The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-02
WHAT CAME OF THE FIRE.

Uncle DashuWay rode over TO Daisy Lodge
10 his trim little carryall. Aunt Hannah was
5Ck, he said had been ailng for Il week, and
,lc wanted me.
But what shall do with my gucsty" |
asked, standing out there in the sunshine
laklcdecp in red cloycr'
"Your guest. didn't know you had one "
"Ycs, my old friend, Blanche Heath; don't
lou remember her"
Blanche Heath? think do" he said,
lrsI,atlngIy, a curious amused expression in
lis face, and the color came to his check
that wild little thing who rode on Deacon
Hides horse chat timG-oh, yes, yes"
But, Uncle Dash, that was ten years age"
. SAID "shc was wild then, rather Well,
you see | can't leave her, and can't send her
home
Bring her to the parsonage; you must
.Jmc you know; Hannah has set her heart
upon it,
shook my Acad Blanche had been my
visitor only for two days, and ! had invited
her for Il month. Would she 90 to the par
5Dnage; would She rCmcmbcr-and here
laughed to myself
# suppose must said at last, "and FIJI
see what / can do with Blanche
"AIl right; Pm off to town. AT halfpas
.urcc, sharp''--hc took out his great moon
faced, silver Wach-"l'll be back; be ready
then, pray don't keep me waiting"
! went into the house in some little trCpi
jutiOn Would Blanche accompany me? To
leave her by herself was out of the question
There had been Il timc-at least | had fan.
cicd so-Whcn word, a look, from Uncle
Dash had set her pulses bounding, but fear.
ed She had never been II tavoritc Of the rector.
lie had only seen the wild, thoughtlcss girl,
who sat under his ministrations only because
II was the thing to attend church and behave
IccOrously while there She vcXCd him with
her merry, thoughtlcss ways, her ready laugh
md gay attire were distasctul to him; the
laugh, because it was SO often out Of place
The dress, because lac was a man of sober no
tons: but | sometimes thought he liked her
1i'ch.Ar dark eyes and innocent, expressive
face.
it .aunoj ne did remember her ride ON the
jcy"pns horse, q slow, stupid animal, too old
iOr active work. blanche had caught him
once in the dcCOns pasture and after dress
inc his car, name and tail in the most ride
Iyu- fashion, with lunches OF grass and
flowers, and long rings of pine Shavings she
.ai grmg upon his back, herself in iantas
~. attire, 70 long, red scarf tied about her
.uOIlicrs and waist, her brothers. straw hat
ul her head and urged the creature into q
t-D. Old Rosiuantc became frightened al
last. IT., pat speed in his lean bones he began
pr.l. and She clung to him, terrified ant
-creEuug, until the beast stopped short RICH
in front OF the rcctor'5 study window. Poo
Blanche came home crying, and declaring
tha- Die hated ministers of all sorts; they
meyer max" any allowance for the fun il
one nature in fine, she was SO thoroughly
mortified utat She did not go inside The
church door for weeks
y ] entered the sunny little parlOr, smiling
oye. ..n recollection, Blanche turned rounC
w..H questioning glance How the golden
-t,.H ripg.cj all over her hair-that fine
Iel-u" $50 one rarely sees save in old paint
lu..-u. .." eyes were swcctcr and grayci
...a before Twenty eight was more bcauti
H then eighteen
".t Z we've a man should fall in love with
g0. .a.s minute" | said, going toward her
anl -iu- her ON the forehead
".i I were a man, don't think you'd kiss
nae .A-. way" she answered laughing, "but
who was Il yoU were talking with
"Uur.c Dash"
4 rosy flush crcpt along her checks.
'OL' she said ,aucily, "tho Rev. Da,ha
Hy Hc-riacld; | have good cause to rccol
l... Inn; he, doubtless, considered me the
only black sheep in his flock"
- foLt believe it," | remarked, quietly
"Da, bat ne did; and don't wonder at il
either when ! look back Do you remember
iAe dag lo found my Sunday school exercise
all ...a, ! had written ON the back: | do
f." a ..y, and it was: Dash, Dasher, Dash
.. D4-Ao,cr, Dashundcr, Dashaway Merri
a.i. Upon my word, saw the corners of
A., uo,'u curl when nc read it, black rs lac
.g.f..-tLt what business had he with such
..a.....U> name: | know hc almost hated
DO Ger :, in fact almost hated myself, for
J had So, 'Ae whole class in giggle, and you
,al.lG'. g .dozcn steps after that, any day
30 ,Ge Hee6 but you would hear IA boy rat
f.i.r 3. over AZ the top of his lungs. Oh,
o.ag blame him in the least for disliking
u.; .m sure | have thoroughly despised
bag self iog il ever since Why didn't lac
cCpe in''
HFe W. IN a hurry, my dear. spoke of
f...l az De- remembered yUu"-I could hard