The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-10

shook the pail of smoke and made the
flying embers tremble. Behind the
girl at the window stood the man.
But up to this she had shown bright
against a dark background. Now her
figure and that of the man showed dark
against red For The glare Of the fire
had reached the landing and was food
ing the space behind. g$ = "a
The man did not remain o second in.
active. He commenced knotting long
strips of sheeting and counterpane to-
gether. Again a shout went up from
the multitude, and then ten Thousand
voices were still, as though speech had
never been known. All eyes were
watching him and calculating the issue
of the race between him and the flames.
At that time the white figure of q
woman came hastily along distant edge
of the crowd and approached the burn
ing house. The woman was young,
scarcely more than twenty. Her long
light hair followed her mistily, half
borne by the sir, and quickened into
vivid gold by the ruddy rays.
Ere she reached the burning house
the rope was complete. The man had
tied it under the arms OF the girl and
was leaning out Of the window. counting
the risk. Already the fury Of the fam
ing fluid was exhausted. There came
but fitful Hickers, still enough to destroy
his rope. Now and then his eyes e1.
plored the room. Flames had by this
time crossed the threshold. People be-
low could See them shoot round the
ceiling. For moment the man left bis
post, and was seen drawing some heavy
piece of furniture towards the window.
With the sublime patience of capable
heroismRh he waited and waited, counting
the chances Volumes of smoke burst
through the sash, and the glass fell with
sharp metallic clatter to the ground
beneath.
"My daughter | My Jane !" cried
the. old man, in an agony OF hope and
fear. x II NJ. #s,. Z :,
The man above bent over the sill
and, making a trumpet of his hands,
cried out:
elm q moment you shall have her
safe. Courage!"
The woman in white looked up.
"Luke! !"'. she screamed. ,. .l,....
He passed his hand across his eyes
and then gazed into the street. Once
more he spoke: : 3D..
"Jane, stand back. The floor is hot.
Stand back. If the floor falls the walls
may, toe" ."~c IL .rc,.- .r;i1r.G,.
\ Then, casting one more glance into
the room and one more at the windows,
through which the flames shot now but
seldom, he lowered the form of the girl
from the sill and paid out slowly.
When all the rope was gone she still
hung several feetfrom the ground. Re
firing into the room he undid the rope.
He advanced gradually to the window.
Still the rope was some feet short.
Strong men stood below with out
stretched arms to receive the girl. With
out warning she fell into their arms.
The rope fell with her!
All looked up. In his hands were 9
few feet of the rope. Despair had taken
possession of his face. A blade of flame
had shot out Of the window below and
cut off his only means of reaching the
ground. '.'' . ,.no7.
Another ropel Make another rope
Quick /" shouted man of the brigade
The man above paused q moment ir'
resolute. Then he moved back into the
room, and those who stood far off in the
crowd saw him tearing up something.
All at once he shot downward from then
view. A mighty crash followed; 6
flight of glittsring splinters swept into
the air and hung in pail of dusky rec
over the four bare walls. 49, -.
With cry that was half a groan, hal
a yell, the people swayed hither ano
thither; and then, as if by some univer
sal impulse, they bowed their heads ano
stood still.
The glen is famous for its blackber
ries, and often in the holidays children
go up there with baskets on their arms
They all know Jane, who wanders ny
and down by herself. She does no
speak uLless she is addressed, but the1
she answers very civilly and in a swee
low voice that makes the eyes OF thu
children open wide. Once saucy DO,
asked her il she did not feel lonely al
by herself in the glen. But she said:
eyes, dear. A little lonely now: Blu
evening will soon come, and Luke vii
then be here. he promised. If yol
meet Luke, dear, as you go home, tel
him YOU saw me, and ask him to com.
early. Say mother died, but I am wait
ing still. The reason I want him *
come early is because he frightened mi
last night with his foolish talk. Do yol
hear all the bells of the city ringing
But it's not for our marriage, dear
We're not to be married for month
The bells are ringing all day. It's SOM
ones marriage. The bells are 80 lont
I can't hear the birds sing. But in .th'
evening, when Luke comes, it will b,
quiet, and no bells will ring, and it vii
beEdark. OH I wish it was evening
It's long day-a long day-a lonl
day." ... !.
And then she raised the ruddy boy il
her arms and kissed him, and wen
away. = -:
As soon as the boy got home he toll
his mother. She took him mp ant
kissed him and wept, he knew not why
When he was in bed she came and ga
by this-side, and bent over him until b
was asleep. "She looked" the bo
said afterwards, Gas if she was sayinI
prayers for Jane with her eyes. = ;
| -
L
Does it Pay to be Boss ?
A young contractor in one of tn
large Springfield manufactures, i
company with his wife, a sad looking