The Van Buren press., 1876-10-24
was enough for any one to live in the

was enough for any one to live in the
same world with such thing as she.
Hut at lenghth 1t occurred to him that
this was enough OF star gazing. II he
were ever to be a man fit 10 win her, ev
en- If unable, he must cease his day
dreams and work, and to work he must
sleep. He returned to his room, and all
at once, as if something stung him at ev.
cry pore, he staggered back. What
strange odor was this what strange at
m splIere after the cool night fragrance 7
The room was full of thick pungent
cloud---it was the smoke of burning.
Fire fire fret he shouted, and sprung
through the door for Roses room, only
to be met by such strong, turbid mass
nfmoying darkness and noisomeness and
sufiocation as to stagger back. again a
single moment before it But almost in-
mediately he was bounding through it,
thro wing open tue doora between, and
all at once, as he opened the third one, a
great binding glare fell from above. and
there was the monstrons horror Of fame,
towering and soaring like an evil spirit
that wiped matter from existence.
But Roger did not pause to think what
it was like: he only thought that II was
sweeping through an up er floor. that in
a moment the floor must fall, that lie
must reach Roses room. The house
had been struck by lightning in the storm.
and the smouldering spark had been ma
king headway in the lonely upper rooms
all the delicious summer evening, all the
time that he had been leaning on his bal.
cony drinking the balmy air, all the time
that Rose had been folded in her sweet
slumber, Ill the time he had been hearing
that tiny crackle, and thinging it was the
rain dripping from the leaves upon the
walk. Another moment and over its
dull roar came cry: Oh, Roger !.Rog
er Oh, my dearest! my dearest! where
are you Do you know it2' And Rose.
with cloak thrown over her, burst
through the door. and Was caught in his
arms as he leapcd down the stairs at one
vault and bore her out ntossafety.
They had barely reached the gate when
the roof fell in, and though the neighbors
came throngng round, and the engines
were presently at play. they stood there
with the rest. and saw 1t was OF no use,
and the blaze of the home Of their child
hood and their youth was ascending like
a smoke of sacafee. Rose stood folded
in the arms of Roger, hiding her eyes
from the dreadful sight as a child'".mght
stand beside the grave OF mother while
it is filed. Lot it go without tears, dar
ling-let il CO. Roger whispered. 1T
is kindly fame. The old house is still
protecting US it has lighted our way to
each other. Without it. We shohld still
have been cropping in the dark. should
never have dared win you; you would
never have known loved YOU
You are coming right home with me,
children. said Mrs. Vance, till we. can
Is the house insnral where's your pa
pers 2
They are gone, said Rose. with ev-
erything else, We are utterly penniless 7
I, was just fortnight after that, when
Roger entered Mrs Vancc's house one
night. Rose ran and cIapped bit Of pa
per before his eyes so closely that he
could see nothing. When he stepped
back she was holding it over his lips, aud
then half bashfully tirtoeing up and kiss.
ing him through IT, DO you see what
it is p she said 1t is a check for twen-
ty five hundred dollars from the insu ance
company, who have taken the circum-
stances into account 1t is the insurance
on the buildings, and the lands are still
left. The old house is taking care Of us
yet, Roger. Two thousand for your bus.
mess, and the rest she whispered, shyly,
and blushing like rose, indeed, Ito fur
nish the new house .-B zar.