Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1887 — HIS SACRIFICE. [ARTICLE]

HIS SACRIFICE.

By Malcolm Douglas.

It had been year since the? had last Been each other. Over thei' pipes and tobacco they had been reviving their old friendship. Vavasour, leaning aggins! the mantel, looked dovt n into his com panion’s lace and thought how hand Bon.e it was in the shadowy firelight. “And now," he said, at ltng h, “is there nothing left to tell, old fellow? Yon have been away a whoie year, vou know. Surely U all that time you mum have lost your heart to somebody.” Dacre look hie gaze irom the red.glowing coalp. , “Yes,” be said, “there is one l meant to apeak to you about-—an American, like ourselves. She it was more than anything else that brought me back. You know I had intended remaining abroad several years. It was in Paris, at a reception given by the American minister. She was making the tour of Europe with her faiher. They were in Par’s for some time and I saw her often. Afterwards l accompanied them through Switzerland and France.” “Maj* I offer you my congratulation?” "Not yet,” was Dacre'a quick reply. “But there is an understanding between us, and we have corresponded eversince she left England Ah! Paul she is so beautiful and good! When you see her, you,will approve my choice, I know.” Vavaseur smiled at his friend’s enthuriasm. “Then she lives here in New York,” he said. “And her name? Possibly I have heard of her.” “No,” corrected Dacre, “her home is up on the Hudson. And her name is Marion Raymond. Why, Paul, in a tone of alarm, “are you ill?” He sprung to the aid of Vavaseur,who had suddenly placed his hands to his forehead; There was a chair near bv,in to which he sunk. Dacre handed him a glass <>{ brandy from the decanter on the stand; With trembling fingers, he took and drained it at a gulp. “Dou’t mind me.” he said in atr unconcerned tone; “I shall be all right presently. A slight attack of vertigo ibet wis all. 1 have not been feeling very well of late. lam smoking too m <ch, perhaps; 1 shall have to give it t» ■' 1 —: — 1 - 1 : — 1 ■vvrv —— — r •' *’• up. Dacre gave him au anxious look. • “You are working too hard, Vava eeur,’ ne said. “You have made your sell ill over that confounded canvass you are getting ready for the exhibition. “Perhaps,” said VavaNeur.aud he was •ilent for the time. “Would it surpr.se you very much,” he added, at length, if I told you that I already know Miss Raymond?” His friend stared at him in astonishment. ““ “You know Marion?” he ejaculated. “Pardon me”—bluntly -‘‘but had that anything to do with your recent agitation’” Vavaseur met his gaze unflinchingly. “Why should it,” he asked quietly, ‘when we have only met several times? Listen, Max, and I will’ tell you how it was Each-year Igo up the Hudson to sketch, you know. This year fate took me to her neighborhood. I was introduced to her, little dreaming she was anything to you. I saw her once or twice afterward—that is all.” Dacre slowly arose. ‘ Odd, is it not, that, you should have met? be said. “But I atn very glad that it is so. Come, Paul, give me your opinion of her.” “I think.” Vavaseur said,rin a measured tone, “that your estimate of her is i correct. Bhe is all that is beautiful and coed. I—l congratulate you.” Dacre wrung his hand warmly. “Thank you,” he said. “And now I must be going Yon will come up and see ns, will yon not?” “it I can get sway,” Vavaseur s»wf. rVaol ; v -■ - . And w hep Max Dacre had gone, he buried his face in his hands. Though no word of love has ever passed between us, I love her! I had meant to go back and try to win her. Aye, I even did go back, only to learn that she had! gone away. And now it is too late, and Max has won her instead. Bot she)

shall never know—he shall never know —how foolish I have been.” • • • 1 • , • • ■ • ‘ A week later Vavaseur held a letter from his friend in his hand. ‘[Congratulations are now in order,” he read; “1 am at last engaged. Bohemia no longer has any charm for me. Thursday night Marion isto give a party which we are both anxious to have you attend You will come, will yon not? If you can arrange it. write me and we will meet you with a carriage." Vavaseur laid the letter down. “I will go,” lie said. “I will see her once more and then 1 will put her out of my thought forever. It was not to be.”" v Max and tie fiancee met him at the station. The beautiful girl extended her gloved hand to Vavaseur. “Max has told me what friends yon are,” she said, dashing her dark eyes at him. “How strange to think that it was MaxVbest friend I met! We must be better friends than ever.” There was a proud, happy ring in Daere’s laugh as he said: -‘ Yes, if only for my sake. Vavaseur and I are almost like biothers.” The ball was a grand success. A number of society people had come up from the city to attend it. The stately old Raymond mansion wasoneblaze of light. Beautiful women and faultlessly dressed men thronged the. perfumed rooms. From a bank of palms and ferns ca-iie the soft strains of an y orchestra. But Paul Vavaseur choose to be a looker-on in Vienna, and did not dance. In his out-of-the-way coiner Marion ; Raymond at last sought him out. “Y'ou don’t waliz, Mr. Vavaseur?” she said. There was a rare flush on her cheek, and her eyes shone like stars. She was easily the most beautiful woman the,re, “No,” he said, “I am a wall flower. Though waltzing is a pleasure it costs me a great deal to give it up, my doctor has forbidden it.” She chatted with him a few minutes, and then Max Dacre came and bore her away in triuiupn for a waltz. Vavaseur watched them with a dull pain at his heart that he was unable to resist. “I must throw off this envious feeling,” he said. “I am false to my friend. And yet he is so happy—and I so miscible!” When the guests had all departed, the two friends sat smoking in Dacre’s room. v A happy evening,” was Dacre’s comment of the ball. “And yet for you, Paul, it must have been insufferably dull. When did you quit dancing? You used to waltz, I know.” “My doctor advised me a few days ago to avoid all excitement,” Vavaseur replied. “The truthjs, my health has not been very good of late, and I shall have to be careful.” He arose as he spoke and threw away his cigar. Then, bidding Dacre goodnight, he went to his room. How long Vavaseur slept he did not know. He was aroused hy that most horrible of cries—fire! Springing from his bed, he dressed hastily and opened his door. The dens; volume of smoke pouting up from the hall drove him back. “It it worse thau I thought,” he muttered, grimly. Raising his window, he stepped out upon the roof of the porch and slid down one of the pillars to the ground. The shivering, scantily clad people who had been so rudely aroused from their slumber were gathered before the building. “All safe,” uttered Mr. Raymond, gloomily, watching the scene of destruction; “buttbe house is doomed!” Higher and. higher the wild flames leaped, lighting up everything around with their yellow glare. Suddenly the mother’s cry rang out: “Marion—where is she?” As if to answer her, at that moment she appeared at the window of her room and reached forth her hands to them appealingly. “My God!” groaned Dacre, “I was selfish enough to forget her! But even now it is not too late. I will save her yei!” He was about to dash forward, when a restraining hand was laid upon his arm. Then Vavaseur, pale but resolute, confronted him. ; “*Stay,” Vavaseur said, in quick, breathless tones. “Look how the flames are surging about her? Consider how small your chance would be to save her! Whatever R may be let me take that chance.” \ Dacre made an effort to break away from bis grasp. “And why not I as well as you?” he cried, fiercely. “Listen,” said Vavaseur." “You have j health and a long life before you; and I —I have heart disease. The doctor tells me I may live a year—T may dieto-mor raw. What matters it when?” The weaker man hesitated. “Then, for God’s sake be quick!” he cried. Vavaseur dashed through the burning doorway. It seemed to ali that he was rushing toils doom: They kept their eyes fastened on the girl with feverish exj>6«ilieyr AnaThen,“wlieh so long a time had passed that they thought he surely must hive perished in the flames, | they saw him at the window with her, I his clothing blazing in several plaeee. “Bave me!” she implored, and fell I tainting in his arms.

"Courage!” he cried. He wrappend several blankets tightly around her inanimate form and lifted it in his arms. Then, in an agony of pain, he fought his way through fire and smoke to the second story. There the fierce flames, rolling up from below, formed an impenetrable barrier. One thought was uppermost'in his mind. If God had so willed it, it would be sweet to die with her in his arms. One avenue of escape, perhaps, lay onen—the porch again. He staggered hack to the room in which he had slept But the porch was all ablaze. He saw the people as in a dream, and heard Dacre’s frenzied voice crying: “Jump!” Out upon the burning porch Vavaseur stepped with his fair burden. When he made the leap a mute prayer shaped itself on his lips that he might fall underneatn. And Ggd heard that prayer! When they went to them they found that the unconscious girl had sustained no serious injury. . . x But Vavaseur? S Vavaseur was dead!