Year: 1876

deafenng crash, then peal after peal OF
thunder, which seemed TO shake the old
house to its very foundations. and to shiv-
er and ybrate through its every inch of
mortar aud stone.


Alice buried her head among the bed
| clothes, and lay qLaking with fear and half
benumbed BY the shock. When she at last
ventured to uncover her head, and look
out from her retreat, the room was all
aglow, every object in 1t as plainly seen as
at noouday. lt could not be the lightning.
tor 1t remained. steady and uninterrupted,
each moment growing brighter and bright.
er. Jumping from her bed, she rushed TO
the window, and saw sight which chain
ed her TO the spot. forgetful of everything
but what was before her.


The barn was In flames.


The lightning had struck IL aud set fire
to It's contents. Tons upon tons OF bay
were burning fiercely. Their dry masses
kindled into huge red mountain of roar
ing. leaplng flames, shone luridly upon the
black SKY. and glared over the country for
miles around.


In the weird. fitful beauty of the scene
Alice was tor the time totally unmIndfu
that 1t was o: any direct, personal interest
TO her; but when ,it suddenly occurred to
her what ii was, she flew TO her fathers
room, half wild with excitement and de-
light.


Mr. Deans room was on the opposite
side of the house, and he had see no signs
OF the fire. Being sound sleeper, the
thunder had only partially disturbed him.
so that he was no more than half awake
when Alice cane bouncing to his bedside.
exclsiming' -


"Oh, papa, papa the barn Is burning;
but | didn't do it. You see | was right
sh f..r l. ,atro
fair into his own hands. aud saved me the
trouble"


Alice, are you crazyi" said Mr.. Dean.
as by the dim light OF the night lamp he
saw her whirling about the room. perform
ing rapturous pas ssul and looking in her
long white gown, like very frisky goat.
She had no little trouble In convincing her
father that She was in her right mind, aud
Inducing him TO follow her. as she hurried
back 70 her post by the window, to watch
the remainder Of the brilliant spectacle.


There was no more sleep that night tor
the family In the stone house aud when
morniu. broke, cloudless and beautiful
after the storm, ther. lay the untaGnished
landscape spread out before them in all
its old, familiar beauty, and Marshall's
barn heap OF ruins at their feet


For one short week Mr. Dean and his
daughter rejoiced over this unlocked for
delIverance. They blessed the storm. and
congratulated themselves morning noon
and nghtsas they gazed upon the unbroken
prospect, which, had never seemed half so
charming before. Then there began to be
a stir among the few Charred and blacken-
ed timbers which the fire has spared-fresh
ones were deposited beside them, load al
ter load OF building materials arrived. and,
TO their utter dismay, they learned that the
barn was to be rebuilt. Mr. Dean remon-
s.rated TO no purpose, and friendly neigh
bors vainly tried their persuasions on the
obstinate old man. Young Marshall who
was deeply mortified and grieved at his
fathers course. eXerted all the eloquence
which he possessed to prevent the carry
iug out OF this malicious design; but the
oaly reply which he received was, "See
here, my boy, you come and 90 as you
choose, and interfere, with none OF your
plans. You act your pleasure, aud shall
act mine"


80 Tue work went on with all possible
speed, and raising day was at hand \
crowd had gathered as was usual oh such
occasions in the country. The huge frame
was being slowly holsted TO its place, with
loud shouts and cheers aud heave-a-hoys,
when some part OF the structure suddenly
gave way, and timber after timber came
hetIOlth- " bbt W. VI lliltt tltH
received ugly knocks and hard bruises.
but all escaped without serious injury, with
one exception. John Marshall lay upon
the ground under heavy timber, with a
broken arm, aud stream of blood flowing
from Il wound In his head, cut by a sharp
stone, upon which he had struck In falling.


He was taken up insensible. aud laid
upon the grass; water was dashed in his
face 10 revive him, and his head bound up
IN handkerchleis TO stop the flow oil blood
a doctor, who was quickly brought to the
spot, sewed up the wound and bandaged
the disabled arm.


"What is To be done with him?" he ask
ed, with grave face, Us he concluded the
operation. TO move him any distance in
his present condition would surely prove
fatal.


Bring him into my house. and we will
do the best we can for him" said Mr.
Dean, who had come out on he airing of the
accident.


So the unconscious man was carried Ia
aud placed upon bed; aud there he Law
for many long day, PROSTATE and helpless
in the house OF him whom she had hated
and injured. His son had been sent for,
bat the messenger was long in finding him.
When he arrived the crowd had dispersed
aud Mr.. Dean was standin. BY the bedside
OF bis father, while Alice was bathing the
invalid's head, and striving to keep it cool
with applications OF ice.


MIR. Dean - said the young man, after
/ gazing silently for some minutes, at his
1 father, who was still in a state of stupo-,
Il should in any case be extremely sorry
| for such an intrusion as this; but, under
| the circumstances, | feel that it is truly
objectionable. will have my poor father
,s..It - ,s
You must not think of such a thing"
Mr.. Dean replied. warmly. The doctor
has expressly forbidden it. You must
take care of your father here. and in doing
SO trust that you will ispare yourself all
uneasiness as to intrusion. Make yourself
as comfortable as you can, and allow us
to render you any assistance in our pow
err


Good Heavens! Are we TO thrust our
selves upon you in this way after all that
has happened?" exclaimed young Mar
shall, halt beside himself with anxiety for
his fathers safety, and Daortification at
the embarrassing position in which he
found himself Il beg pardon, sir; but
your generosity makes Ale feel more pain
fully than ever that all claim to it mas been
| forfeited. | can only assure you that even
you yourself cannot have regretted the
cause Of this trouble more than have
done"


II believe you." said Mr.. Deane cordial
ly, much affected by this impulsive express
sion OF feeling. lie extended his hand,
which Marshall received gratefully, while
Alice. who had melted at the first signal
OF distress, wished from the bottom OF he r
heart that she had treated the young man
with more consideration. Her blue eyes
were swimming when he said to her.


"Pray let ne relieve you. Miss Dean. |
fear you have tired yourself already"


Weeks had passed before John Marshall
became fully conscious of his situation.
Fever set in. and he grew delirious; aud
when at last the delirium passed away, he


fell into stupor, which seemed almost
more hopeless than his former state. He
had been lying for a long time with scarce


ly sigh Of lite about him, except the fee


BILE duttering Of his pulse, when his son,


who had watched over him night and day.


saw him slowly open his eyes, and gaze,


with a look oil faint wonder. about the


room. He was then too weak to speak :


but when days had elapsed. aud he had
| ha ekad mo