Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-01

ing fiend, already warm with the retec.
ton Of the heat about us. II to save
Therese my life had been given, or even
to rescue her father-if my last sigh had
been eXhaled upon her pure, young heart,
filled with love born of gratitude,
could have yielded it up without MUIR
muir; but to preserve this cruel piece of
mechanism-it was too much!
ran to the back of the building to es.
cape the lurid light and heat, and saw the
roof of an extension full thirty feet below
rs yet untouched by fire. A thought came
to me like a revelation.
"Thou brazen monster" said to the
trombone, for the first time in thy life
thou shalt do generous action"
And as took it in my strong hands and
bent the end so that it formed curve
felt just one little pang for the soul of poor
Monsieur Rigaud, that must have bent
with the brass body so dear to him.
Then | sprang over the yawning chasm,
hooking the curved end Of my companion
to the window-sll below; from thence an
other story, and the extension was gained.
Soon we reached the backyard together,
the trombone and l, and made our way
into the main street to find our old abode
a mass Of smoking ruins. The hate ten
ants had taken refuge in the station house
near by.
Thither ! went, upon my shoulder the
bent, bruised creature that had saved my
life AS thought of all--how that was
walking, strong of limb, untouched by
fire or fall, to see my beautiful Therese,
and the trombone, alas! to reach its master
so lifeless and forlorn--my soul was
melted within me-
Trombone | sand, holding it close to
my neck with a caressing movement, Il
am sorry for thee, my poor comrade; but
one of us had to go, and thou dost not
know what it is to love Therese."
l began then to feel terror lest Mon
sieur Rigaud should so mourn the death
of his trombone that the project would be
fastened for placing Therese with the
good Sisters. SO, taking it in my hands,
examined it closely, and found no rent in
it; its sturdy sides chung firmly together,
and there was only one severe curve the
more. A faint hope entered my heart as
reached Monsieur Rigaud.
"Do see thee again " he cried, stretch
ing out his hands, but not to me, to the
Trombone upon my shoulder.
He took it in his arms, big tears falling
from his eyes upon its bruised and bat
tered side. Miserable that | am p he
cried; my trombone is wounded, is
deadH' And his great head fell upon his
breast
As for me, while stood there | felt
within my hand slip another, warm,
throbbing, magnetic with life and love; II
faint SOP of Joy fell upon my ear, but did
not dare look upon Therese lest my heart
being SO full should fall to weeping over
her, like Monsieur Rigaud over his from
bone
Monsieur Rigaud," cried, with des-
peration, sit Is only bent, not broken.
Try it; see if its heart beats yet; perhaps
it may still liver
He looked over at me with CLEAN Of
contempt upon his fat face, begrimed
with smoke and tears. The word "imbe-
cile' escaped his lips, and with mock
ing movement, in which, nevertheless, |
could discern forlorn hope, he put the
tube to his lips.
A prayer assembled from my heart and
from the lovely girl at my side. Iprayed
to the trombone, Therese to heaven.
"Ah, my brave Trombone | said
"wilt thou be mute now, when blast
frsm thy loins will give me eternal joy 2"
And suddenly the fremen stopped
swearing, the women ringing their hands,
the children crying; each and every fac
ulty was given over TO solemn and sub
lime peal that tloatcd out from the mouth
Of the trombone and sought the hearts of
its hearers. 1t spoke of hope and con-
ISOLATION, and to me, of a JOY unspeakable.
Despite its battered side ii lived, our dear
trombone.
When the last peal had died away, and
the firemen again commenced TO swear, the
women to wiring their hands and the chill
dren to cry, Monsieur Rigaud turned to
me.
Thou hast saved the life OF my child
and that of my dear trombone" he cried,
altogether forgetting his own two hundred
pounds that | had with such difficulty
pushed through the corridor.
And knowing how forgettul he was, and
that perhaps tomorrow he would be in Il
different mood, said on the instant,
bravely:
"Monsleur Rigaud, have the honor to
ask of you the hand of your daughter,
Mademoisele Therese"
| did well, for he spread out his fat
fingers with gesture of benediction.
perhaps it will be best, my children, ("
he said, 'to take the money | had re-
served for the good sisters and build for
US house with all the doors and windows
upon the ground floor. 1t is not wise to
climb so high when the demon of fire
may at any moment be sappng the foun-
dalton. Have | reason, do you think, my
childrenT
:" You have, indeed, reason" we re-
| piled with enthusiasm. And only this
spring the house was built, little way
| out of town, where all the birds Of heaven
can sing and the flowers of the earth may
bloom for my sweet Theresc.
As for the trombone, Monsieur Rigaud
| cannot be fonder of it than l.-Hoyper's