New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-12

glass until tine Oi0OO 61roSsnou AA-A 49,
hands. But they were only TWO VOWEL ansd.
shri0king with voices as loud as theirs, ana
in the ward the engines were rafting to ana
fro, and firemen were shouting, ana men
and women screaming to their chllnren,
who were crushed or burning within:
"They can not hear our voices" cried
Phillis; land the smoke hides us
They waited for q while, and then trie6
again, and then again, and even again, ana
then there came fearful crash ana sucn q
burst of shrieks that women who were cafe
tainted, and men turned sick as death. Inc
staircase had fallen, and with it its human
burden.
Phillis sank down upon her knees, pray
ing aloud. Her companion sprang at the
window again like wild animal, waving
her arms frantically through the broken
panes.
"They maun see rs. Help, lads! Help
help!" And then to Phillis: shut tn
door an keep tn smoke out, or we shall
choke" And when Phillis had 0beyed her,
"come here, and help me to make 'em hear"
And the terror in their voices made them
so wild and shrill that it was not many
minutes before they were heard, even IN
the midst of the roar of flames and voices.
Some woman in the crowd heard them first,
"Eh, lads" she cried, "GOd help u.s.
thar's some wenches on T. third flight cry
ing fur help, an their hands is all cut to
pieces wi breakin' thro' tn winder glass;"
1t drew the crowd to their side Of the
building in q minutes time-rushiDg round
with new cries and wilder frenzy-shOuting
to the desperate imprisoned creatures at
the window-yelling to the tiremen and
growing almost mad with excitement.
%lo ina
"Bring the ladders! That's Janet Ayes
voice Aye, an by God that's the Quaker
wenchs! Lasses, it's Phillis Denham an
Jenny Ayres. Whar's the new Overseer?"
They called for the Overseer, for from the
first outbreak Of the flames he had been the
coolest and most active among them. He
seemed to know what to do when every one
else had lost presence of mind.
I'VE can't save the place. he had said;
amid fire and smoke almost like man with
a charmed life. w
The news of the discovery flew to him at
once, and the next minute he was forcing
his way through the crOwd-a tall fellow,
with blue eyes and uncovered tawny hair.
''Stand back" he shouted. "What is this
about these women!-" And then his eye
was caught by the frantic hands, and he
broke of with an exclamation of horror.
Bring those ladders" he cried-and
then, to the crowd, Who are they!'
by q dozen voices, "a Quaker lass and
Jennie Ayres-Jennie Ayres and Philiis
Denham."
"Dunnot see as theirs much use O. tryin'
the ladders" said more than one man,
doubtfuliy "It's main dangefsome work.
1t Gamma be long afore the walls crack in,
an then"
blenders" said one of the owners, who
had just arrived. all in a hurry, God
but It's hard fate to face. and it is bad
look out. The walls may fall in, and"
LET them fall he cried. "Its not my
way to stand by and see women die. Good
God, Phillis, to think it should be you"
And IN spite of protestations and warn
ings, he had the ladders against the WALL
and when they were ready he was ready,
too, q heavy hammer in his hand to break
in the frames OF the fastened windows
God knows what tumult rose in their
breasts, when, looking down upon their de-
liverer, they beheld this mans face. Janet
Ayres fell back with grOan, turning to the
woman whose life she had blighted:
"Dost tina see 7" che said.
Phillis answered with white lips:
AYE. see," she said, II sec, and hid
her face.
she heard the woman at her side painting as
if for breath, and then Janet Ayres touched
her sleeve, and when she looked at her she
saw such deadly anguish in her face as
made her start aside.
''See," said the unhappy creature, "see
thee heer. Theer is ma mOment-he will
be heer-he Gamma TAX two-th' ladder will
not bear it-and tn one as stays behind"
She broke off with shudder. But che be-
non Il no Of ho
hind" she said. "He mum TAX thee"
Nay" cried Phillis, passionate pity
and a passionate heroism risingswithin her.
Never that God forgive me for the hard
words have spoken to thee. l will stay"
The woman, crouching on her knees,
wrung her hands together. Was she tempt
ed by an. agonizing thought of her own
sin, and the purity of this unstained crea-
ture, whose soul was so much safer than her
owns
.'Theer is ma a mi,lnet," she said, che is
heer now" And so he was-beating in the
window frame.
ut is thee he nun tak-fur tn child's
sake-Pye glen her up. Happen it'll gil me
a chance-I dunnot know-but l want
chance-fur the childs sake. I've axed fur
one in my way--an' happen this is it. He
nun tax thee"
And then. the man was in the room, black
blinded and staggering, but it was Phillis
his blinded eyes saw-nOt her rival
"Phillis," he cried, "Phillis, come with
me. You forgive me minutes time. l
have come to save you
But Phillis drew back.
II forgive you," she said. "God forgive |
me that I have been so hard, but there is
arother-Janet Ayres."
Not a seconds pause, but Janet Ayres.
rOa mn pfron cd rh in
her eyes.
TAX TIL woman tina loves best" she
said.
.Phillis" he cried, "for Gods sake"
IL will not CO." she said, and slipped
fainting upon the floor.
That moment Janet Ayres advanced to-
ward her.
"Tha will CO." she said. "Theer is ma
moment an will ma gil my life fur npwt.
TAX her in thy arms, Will Henders."
He had her in his arms already. He had
her through the window upon the ladder,
and the people were shrieking below.
Janet Ayres stood at the window looking
down.
II will come back" he shouted.
But she did not seem to hear him. She
was saying over something-saying it with.
blanching lips and dilated eyes-saying it
to herself in whisper:
Eur tn child's sake-fur tn child's
sake"
He had thought he might return, but the
watching crowd knew he would not Fire
and smoke pouring out at the windows
fought against him on his dangerous down |
ward way. Twice he nearly slipped. More
than once his burden was almost too much |
for him, and the frail support he clang to
tottered beneath his tread, and when he |
touched the ground the fire had reached the |
third floor room, and the ladder fell with q
crash. i
'Let me go back" he shrieked, when |