The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-10

"She wore pale blue dress that hung
about her like a cloud" said Mr.. Ira
QUAR-, land when l saw her put spray
of white blossoms in her hair and at her
throat, found myself weakly wonder
ing was there any more harm in false
braid, tinge of rogue, or brush Of
powder than in those blossoms It's
we'll she's engaged, Agnes, else fear
should end in falling in love with her."
az don't know why Mr.. Traquair
haunts me-" unused Halle, sitting alone
in her bower of hair, thick and bright
as Jenny Wren's. "Plain, grave, pune
tilious, he's not in the least like the
! men I've always fancied. Indeed, he's
not like anybody l ever knew. What a
| restful, sheltered sort of feeling his wife
must have. should like to take a peep
| into that home. 1 think l see him there
as / saw him in the mission school last
Sabbath. Ordering everything firmly,
wisely, kindly. The friendship of such
man, were so happy as to be consid-
cred worthy of it, would be the joy of a
lifetime"
The end was nearer than they thought.
One night variety of circumstances
detained several persons under Mrs.
Kepler's roof. Mr.. Traquair had an en-
gagement with Tom that would take
them off on the early train, while three
or fohr ladies, Dena among them, were
indebted to a storm for the pretext o.
remaining. At midnight cry of fire
aroused the slumbering household
Nobody ever discovered how it origi.
mated, but the lower apartments were il
flames, and smoke stealing through the
cracks of every chamber door. There
was little time to lose dressing or la
menting.
ITO the roof! To the roof! Every
one of you !" bawled Tom Kepler.
In a few minutes panic-stricker
group collected thither to meet with {
double horror. The house at the loves
point stood five feet below its neigh
bors. 1t was short, sharp work to saw
that flock of frightened women. Mr.
Traquair above with a hastily-con
structed shawl ladder, Tom Kepler be
: low, labored bravely and rapidly, still i
was a question whether all would b,
saved. Dena Dewing's narrow natur
asserted itself for the first time in tn
presence of the man she loved. Sh
; fairly struggled to be foremost; but Tom
with stern justice, determined she shoull
be the last. So rapid was the progress
vi lllC ldlllCo bllaL pal NO "ClO gnu" cl
ering over the roof, smoke swirlin.
black about them, and crimson tongue
Tapped the cornice before they wer
: ready for Dena. 1t was an awful thin,
: to have Tom just then turn whittier thai
ever in that red glare, aud cry out tha
r his ans was paralyzed. "Get her u
somehow, Herbert. I'll save myself
J [ can" he whispered, hoarsely.
: A hurried word to Halle, who ha
refused to fly with the rest, and MI
| Traquair dropped to Dena's side. Eve
, in the midst of fire and smoke, sh
t thrilled beneath his arms embrace
The moment was worth its terrors coul
t she but be saved. A second misha
rendered it doubtful if she ever woul
t be. Raining sparks had gnawed tn
shawl ladder Halle held; it parted i
8 Dena's frantic grasp.
. Before Mr.. Traqusir could think G
s act in this new, Unforeseen emergency
}, the brave girl above him unbound be
p hair, and, leaning forward, it hung lik
a beautiful, savin pinion over her ma
g ligner's head. There was momentar
recoil from that silken lifeline.
: "Take firm hold" said voice as col
: as ice, "and be thankful it's one with th
q dearest head angles ever watched over.
: Dena did as she was hidden, andl wa