The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06

pretty things or nice people was silly
where was the satisfaction in proving it
FWhat was left but to get along in stolid
cherries way, and never feel happy One
couldn't be happy if there wasn't any
pretty things, nice people sunshine, ,conld
they?
| By and by it grew SO dark that Josie
couldn't see the notes of her music, so
she stopped playing and looked around
Rose still sat upon the ottoman, but she
had dropped her head upon velvet chair
seat aud fallen asleep.
q don't wonder" sighed Josie, think
ing of her three hours practice; 81 wish
could go to sleep when practicing time
comes"
1t was an early April day. There was
soft rain falling outside; inside, the
room seemed warm and close to josie
She opened the window little, and then
left the room and shut the door.
Suddenly the red Goals cracked sharply
and spark few olt upon the hearth rug.
If Rose had been awake, she would in
stantly have put ber foot upon it but,as
she was not, the scent of burning wool
arose in the room ,aud soon smoulderlng
fire ran along the rich carpet. 1t swept
around chair, and rushed up against the
folding doors, which were OF light wood,
and soon began to crackle and roar. The
smoke pufed and wreathed, and Roses
sleep changed to heavy stupor. She
lay insensibIe in the burning room, saved
from entire snfocation by the sweep of
rainy air from the window.
Ithad grown quite dark. Itwas strange
that people from the outside did not see
the fire for the room was full of lurid
Hight. The red fame and black smoke
crept, writhing up the fair walls to the
rich pictures, and the Light lace window
drapery dropped down in burning frag
ments. The scent and smoke were sti-
fling, and in the midst of this scene lay
the unconcious girl as yet unharmed,
though the flames darted around her, now
and then snatching at her soft drapery
and hanging curls.
Suddenly there was shout of FIRE and
simultaneously a 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 a wall
but he sprang forward and snatched Rose
up with passionate exclamation.
To bis very arms the flames leaped upon
her, crispipg her curls, sweeping their
black lines across her unconscious face.
and snatching away her faint breath. He
swore, with set teeth, his own flesh burn
ing, 10th their clothing on FIRE, as be
fought his way back to his room.
! The FIRE pursued him and clung to him
10 this emergency he refraiued from open
ing the hall doors; bis presence of mind
was not in the least impaired Fiinging a
heavy shawl around Rose, be wrapped her
in it, extinguishing the fire, tore off bis
own smoking coat, took up Rose again land
went out upon the piazza, shutting the
window after him, though the alarm had
spread, and engines and accompanying,
crowds, were focking about the building
The outsiders saw and shouted at him
A ladder was put up against the piazza,
and he csue down, but just as fireman
took Rose sudden dizziness and prostra-
tion overcame him and be tainted.
1t was nearly two mouths before he saw
Rose again. Both wers considerably
burned outwardly, and injured By inhal-
ing the hot, dense atmosphere. But at
the end Of May, Boon one day rode out
to Jamaica Plain, where Rose was to spend
the summer. 1t was very strange thing
for him to do; he was not given to calling
upon young ladies.
Rose was in little garden, which was
full of late lilies and early roses, a fresh,
sunshipy place, ringing with the songs of
birds. She was training the rose vines,
her hat hanging from her neck By its
strings, her head bare, showing the dark
curls, cut short, since crisped by the fire.
She looked so young that John Boone
on the road stopped suddenly as if doubt
full of bis erraud. But be went on finally
and swung open the gate.
Rose was very glad to see him, though,
he could see, by the startled look in her
eyes, that he was as associated in mind
With thoughts OF fear and distress.
He stayed at the cottage several hours.
When be started away Rose went into
the garden with him, asking him if he
would take some flowers if she would cut
them.
"Yes," he said.
He watched her earnestly as she cut The
piuks and roses and vernal grass and the
hand with which he took them trembled
"1ou were not quite sure that l liked
flowers" he said
Not quite" answered Rose, timidly.
"And yet you don't think | am quite
brute" said he; "for once heard you
say so."
Rose trembled a lit:Ie, realizing that she