The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-07

DlllaruS-tnat IL, JOy uHu Nh"' ~ N'at 80
I couldn't play billiards; we had facilities
for all sorts of indoor amusement, and time |
never hung heavily on our hands. Only |
now and again had n little heart-twinge |
when JOY seemed bit more tender with
Charlie than ] thought was quite necessary;
but it did not disturb me much.
One day. though. | lid have u real sharp
pang, which might have taught me lesson
If had not been such n confident goose.
What sort of beauty was /, to retain such
a magnificent fellow rs Charlie but this
is nonsense
That day had felt a little lila headache
or somothing-and lay down after lunch.
to try and sleep it Off By-and-by ! woke
IN. and started to find Charlie and cousin
JOY, but could sec nothing Of them about
the house or grounds. Finally q servant
told me- in answer 10 my inquiry, that she
thought they were strolliug up the road, so
| followed in that direction About quar-
ter of a mile from the house heard their
voices, little oft the road, and turning in
to the wood in the direction of the sound
came upon them suddenly. They made a
pretty picture--I will say that for them.
Charlie was lying lazily at the foot of a
great tree, reading Owen Meredith aloud,
and JOY. resting one hand upon his should
er, over which she glanced, now at the
book, now at his handsome eyes, seemed
hardly to be certain whether she was most
interested in tho author or the reader. l
gave low "hem." after Withdrawing
! little and when | loitered slowly toward
them she was seated quite distance from
him, and evidently quite absorbed in his
rendering of "Lucillc"
| confess | was a bit dishcartened at this
little scene; but did not think much of it
particularly as Charlie was to leave us in
few days.
He had been with us II week, which was
all the time that could be spared him and
though Joy begged harder than l did for
few extra days, he was not one TO let pleas
ure, however sweet, Interfere with his real
/ iterest.
was, however. TO receive Il shock before
his departure which should teach me how
little one can rely upon that which is not
actually in ones possession. The lesson
was severe one, but fancy have bene-
fitted by it, after all.
The morning Charlie was to leave us
rose early, as the wagon would call for him
at eight clock to take him to the station.
But, early as | was, | was preceded by Joy,
for heard her soft, musical voice on the
piazza as l went to any window. | never
was listener, and don't think | should
ever be one, after what heard there. The
morning was so still that | heard every
word. and this is what Joy was saying
mo, Mr.. Cartwright. | shall not accept
you. Not because do not like you, for |
do very much but | really could not give
myself away after such short courtship.
And here l heard her clear, ringing laugh,
which always had something artificial in
it. II will make the courtshp as long as
you like, Joy, but have you will some
time This was Charles answer, delivered
in the intense accents | knew so well; and
knew. too, that he would have her after
that. if he had to move heaven and earth
to get her. She laughed again, still more
constranedly, l thought; and then l left
the window and presently went down and
joined them.
am quite sure there was no sign in my
face or manner which could have told any
thing of what knew, for l possessed con-
siderable power of self-restraint, being q
practical little lady. But the truth was my
heart was just broken, and that's the whole
truth of it, When joined them they were
talking about the fire in the woods-we had
seen the distant light for week now, and
the smell of the smoke was this morning
very perceptibe. Charlie had to hurry
however, and after snatching cup of cof-
fee and roll, the wagon arrived, and he,
said "Good-bye!' hastily, jumped in, and
was gone.
Joy and stood silent for moment, and
then-what possessed me / can't think
said "lets have out the ponies and go fol
ride up the mountain
JOY assented, and the ponies were sad
died, and we started.
We set Off at sharp canter, and about
A.. N.trtN into 9
wood road, and, | should think rode abou
five or six miles before we hardly spoke {
word or noticed anything / was immersed
in my own thoughts, and | suppose JOY was
in hers.
Suddenly pulled up short, with sense
of suffocation, and then discovered that W.
were in the midst OF dense mass of smoke
while not breath of air seemed stirring.
"Joy !" said l, ''what n terrible smoke
The fires must be near us?'
turned to look at her as | spoke. and wa
startled at her ghastly paleness. She an
swered no word, but pointed back in tn
direction we had just come. turned ant
looked, and never shall / forget the horro
and fear that rushed upon me, All behin'
us the woods were one roaring, seethin!
mass of flames. The fires had come dowI
upon us, and had cut us off, The wood
road ended where we we're; dense fores
and underbrush lay all around us, through
which we could never hope to struggle, eve
had we known our way. Death encom
passed us. Joy was cooler than l, and Il
=, her pony was rearing scared at the terribl
scene, she threw herself to the ground, an
: l followed her example. The ponies, find
ing themselves free, dashed into the brus
and were soon out of sight We seize
n, ol nthar,s n nd md hur ria1 IN tho n, n n N
: tain, in a direction away from the flames.
: How long we were in struggling thrt
j the thick foliage l have no idea, but "
found ourselves, at length-beeding, TORI
with our clothes in ribbons, and our face
and hands scratched, and our bone
brused-on the main road. On both side
= of us, and away up the mountain, the blaz
: ing trees seethed and hissed. We hurried
: with weak and faltering steps, down til
steep decliyiy. and in the only directio
u where there did not seem to be fire.
= We were completely exhausted, and Al
;, ter going but few rods we both trippe
n and fell-Joy faintng and senseless, and
), but little better. l tried to lift her; l Gale
u her by name; begged and prayed her
Z make an effort to 60 on, for l saw that ii
fire were about crossing the road in froi
q of us, and the little sense / had left told II
y plainly that now was our only chance.
a was no use | could not rouse her, and
Is was sinking helpless by her side, when
II heard loud shouts a pair of horses and
J. wagon burst through the smoke, and in q
II instant halted beside Us.
70 From the wagon Charlie sprang to III
Is ground and seized Joy-not one-in h
arms and bore her to the seat. Then
q turned to me, but Ihelped myselfin; he 70
III lowpd mo took the relns turned the horse