The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-09-24
MANS GREATEST LOVE
sy ARTHUR W. BEER.

A. he ned along the bleak highway
the one awful thought that possessed
him was the utter hopelessness of the
situation into which he had been so
abruptly plunged.
He had not meant to kill him. All.
no! such q thought had never found
lodgmsnt in his brain for an instant.
Why should he harm the father Of the
woman he loved?
He had gone more to plead his cause
with the old man. Words had passed
between them, and the old man. in
senile rage, had attacked him. Even
then he had not meant to show re-
sistance. His sole thought was to
quiet the old man. But as he had
struggled with him with that end In
view they had slipped on the polished
surface OF the oaken floor of the IL
brary, and in falling the old mans
head had struck against the iron
bound corner Of massive ancient
chest, and he had lain still.
Presently. in the deep gloom of his
inner being a spark Of hope glowered.
What II the old man were not really
deadf True. he had thought to make
sure, hut he should not have given up
10 soon. At any rate, he should have
faced the situation manfully; should
have aroused old Sarah. the sole do
nestle Of the old widower's big house;
and Clarice-noi he never could have
told Clsrice.
He began to retrace his steps fe-
verishly. What a distance he had
travelled in his insane flight! Suppose
that he found the household aroused
upon his return?
Az at length he neared the house.
he perceived that the lowered win
dows were lighted up.
But surely that fitful. naring light
was no ordinary Illumination? He
suddenly recalled that in his struggle
with the old man the burning logs of
the great open fire in the library had
been scattered. He had afterward
thrown them back. but some stray
Goals must have remained behind and
now on fire!
He rushed forward: but he might
- we'll have hurled himself against
rock as against that massive front
door; and as for the lower windows,
they were heavily crossed with iron
bars.
And Clarice? Clarice was no doubt
sleeping calmly enough upstairs. He
knew her window.
He dashed madly in the direction OF
the barn, where he remembered to
have seen Q ladder only the other day.
Presently he returned, dragging its
weight after him. and raised It to the
uppse window.
He Ooke the glass with hts bare
hands, unmindful of the wounds 1t
caused him, and, raising the sash. en-
te:e ed the apartment.
"Clarice!" he called. The house Is
anre; come quickly"
He ran to the head Of the stairs.
The lower portion Of the house was all
afame.
He gathered her yielding body in his
arms and hurried to the window.
But where il father? oh. you must
save him!" she gasped.
81 will. darling" he said. shudder-
lug luNOluutdIly.
He gazed below. Neighbors, at
tracted by the glare. had commenced
to assemble. One man was already
halfway up tho ladder.
He passed her fainting form to the
man on the ladder and rushed back
to arouse old Sarah and direct her to
the means of escape
Then he began to make his way to
the hell Of fire below.
It was then that the great tempta-
ton came to him. Why should he risk
his life for a dead man? Already he
had done all that could reasonably be
required of him, and the IRE would
soon obliterate the traces OF that
dread mishap.
But, NO! he could not live with that
stain upon his soul. He could not
bear the plaudits Of the crowd. nor
her proud words Of praise for his he
roism, with the knowledge of the true
state of affairs gnawing at his heart
He fought his way to the library
and dragged out the singed body OF
his late adversary. Through the hall
and to the doorway he struggled with
his burden, but the smoke and flames
oyercame him, and he sank down just
within the portal.
Meanwhile, from the outside they
were battering down the door with
oxaa and presentlv they rushed in