Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-01-09

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as Charlie was to leave us in o fey
days.
He had been with us a week
which was all the time that coul,
be spared him; and though 10!
begged harder than ! did for u few
extra days, he was not one to le
pleasure however sweet, interfere
with his real interest.
l was, however, to receive {
shock before his departure whicI
should teach me how little one car
rely upon that which is not actually
in ones possession. The lesson was
II severe one, but l fancy have
benefited by it, after all.
The morning Charlie was to leave
us ] rose early, ais the wagon would
call for him at eight o'clock to take
him to the station. But, early rs
was, was preceded by Joy, for !
heard her soft, musical voice on tho
piazza as l went to my window.
never was listener, and | don't
think should ever he one, after
what | heard there. The morning
was so still that heard every word,
ana this is what Joy was saying
"No, Mr.. Cartwright, | shall not ac.
cept you. Not because l do not
like yon, for do very much but |
really could not give myself away
after such a short courtship." And
here l heard her clear, ringing
laugh, which always had something
of the artificial in it. 81 will make
the courtship as long as you like,
Joy, but have you will sometime"
This was Charles answer, delivered
in the intense accents L knew so
we'll {; and l 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 con-
strainedly, 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 anything of what l knew,
for l possessed considerable power
of self-restrain, being practical
little lady. But the truth was my
heart was just broken, and that's
tho whole truth Of it. - When did
join them they were talking about
the fire in the woods-we had seen
the distant light for week now,
and the smell of smoke was this
morning very perceptible. Charlie
had to hurry, however: and after
suatching a cup of coffee and roll,
the wagon arrived. and he said
"Good-byew hastily, jumped in,
and was gone.
Joy and l stood silent for a mo,
ment, and then-what possessed me
| can't think-I said: "Let's have
out the ponies and 60 for a ride up
the Mountain 2"
Joy assented, and the ponies were
saddled, and we started.
We set Oft at a sharp canter, and
adont two miles from the house we
turned into wood.road, and L
should think, rode about five or six
miles before We hardly spoke word
or noticed anything. l was i'm
mersed in my own thoughts, and l
suppose Joy was in hers.
Suddenly l pulled up short, with
u sense of sufocation, and then dis
covered that we were in the midst
of dense mass Of smoke, while
not Il breath of air seemed stirring.
"Joyw " said l, "what a terrible
smoke The fires must he near u.s."
turned to look at her as spoke,
and was startled at her CHASTITY pale
ness. She answered no word, but
pointed back in the direction we had
just come. / turned and looked, and
never shall l forget the horror and
fear that rushed upon me. All be-
hind us the woods were one roar
ing, SETTLING mass of flames. The
fires had come down upon us, and
had cut us of. The wood-road end.
ed where we were; dense forests
aud underbrush lay all around us,
through which we could never hope
to struggle, even had We known our
way. Death encompassed us. Joy
was cooler than l, aud as her pony
was rearing, scared at the terrible
scene, she threw herself to the
ground, aud l followed her example.
The ponies finding themselves free,
dashed into the brush and were soon
out Of sight. We seized each 9th
er's hand and hurried up the moun-
tain. in a direction away from the