Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-17

an alluring vision for a plain lumber
man luxury of rest stole over him
he felt himself being drawn nearer and
nearer this raven of silks and laces and
perfume.
"There is strange illumination in
the sky, isn't there?" said tho lady
pointing outward with her jeweled fin
ger.
"You are illumined," said Mr.. Dav,
id, stupidity.
She laughed coquettishly. "Not
quite so ruddily, trust. See T.
True enough. A sinister bloom,- 8
roseate fever hue, rested redly in the
heavens, solemn and portentous. Evi
IDENTIFY there must be a fire.
"Ill go down to the gate," said Mr.
David, rousing himself, "and see where
it is"
How absorbed he had been! The
village bells at that moment rang ou,
a wild peal he could hear the tramK
Of feet along the road. A numbering
engine from neighboring town came
creaking rustily up the street. The
whole place was astir.
"Where is the fre?" he asked of q
man running by.
"Dunno. Reckon you'll find out
soon as l do. Heern it WAS in the lit
tie milliner's shop"
David was hatless; he forgot that
David was leaving pleasant company
in very abrupt fashion he forgot that
Fires are very exciting things. He
forgot all about Miss Simmons. She
was safe, whereas
A dense crowd gathere d about tht
street where the flames were making
silent headway. The engine was late
and, little used, was long in getting
under way, meantime buckets OF water
were being passed from hand to hand.
1t was slow work-very slow work
the fire was evidently gaining strength
and every wooden building in tht
neighborhood loomed redly in the
blaze, transformed from the white
peacefulness of yesterday, angry, in
cendiary, threatening danger to the
whole town. The great tree in from
of Hannah's door cracked with ferven,
heat door and passage were envelop.
ell in smoke and flame.
ANY one iDsideI" asked Mr.. Da
vid, as he saw the rustic faces upturn
ed toward the windows, intent, silent
"llad her out once" said man
grufily, "but she turned and went back
mad. Job Winters is after her now.'
There's some of Jones's youngster.
asleep in there, do believe" said an
other they're always hanging abou,
the place. Shouldn't wonder il they
had hand in this mischief"
David was used to peril; he had
been up in the pine woods when the
flames girdled them with fiery belt
What was there in this small village
conhagration to make a man turn sick
and pale? depressed his way through
the crowd to the doorway.
WARE y cried voice, and at tina,
moment the great beam over the shop
window fell with crash. There was
a cry that the wall was falling, and job
Winters, in his fireman's cap, appear.
ed amidst the shower of falling timber
and was let down by rope.
In the confusion Mr.. David was
dragged. stunned and dizzy, from the
center of danger, and flung out of the
way on the other side of the grsa,
tree. A dead faint seemed fallen up.
on him. Presently a sound aroused
him-a stir, a strange excitement
among the crowd, hum almost rising
to n huzza.
Beside him under the great tree
stood little woman, her face black
ened with smoke, her raiment burned
to shreds by either hand she held a
barefoot, terrified lad, scarce yet
awake from stupefying sleep.
"By the Lord, but you're brave
little woman," cried Job Winters
singed and smiling. IL thought you
buried under the timbers for sure.
How ever did you do it,"
''Oh, Job, trust womans wit 70,
that. Why climbed out through the
backyard and was scrambling oyer ll,e
fence with the boys when the wall fell
Are you hurt, David" she asked, tax.
ing up tin cup and sprinkling his
face with water. How calm and quiet
she was, us if it were the most natural
thing in the world that they should be
together in trouble.
What had brought Mr.. David Dun.
ham down there! He had done moth.
ing to help anybody, instead of that
he was being helped himself. He fel,
lame, and bruised and Inundated
"Hannah," he said, so, Hannah,
thought you were dead"
mot H. said Hannah, blithely
"'m too full of business to think Of
it. And the fire is getting under
thank God, and the boys are safe
Poor little Jimmy! your shavings and
matches for boiling Aunt Hannah's
kettle tomorrow had like to have cost
you dear"
"But, Hannah, you have lost every.
thing"
"Hush! don't speak of it now.
have not lost faith in myself.
"But you have in me-"
David looked wistfally at the scared
face of the little woman, her SHREDDED
garments, her quiet, luminous eyes.
She stood in the fading blaze that had
consumed all her possessions, shining
like an angel.
"Only one thing Twill say. Hannah
we are old friends, and old friends may
speak their minds to each other, may
| they not ~