
Mildred Strengthened herself and
I stood erect She no longer sobDe6- Eie5
/ words were perfectly articulated ahs
/ "Selwyn. II YOU can ever forgive ma
/ I will try to be worthy Of your 4ots
/ Dearest. in my heart OF hearts, / neNeii
| doubted YOU. I was unnerVeo. SeiWy ~
He took the frail form Of the Won
/ an he loved in mis- arms, Her nsSe
| dropped upon his shoulder ana sA'
| sObbed bitterly.
| BOMB. WRAPPED IN PACKAGE,