Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-12-30

fervent heat; door and passage were en-
veloped in smoke and flame.
ANY one inside ?" asked David. as he
saw The rustic faces upturned to the win
dows. intent. silent.
Had her out. .once," said man.gruiily,
"but she turned and went back like mad.
Job Winters is after her now"
There's some Of Jones's youngsters
asleep in there, do believe. said another
They're always hanging around the place.
Shouldn't wonder if they had hand in
this mischief.
David was used TO peril; he had been
up in the pine woods when the flames
pirdled them with frey belt. What
was there in this small village fire TO make
a man turn sick and pale7 lie pressed
his way through the crowd to The door
way.
"'Wale! cried voice, and at that
moment the q eat 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. appeared
amidst the shower of falling timbers. and
was lei down by rope.
In the confusion, David WAS dragged
stunned and dizzy, from the centre OF
danger and flung out OF The way on the
other side of the great tree. A dead faint
seemed fallen upon him. Presently
sound aroused him--a stir, q strange ex'
element among the Gro oud, 4 hum almost
rising to u huzla.
Beside him under The great tree, stood
a little woman. her face blackened with
smoke and her raiment burned TO shreds {;
by either hand she held barefoot, ter
riiied lad, scarce yet awake from stnpe'
ly ing sleep.
"By the Lord, but you're brave little
womaum cried Job Winters. singed and
smiling. Il thought you were buried
under the limbers Tor sure. How did you
ever do il
"Oh, job. trust woman's wit iof that.
Why,I climbed out through the back yard
and was scrambling over the fence with
the BOYS when the wall tell. Are you
hurt, David ?" she asked, taking up lin
cup and sprinkling his face with water.
How calm and quiet she was, as II il was
the most natural thing in the world that
that they should he together in trouble.
What had brought David Durham down
lherc2 He had Gone nothing To help
any body; instead of that he Was being
helped himself lie felt lame and bl uised
and inundated. Hannah - he said, go
Hannah, | thought you were dcad" "
Not l." said Hannah. blithely. I'm
/ too full of business TO think ot il. And
the fire is getting under, thank God. and
/ the boys are safe. Poor little Jimmie,
your matches aud shavings for boiling
Aunt IIannah's kettle 10 morrow like tc
to have cost you dear"
But. Hannah. you have lost every
thing"
flush. don't speak of il now. | have
not lost faith in myself"
But you have in me-"
David looked wistfully at the SCARED
face OF the little woman. her shredeC
garments, her quiet luminous eyes. Sh'
stood in the fading blaze that had con
sumed all her possessions. shining like al
angel.
Only one thing will say, Hannah W.
are old friends. and old friends may speaI
their mind. TO each other may they not'
II suppose so. David, bat the boys are
drenched. and if you can walk"
Just one word, Hannah. Where i
the fellow you were waiting for all TIN
time in the little shop"
A great change passed over Hannah
face. She stood utterly still as one wh'
had seen vision. Then she laushe'
outright.
David, she said, he is here usder thi
tree, half drowned and smudged ant
smutted. | think he he has n scorch OF
his forehead where the falling timbe
grazed it,"
You must make my little wife excus
me to you Tor leaving you so abruptly o'
the night OF the lire said David one day
coming upon Miss Simmons al the villag'
store"
"Oh, said she with smile, II fire is s.
excilingi One never knows what ma.
come OF it.