The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-09-13
JOHN BOONE'S HEART.

| God be thanked! the meanest Of His crea
| lures. '
Boasts two soul sides-one to face the worl,
with,
One to show woman when he loves her.
| "He is rough and surly, Rose. Wha
does make you like him?'
II don't know" said little Rose Frazier
sitting with her chin in her two soft palms
and gazing dreamily into the fire.
Hes more disagreeable than any man
ever knew. He is always saying such disa
greeable things. l don twonder that ever,
body shuns him." ~
81. don't shun him."
"You! No; you are just like kitten
purring around everybody. You liking hin
is proof that you like everybody"
''No it isn't Josie" said Rose, suddenl,
looking up into her cousins face. II dom
like everybody, but | do like John Boone
He isn't bad or coarse or vulgar man. Their,
is something wrong about him, l know. HI
seems to like to say sharp things that make
people feel uncomfortable. l am always
afraid of geeting enthusiastic over any thine
before him, for fear he Il make cut at me
He sneers at everything that's bright anC
innocent and happy; but, Josie, I sometimes
wonder how he feels in his heart; he wasn't
always such forbidden taciturn man. Once
he was little boy, you know and he mus
have liked to run and play in the sunshine
like other children. | cannot help beliey-
ing that some time in his life something has
gone wrong with him and made him bitter
and cynlcal-something that he cannot gel
over. quite believe it, Josie. l."
Rose sat near the door of the parlor.-
Some one going along the entry said, ''Thank
you"
Rose started and turned, but the hall
door changed and the hall was empty.
who was that, Josie?"
II don't know, | didn't see," said Josie,
who hadn't heard, either.
The latter, seated at the piano, went on
with her practicing, while Rose, little dis
turbed by the last words she had heard
turned to the fire again. She was very
thoughtful; the glow burned one delicate
cheek to a bright damask, but she did not
mind, She was wondering how it must
seem to live when person had an inclna-
ttlon to sneer down everything bright and
innocently fair. Why, there could not be
any joy for them anywhere! What if they
proved that getting delighted with pretty
things or nice people was silly, where was
the satisfaction in proving it? What was
left but to get along in stold, cheerless
way, and never feel happy2 One couldn't
be happy if there wasnt any pr tty things,
nice people or sunshine. could they? :
BY and by it grow so dark that Josie
conldn t see the notes of her music. so she
still sat upon the ottoman, but she had
9 dropped l'9' her head upon, velvet chair seat,
II don't wonder" sighed Josie, thinking
OF her three hours practice; II wish I
could 80 to sleep when practicing time
comes. E9
It was an early April day, There was a
soft rain falling outside; inside, the room
seemed warm and close, to josie She open
ed the window lttle,s and then left the
room and shut the door.
Suddenly the red Goals cracked sharply
and spark flew out upon the hearth rug. =
Ii Rose had been awake, she would instant
ly have put her foot upon it; but, as she
was not, the scent of burning wool arose in
the room, and soon smoldering fire ran
along the rich carpet. 1t swept around
char, and rushed up against the folding
doors, which were of light wood, and soon
began to crackle and roar. The smoke puff
fed and wreathed, and Roses sleeped chan
ged to heavy stupor. She lay insensible
IN the burning room, saved from entire suf-
location only by the sweep Of balmy air
from the window. ..
1t had grown quite dark. 1t was strange
that people from the outside did not see the
lire, for the room was full of a lurid light.
The red flame and black smoke crept. writh-
ing, up the fair walls to the rich pictures.
and the light lace window drapery dropped
down'in burning fragments. The scent and
smoke were sitting, and in the midst of
this scene lay the unconscious girl, as vet
unharmed, though the flames darted around
her, now and then snatching at her soft
drapery, and hanging curls. ~. ,...
). Suddenly there was a shout of fire, and
crash. The folding doors
fell in, and through them came the inmate,
OF the next room, John Boone. The flames
and smoke met him like wall, but he
sprang forward and snatched Rose up with
a passionate exclamation.
10 his very arms the flames leaped upon
her, crisping her curls. sweeping their black
lines acoss her unconscious face, and snatch
ing away her faint breath. He swere, with
set teeth, his own flesh burning, both their
clothing on tire, as he fought his way back
to his room. - -
The fire pursued him and clung to him.
In this emergency he refrained from open
ing the hall doors; his presence of mind was
not in the least impaired. Flinginga heavy
shawl around Rose, he wrapped her in it,
extinguished the fire, tore off his own smo-
king coat, took up Rose again, and went
out upon the piazza, shutting the window
after him, though the alarm had spread,
and engines. with accompanying crowds,
were flocked about the building.
The outsiders saw and shouted at him. A
adder, was put against the piazza, and he
,ame down, but just as a fireman took Rose
sudden dizziness and prostration oyercame
him, and he tainted.
1t was nearly two. months before he saw
Rose again. Both were considerably burn
I'd outwardly, and injured by inhaling the
lot, dense atmosphere. But, at the end of
Nay, Boone one day rode out to Jamaca
Plain, where Rose was to spend the sum-
ner; 1t was very strange thing for him
o do; ne was net given to calling upon
'oung women.
Rose was in little garden, which was
ull Of late lilies and early roses, fresh,
unshiny place, ringing with the songs cf
'lrds. She was training the rose vines, her
lat hanging from her neck by its strings,
Ter head bare, showing the dark curls, cut
hort since crisped by the fire.
She looked 30 young that John Boone on
ne road stopped suddenly, as if doubtful
# his errand. But he went on finally and
wung open the gate.
Rose was very glad to see him, though
70 could see, by the startled look in her eyes
hat he was associated in her mind with
houghts of fear and distress. /
He stayed at the cottage several hours. So |
When he started away Rose went into the |
arden with him, asking him if he would |
axe some flowers if she would cut them.
eyes. /" said he