CHAPTER XXIX. THE FIRE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 359, 13 April 1889, Page 4

CHAPTER XXIX. THE FIRE.

Gatjlehinc: up tlic whifcc skirts of hey frock Dulcio hastened cowards the house, followed by Mr Denver. Suddenly, there arose a shrill, frightened, quivering cry, that resounded, throughout every portion of the building and grounds ; whilst in another minute servants and guests hurried madly from the house, and came trooping on to the lawn, like a flock of bewildered sheep. 4 Here, you tool ! what's the matter ?' asked Mr Denver, sharply, of a fugitive domestic, flying as fast as his quaking limbs would carry him. ' Whats all this row abou b V ' Oh ! &ir,' came the breathless rejoinder, ' the old dining-room used for refreshments is on fire. One of the lights caught a curtain near the op6n window, and before you could even turn round the whole place was ablaze.' And, as if in verification of the man's words, long tongues of luminous flame began to shoot out fiom the windows, cutling themselves greedily round the painted woodwork-frames, creeping higher and higher, until— preceded by light rings of airy smoke — they at last reached the very roof. The room happened to bo an exceedingly ancient one, separated from the main portion of the house, and was rarely used, except on special occasions like the present Mr Denver, in the midst of his unreasoning anger, brought face to face wish such a disaster, stood like one paralysed. For fear kept him rooted to the spot ; and in the first precious moments, when he should have been ordering, assisting, and commanding, all his presence of mind seemed utterly to forsake him. Vital minutes slipped away without any definite measures being taken, while the hubbub and confusion momentarily increased. ' Send for the "NVitherly fire-brigade/ shouted out a voice in the crowd, and the suggestion was hailed as a veritable inspiration, and acted upon accordingly, for the small quantities of water now being dashed upon the rising flames by several amateur firemen produced no favourable results, seeming, indeed, but to stimulate their deadly activity. The old dining-room, as it was usually termed, belonged to a much more ancient period of architecture than the main body of the building, and its worm-eaten panels and iafter& burnt like so much tinder, and sent forth showers of ruddy sparks. A long corridor separated the apaitment from those immediately connected with it, whilst over this corridor were a couple of elantingroofed attics, occupied as servants' bedchambers. As matters now stood, the only chance of extinguishing the fire was to isolate it by means of the passage, and prevent its spreading to the newer portion of the tenement. Meantime the whole air was growing dark with suffocating particles flying about in every direction. Thick wreaths of heavy smoke obscured the entire atmosphere, and among them, ever and anon, gleamed a lurid flash, varying in shade from pale yellow to livid blue, which lit up the scene with a sombre bub majestic glory. Inside the burning room could be distinctly heard the sounds of crashing beam 3 and falling rafters, that left in their wake whole showers of fiory sparks, which hissed their way up through the headed air. The wind seemed literally to revel in this weird and powerful element, fanning it into still more dangerous activity. At the end of live short minutes it really appeared probable that the whole of that stately pile named Brabazon Hall would be burnt to the ground. Might not its owner, as he stood and gazed in mute despair at the work of destruction going on before his eyes, have considered, with .some just cause, that that Deity in whose name only a little while back he had sworn a wicked and an unhallowed oath had already commenced to dole out retribution, and to remind a rebellious subject of His power? Might not Mr Ponvor, in, those

critical moments, have askerl himself by what law he proposed forcing his attentions ] upon an unwilling girl, and dividing for ever and for aye two innocent and loving young people ? : But hark! _ What was that sudden and awful cry, rising high above the confused murmur of voices, the moaning wind, and crackling timbers ?— that sound whoso agonised accents pierced every hoart with mysterious horror ? It was a human soul; threatened by a cruelly painful death, imploring aid ; and there— yes, there— in ono of the two small topmost attics, stood a human form, wringing its poor hands in mortal agony, whilst the hot smoke curled round it in a poisonous embrace, stealing upwards and onwards, with its sulphurous, He-slaying kisses. lfe was a sight that sent a thrill of compassion quivering through every heart there present, mingled with a sickening sense of absolute inability to assist this unfortunalo follow creature. For who dare venture near that narrow old-fashioned staircase, up which the raven- | ous flames were already stealing, and where certain death seemed to await the brave but foolhardy rescuer ? Was it not better for one life to perish than two ? People looked at each other in speechless horror, but none stirred either hand or foot. 1 1 was madness to make the attempt. Then from out the crowd stopped a young man, tall, broad-shouldered, fair-haired, clear eyed, and on his face was that fixed and resoluteexpression which many a British hero's has worn ere now when leading; some forlorn but gallant hope, ' I cannot stand by and see her die,' he said, speaking in low, feteady accents: 'I will try and save the pooi creature. ' Bob, Bob !' cried a sweet feminine voice, rising shrill above the general clamour, 'don 1 ego, oh ! please don't go ! It is downright madness, and you will be killed to a certainty. 1 He turned, and for one second let hig brave eyes rest on the dear face he loved so well. Et shot through his brain that he might never see her again — that never again in his life might he ki?d those rosy lips, or press that girlish form to his heart— and at the thought a sudden film rose up and obscured his vision. 'Oh, Bob! darling Bob!' she pleaded, 4 don't go, but, 1 catching at his hand, ' stay with me instead.' > He put her from him very gently and tenderly, yet with an unalterable purpose. She read it in his eyes, in his firm-set lips and contracted brow. ' Dear one, 1 he said, hurriedly, ' if T did as you wished, and allowed that poor, suffering creature to die, without making any effort to save her, I do not think I could ever hold up my head again, "Naught never comes to harm." God will protect me and bring me back.' So saying, he imprinted a 1 iss npon her up-turned face, dashed a cloth into a bucket of water, wrung it hastily, bound tho damp texture round his head and throat, and vanished amidst the destruc-tion-seeking flames. Meanwhile, the poor helpless woman in her stifling attic had ceased to cry, or to appear at the window. Doubtless, Death had already done his work, and mercifully put an end to her tortures. At least, such was the general presumption. The minutes — seeming interminable - went by one after the other, and to every appearance Bob Mornington had sacrificed his own life in a noble but fruitless endeavoui'. 'He has perished,' said the crowd. 'No one could possibly exist in such an atmosphere.' But even as they spoke there arose a faint sound, growing more and mora audible, until, after a few moments of breathless suspense, a manly form, magnified by the dense smoke to twice its natural size, appeared, slowly but surely battliner his way through the llames. Bob Mornington had falsified their predictions, and now. amidst peal after peal of deafening cheers, with face almost unrecojrni&able, hair burnt, and eyelids singed, he returned, bearing in his arms the insensible form of a woman. Step by step, almost like a drunken man reeling and tottering, with dazed eyes and dimly conscious purpose, he came staggering on, on, on, until the flames and the smoke were left behind, and once moie he could feel the cool night-air playing round his heated brow. Hearty British hurrahs rent the air. To Dulcie he appeared like some superhuman divini'.y. Her eyes flashed with pride, and her Avhole heart went out towards him. Bub he, the hero of the hour, suddenly loosed tho poor woman ho had saved, and fell fainting to the ground. Throughout tho evening Dulcie's nerves had been in a state of perpetual tension, but when she saw Bob lying there looking as if he were dead, they broke down altogether. ' Oli, Bob !' she murmured, kneeling down on the damp earth by his &ide, and pressing his hand between her palms, ' how noble and brave you are ! Do speak to me. 1 The warm clasp recalled his wandering senses. His drooping eyelids quivered and opened languidly. 'Is that you, Dulcie?' he said, faintly. 1 What's the matter ? Where am I?' To hear him speak again, to know that he lived, was like passing through the gates of Heaven. Meanwhile, Mr Denver stood by, a prey to jealous rage. Bob's undoubted gallantry, instead of appealing to his better nature, only inspired envy and malice, and confirmed him in his intention of marrying Dulcie Shepperton. And once married he would make her pay for all thi3 fully, and bitterly regret her scornful conduct. She should be made to own that he was not a person to be flouted with impunity. Still he dared not face her again that evening, but slunk away, like the cowardly bully he was, until at length the Witherly Brigade succeeded in getting the fire under, and prevented it from inflicting any damage on the principal building.