KILDEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 254, 29 October 1887, Page 6

KILDEE.

Or, The SpMas ef the Red House.

BY MAY E. BBS AN,

Author of " The Bayou Bride," " The

Fugitive Bride," &c.

CHAPTER XU

m r Tr-irion and the subsequent Tub rescue of Kilrleo ana w« 1 tragedy had been witnessed by comparativdyfew. They had taken pboo m the alley at the back of the Boost, and to crowd were in front of the buildup They were there absorbed in shoeing, staring, and making confeed efforts to meh the third story room in which ib was known that a human being, * yo«ng prl-the prospective bride of the mayor-was being suffocated, roasted alive. The minutes that had elapsed since HeatLnff bore Honor from the' burning WsT seemed hours to him, so much suspense, W and futile action had been "SSSffISS*, and with sprained instS-the result of hifl leap from the burnn7 Sato-he had yet worked with des- ° rl **rr\T Rut the confusion of the Sd rdfthem ltnsele,s. He Ld dis, pSedrnessenger after messenger to bring the fire engines and their life-saving hook ad ladder accompaniment; he hwTmade Seated efforts to reach the already burnnTwnidows of No. 27, while he shouted Kildee's name above the noiso of the fare and the babel of voices. When at length (after momenta which seemed an eternity) a fire;°W%*?! *WO2 by a hook and ladder truck, dashed through the shouting crowd, the window's of the third story were all ablaze. I lames seemed to till that room to Which ail eyes were directed. No face had appeared at the window; a single stifled scream had been heard; after that all was still. \t once the engines began to play upon the windows of No. 27. Almost at the same instant the long-threatened ram, which the wind had held in check—descended in torrents. The floods from the clouds and the streams from the enginepipes operated to subdue the fire. While it «till nigod, a ladder had been adjusted to one of the windows of the third-story apartment, and nimble firemen had ascended and made their way into the room. They found the bed in a blaze; on the floor beside ib lay a woman's form enveloped in flames. A water-saturated blanket was thrown around tho body and it was borne down to the street. There, in the strong glare, the blanket was partially unfolded. A. horrible sight was disclosed : a blackfined, half-consumed body, the clothing destroyed, and hair burned, tho face raw, literally roasted, features partly gone, unrecognisable. But in one clinched hand was clasped a watch with a chain attached. Heathcliff knew the jewel-studded watch, ■which was also a case for his mothers picture. He had given it to Kildee only tho evening before. She had worn it for the first time at the theatre last night. He groaned and covered his face. He had not heeded this confirmation. He knew before that this ghastly object found by the bed of Nell Barnes could be no other than the remains of the beautiful, «pirituelle girl who was to haw been his bride in the morning whose dawn was now at hand. None but Kiidee had known of the exfactory girl's presence in Nell Barnes's "dark room." She was nearly the me and shape of Kildee ■; no one doubted that this was the corpse of the little nurse who had been well loved in Factory Row. The watch held in the crisped fingers was itself sufficiehfr'proof: I ! Thab watched remained in the grasp of the convulsed, suffocating Madge, when Carleon had torn luldee from her. . News of tho rescue of a woman irom the back part of tho house had flashed through the crowd, but little inquiry was Mad© coacernino- the woman. She wad ft factory hand, her family had taken her away, bo much was told, but further interest m the rescue was lost in horror at C&rledn s fate, and at the close-pressing horror of the doom that had overtaken the favourite of Factory ftow on her bridal-day.

CHAPTER XLII. Immediately on receiving Kildee in his arms, Max bofe her down the stairs from thereof of the old building, which, though now a sfcore-house, had been long ago an eleganb private mansion. From this roof in those days came, on moonlit or starry nightß, the Silvery tinkle of guitars and the sweet laughter of the daughters of Dr. Castally, sitting there or promenading with their lovers.

On reaching the street, Max was fortunate enough to find a hack, into which he at once put Kildee, who had partially revived in the fresher ah', and placing himfielf by her side, directed the man to drive fco the Marshall House. . i Before the hotel was reached, Kildee had recovered and was able to Walk to Lottie s

TV little actress had neither gtms Off v-A'th the company nor yeb retired to rest. ■v She was waiting in a little flutter of nervous suspense for " something " to occur which she had declared sho felt- "in her blood - would happen. The rest of the troupe had left on the midnight trairi^ but Lottie had decided to stay and learn the issue ot that interview which Max (as hejiad told n6r) would havo with Kildoo. If Kildee did decide to relinquish her prospect of a splendid marriage" fdr the Saki of Max and the old stage life (Lottie was romantic and thought it possible), then she must be,here tfl receive and welcome her darling. Bhd nlade a plausible excuse to ,tfae manager and promised to leave on the early niorniti* express and join the company in time for the evening; performance' ab the town where they would P slie was xtp sitting at thewMDW Of iiet room, tapping the floor impatiently with her little foot.- The fiw iti the fcity, the glare of the burning buildings, the ringing of bells, aiad shotiting had helped, td increase her-nervousness.,■ She jumped, up and came swiftly to the door in response to "Wax's knock/ When she saw Kildee she Pave a little soream pf delighted fcnrpme,, and'embraced her.tepturoUsly. Then" Bh6 put her back a little that .she might-scruti- ' niseher face—might" see.« she, looked content after her renunciation- --. , . .j ; w " Good heavens, ■, $M arepale as death 1 ehftcried. "Your haft, your eyes—why, "Hushi" cried Max., <-(#iojia3 just •passed the gates of' deaths Shs was in the burning building. She was rescued after she was insensible*." nearly .dead*, to bed at once. Postpone all questions; don't let her talk tttyoU.: No, fMMtnftint, not a word," he said, as Kildeb tatight hia **" Yea; one wto-a*:Ma» Tell <mB, was it you who saved me:?" s 4 . . •'•No fc it was abb 1. I tattted to gd across the ladder, but he. wouldn't permib it. He ordered nic M 6k } 'sajiftf he WM Jttore practised than I." ■ "..' ■~. ■ .""Wfef. ■ , : i.:;-.^i'v -"' ■Ip "Hi^namo. wai, Carlebhj dd-yoii know ' Aamr ■_• ■ ■...■■ i ■■-'■•-■•'^ " ■ " Yes* Oh, -Maxj I mxiit efe .:him and § th&tikhM.".. - . ■■■■•- >'—.-■•' ■ -. t " So you shall, r Go to bisd noW j 'o£ffi »a,feYw,"an ß waredMaxhwti]y, ' : ,

He did hob tf ant her to know the fata that had befallen her rescuer. She was already too much agitated. " Good-night," he said* and he pressed her hand to his lips. Lottie took her in hand. She undressed her, bathed her burning face in cool rosewater, combed out the tangled curls, and put her to bed. , t ■"'Now, don't lie there letting your mind mako wild pictures," she said, as she caned over her charge, and kissed the quivering lips and eyelids. "Bod blank, instianter; 1 command it; and so remain until morning. :> , , Ib was a piece of self-denial on Lottie s part, for sho Was dying to know what had passed between Kildee and Max, and if tho grand-looking Mayor had been given up, and if there had been a romantic scene, tier imagination was busy while she finished her own packing, and laid out her travelling-dress ready to put on in the morning. She turned then to Kildee's clothes. She shook out the folds of her pretty kilted skirt of dark green and hung it up* She took up the basque j a folded paper fell at her feet. She picked it up, looked at it, and said to herself, t 11 Kildee must have had this in the bosomof her'dress. I will-put it away for her." Sho lifted the lid ot her trunk, and thrust the paper into the pocket of the top. ■ She forgot all about it, and Kildee, believing that the paper had dropped from the folds of her dress, and been burned, said nothing to remind Lottie of tinding it. It was the paper that Heathcliff and Honor had signed the testimony relating to Kildee's birth. In the confusion, after the factory was known to be on fire, tho paper had been swept from tho table, and Kildee had picked it up from the floor, and thrust it into hor bosom. The little actress was up betimes next morning, but she rose noiselessly, and tripped about with bird-like movements, fearing to wake Kildee, who wa9 sleeping peacefully at last. Though she lay so quietly all night, Lottie knew by her breathing that she had not slept. She saw, too, ac ehe looked at her pale face in the morning light that there were traces of tears on her cheeks.

" Perhaps she loved Hdathclift', after all, but she felt bound to Max. 1 wish I knew all about it," thought Lottie, as she stood before the mirror, gathering up her crinkly nut-browti hair. A boy brought her the morning paper. Which she had ordered sent to her early, that sho might read what the saucy dramatic reporter had said of the : play last night, and of her especial r6le. Six* had read his pert comments, aud dismissed them with a toss of her pretty nose, and she was reading, with intotest, the account of the fire, when a soft tap sent betto the door. Max stood there, looking excited and feverish, outside the partlyopened door. " Is Kildee awake ?" he asked. Lottie put her linger on her lip, and shook her head. " I see you have the morning paper. 1 Wanted to warn you against letting Kildee see it—the account of the fire, i mean. It contains a shocking incident, for one thing, and a ghastly mistake ; it announce* that Kildee was burned to death." "Why, how did that happe ? Didn't they know she was saved ?" "Nobody knew who ib was that was rescued. The tenement house was only half burned, and a body, partly consumed, was found in tho room Kildee is known to have been in. The faco could not be recognised, but the body was near Kildee's size and shape. She was the only one known to have been in the room with the sick woman ; and, besides—which ia a strange circumstance—Kildee's watch was found on the body of the burned girl. No one doubted it was she, it seems. Heathclitf had the body Carried tA his home, and ib will be interred to-day in the family burial-plot." «,.'-,-,, lL "This is shocking. What distrdss the poor man must bo entering. Of course, Max, you will go at once aud tell him she is alive and wefi." "Of course," Max«ehoed, thoughtfully. " Lottie," called Kildee from the bed. Lottie left Max standing outside the door, and bent over tho little white faco and dark head on the pillow. Kildoe put her anna around hor foster-sister's neck, and drew her close to her. . "Tell Max not to undeceive Mr Heatholiff " she said. Then in answer to the look of amazement in Lottie's wide blue eyes, she whispered: ...... m-n "1 do not want him to know. I will go away with you this morning, and ho will think 1 am dead, and—" Her voicd faltered. "You will do this to escape marrying him, Kildee? You did nob love him, then ?" „ j The girl's pallid face became tmfluseti with colour. She drew Lottie closer that the blue eyes might not search hers. l« How could a tfirl like me love one so far above her in wisdom and age and position ? I was no match for him. And then there was another—" " Ah !" Lottie said, " another1 woman ?" " Yes ; she loves him and he loves her. Through a strange chance—l can't tell you what it Was—l came between thorn. They will be reunited now; they never would be if I should stay. He would marry me through sympathy and for his word s sake, and she would have him do it because of her pride. It is better that both should think me dead. I can be dead to them and to ttie few who knew tne here without its mattering any-tlmnks to my instenfficahce.' So tell Max, dear Lottie. Ask him to beg Mr Carieon not to betray that it; was! he saved—if indeed he recognised roe. It seems he did not, or they would have known." Lottie went back to Max and told him "Kildee's request. " It doesn't seem right," she said gravely. Bub Max was thrilling all over with the thought that Kildee was nob to be married thab day, that she was to go away with htm—that he was to have his darling back. No sbratagem should ever geb her away from "You^'will tell Mr Carieon," aßked Lottie. Max sank hie voice to a whisper. "Mr Carieon would nob know," he answered/:" He 'fell, trying to recrOßS the ladder after he had rescued Kildee. He Was taken up for dead, bub was nob dead. .He #,ac alive bhis morning, the paper says, bub insensible, with scarce a shadow of hope for Him—poor fellow. He acted grandly last nignt. I don't want Kildee to know of the catastrophe until she has recovered from the shock.":, AnihcWr, later, Kildee was dressed for travelling—LpttieSupplyingwhatever was needed io making her toilet. Lottie ordered breakfast sent up to them, and persuaded Kildee to eabsomethihtr. They pub on their hits, Xildee fcieing:a veil over her face, and joinedMaxiplthehallis: The carriage was waibinff. jHfr took bhom oub tp it. A few men wlip^&fe on the verandah stared at the tWo'r well-shaped actress girls," none of them suspecting that one of these Was the supposed victim of the fire they were reading about. , Wheft they were in the carriage, Kildee burned to Max.

"DidybUßpeaktoMifCarleon? Did hte pfomise-r", ■-, . . <' * Max nbddfed. f:" He will- never- tell. You heed nob be afraid," he'said; Itfi did nob say that? he had written her request and left it iti a sealed envelope; to •be given to"Carleoh, in case he recovered his senses. The man ii( whose hands he left [•the letter was a minister, who had been praying beside'GaTleoh'a bed When Max entered. He was.ayel-yTunclerical person fcji .so v ,dris arid -'lodks. ife might haffe|iab^ed tpi .a1 soldier in,-the garb of the b&urg&omet-'i'.ste^ eyes had-a i-efitlesß* rep^ssed fire in th^ir dpptbßi they were

softened as with,tears when he bent over the white, unconscious face. !" God's will be done," he muttered; but I thought lie had fi great work for this man to do in his Vineyard." The unclerical-looking preacher was Sam Brown. Ho came to Oarlcon's bedside as soon as he heard of What had happened. The brusque looks and words of the physicians —one of them an- agnostic, the other a cultured, cynical disciple of Voltaire—had no etfect upon him. He remained day and night in that room over which "the Death Angel hovered, praying, watching, nursing, lifting the bruised and broken frame in his strong arms, so tenderly holpful that the physicians ceased to sneer, and pub up with the " parson's prayers " for tho sake of his cool nerve and intelligent comprehension fts an assistant!

Kildee kept her veil down during her drive to the depot. Lottie suspected she was crying. She longed to look into tho girl's heart and know if she really did not care for the man sho was to have married on this day—So fair after last night's storm. Kildee's voice, usually so sweet, was husky when she spoke. "There is one thing that distresses me about going away—St. Peter, I hate so to leave him behind. I know he will be taken care of, but he Will miss—" Max laughed out. "Catch a weasel asleep," he said. " St. Peter is not left behind."

11 Why, where is he ?" "Safe in the smoking-car of our train. I left him there ten minutes ago—fiddle, Zack, and all. He found me last night and knew me. He stuck to me through everything. When 1 got with you into the carriage, he eliunbecl up beside tho driver and rode with us to the hotel. Where he stowed himself last night I don't know, but the first thing I heard this morhing was the fiddle. Wo have all three of our prodigals back—you and your two proteges—and I feel happy enough to kill a dozen fatted calves. Everything is as it was before."

" Everything is as it was before." Lottie repeated the words to herself doubtingly as she looked at Kildee. Her "child" was here beside her, gentle, lovely as before, but yet not the same. She would never be the same, Lottie said to herself. Those dark, sweet eyes held a secret. Could not Max tell it in the very tone of the gentle voice—that low yet intense vibrating chord, indescribably tender and sad—that chord which had been unknown to Kildee's voice before ?

"She has suffered,"' said Lottie in her own little sympathising heart. " She did love that man. She has given him up because she thinks he loves that, other woman and will be happier with her. Poor Max. But he is so good and so devoted to her, she can't help earring for him. They will marry at last, and be happy." (To be Continued,)