Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1866-02-02
JOHN BOONE'S HEART.

and gazing dreamily into the fire.
'-Hes more disagreeable than any man
/ ever knew. He is always saying such
uncomfortable things. don't wonder
that every body shuns him."
II don't shun him"
"You! No; you are just like kitten,
pnrring around every body Your liking
him is proof that you can like any body"
"No it isn't, Josie, said Rose, Suddenly
looking up into her cousins face. II
don't like every body, but do like John
Boone. He isn't bad, or coarse or yul-
gar man. There is something wrong about
him, I know. He seems to like to say
sharp things that make people feel uncom-
Portable | am always afraid of getting
enthusiastic over any thing, before him.
for fear he will make a cut at me. He
sneers at everything that is bright and in
nocent and happy; but, Josie, sometimes
wonder how he feels in his heart; he wasn't
always such a forbiddiDg, taciturn man.
Once he was little boy, you know, and
must have liked to run and play in the
sunshine, like other children. | cannot
help believing that some time in his life
some thing has gone wrong with him, and
made him bitter and cynical-somet ething
that he can not get o~er. ! quite believe
it, Josie"
Rose sat at 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, Josic?"
tI,.ff
who hadn't heard either
The latter, seated at the piano, went on
with ler practising, while Rose, little
disturbed by the last words she had heard,
turned to the fire again. She was very
thoughtful; the glow burned one delicate
check to bright damask. but she did not
mind She was wondering how it must
seem to live when person had an inclina-
ton TO sneer down everything bright and
innocently fair. Why there could not be
any Joy for them anywhercl What it 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, aud never feel happy Onc couldn't
be happy If there wasn't any pretty things,
nice people, or sunshine, could they?
By aud by it grew 50 dark that Josie
couldn't see the notes Of her music, so she
stopped playing aud looked around Rose
still sat apou the ottoman. but she had
.< dropped her head upon velvet chair seat,
and fallen asleep.
Il don't wonder, ' sighed Josie, thinking
of her three hours practice; II wish
could 90 to sleep when practieing time
comes"
It was an early April day. There was
soft rain falling outside; inside, the room
seemed warm aud 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 flew out upon the hearth rug
IfRose 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 q smOuldering fire
ran along the rich carpet. 1t swept around
chair, aud rushed up against the folding
doors, which were of wood which soon be-
gan to crackle and roar. The smoke puff
ed and wrcathed, and Roses sleep changed
to heavy stupor. She lay insensible in
the burning room, saved from entire suffo-
cation by the sweep Of rainy air from the
window.
1t has grown quite dark. 1t was strange
that people from the outside did not see
the fire, for the room was full of a lurid
light. The red flames and black smoke
crept. writhing, up the fair walls to the
rich pictures, and the light lace window
draI drooped down in burning frag.
ments The scent and smoke were sitting,
and in the midst of the scene lay the un-
conscious girl, as yet upharmed, though
the flames dartcd around it, now and then
snatching at her drapery and hangings.
Suddenly there was shout Of Gre, and
simultaneous crash. The folding doors
fell in, aud through them came the occu-
pant of the next room, John Boone. The
flames aud smoke met him like a wall, but
he sprang forward and snatched Rose up
with passionate exclamation.
To his very arms the flames leaped upon
her; crisping her curls, sweeping their black
lines across her unconscious face, and
snatchiDg away her faint breath. lie
swore, with set teeth his own flesh burn
ing, both their clothing on fire, as he fought
his way back to his room.
The fire pursued him and clung to him
In this emergency he refraincd from open
ing the hall doors; his presence Of mind
was not in the least impaired. Flingine
a heavy shawl around Rose, he wrapped
her in it, extinguished the FIRE, tore off hi
own smoking coat, took up Rose again, ant
went out upon the piazza, shutting tn,
window after him, though the alarm haC
apread, and engines and accompanyiu;
crowds we're focking about the building.
The outsiders saw and shouted at him
A ladder was put up against the piazza
and be came down, but just as fireman
took Rose, sudden dizziness and prostra
ton oyercame him. and he tainted.
1t was nearly two months before he sa,
Rose again. Both were considerably burn
ed outwardly, aud injured by inhaling th
hot, dense atmosphere. But, at the end o
May, Boone one day rode out to Jamaic
Plain, where Rose was to spend the sum
mer. 1t was very strange thing for hin
10 do; he was not given to calling on younI
ladies.
Rose was in a little garden, which wa
full Of late lilies and early roses, fresh
sunny place, ringing with the songs 9
birds. She was training the rose vines
her bat hanging from her neck by il