The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-25


The treacherous fire above could be seen
slowly crawling toward the blast, A
half minute more and all would be over.
He was thinking how to act. A ring of
smoke ascended through the air. He
was only smoking his cigar, but what q
shiyer that wreath sent to the heart OF
the strongest who watched A moment
only he paused, then placed the bucket
at his feet, stood on it, and stretching
his body to the utmost, reached the top,
hooked his foot in the bucket handle,
and, with strength he had never known
before, drew himself and the bucket up,
until he stood quietly over the burning
fuse, STOPPING, he poured mere cup
full of water on the powder, and-lt was
out, He had saved her litel
He looked for moment ut the pretty |
picture above him, arranged his necktle
and cuffs in a dandi6ed way, knocked |
the ashes from his cigar, picked up the
bucket, still almost full, and descended
Tue workmen, God bless their honest
souls. went mad. Cheer after cneer
went up, such as those old stones had1
never heard before. The hated "clty
chap" of yesterday was the hero OF TO-
day. Poor tellowl he was martyr to
their enthusiastic admiration. tinalfy
Norton came TO the rescue, and he es-
caped with that individual.
When the TWO friends were alone to-
gether, they clasped hands as old friends
only clasp.
"Charley, it was noble act" was all
that Norton said.
"Do-o-n't, Jess, you'd have done the
same if you'd been in 'front.'"
They walked along together, pulling
their cigars in silence.
"Don't say anything about this, Jess"
said Charley, when they reached the
inn. "not to her at any rate-I mean Miss
Corson-I hate gratitude-Whole sum
mer's lun would be spoilt."
GAN right! If you don't want me to,
WON'T" answered Norton, rather sur
prised.
heartily. ..
When the young woman had left, the
ouarrymen, looking for Miss Corson,
saw she was gone. That young lady had
been awakened by the shouting, and not
| knowing but what they were making fun
of ner, and suddenly remembering that
she was in position which some OF her
backbitihg friends, who liked to criticise
der actions, would style unladyllke,
quickly made her way back as sh9 had
come.
| Norton kept his promise. The week
slipped by, and Miss Corson never knew
IflOW near ueaLu Sue udu u0ShI hVA INV
bravely she had been rescued.
| on the last evening, Charley found
himself sitting alone with her on the inn
| porcn, The lady who was to join the
lparty was momentarily expected. He
Ielt slightly nervous, almost bashtul.
He had lost.a good deal OF his confidence
in himself since he had met this ''for-
ward girl" lie could not flirt with her.
She started the conversation. "Your
curiosity about our future companion
will soon be satisfied, Mr.. Berton." q
"Can't you tell me, SO that may be
prepared?' he asked.
Before she had time to reply, however,
a sudden thought struck him.
"Oh! of course know who it is" he
said; show stupid not to have guessed
it before. Your mother, of course, will
expect in a minute to see" but he
stopped, something in her face made
him do so.
"My mother is dead" said she, in a
low voice.
-"OA! excuse my carelessness," Char
ley said, hastily.
An awkward silence ensued. He felt
extremely uncomfortable. Jessie's last
speech was in such a changed tone as to
nave made him start.
81 was but two years old when she
died, 50 L remember very little of her,
only that once | was taken in ner room
she was lying i'll bed, and papa stood be-
side her, crying; she kissed me great
many times, and said, Take care of my
child, Benz and then L thought Went
to sleep; did not know what Death
was"
Charley said nothing. He did not
know what to say. There was some-
thing in his throat which he could not
cough up.
II often wish l had mother" she
went on, 81 might be a better girl; but
papa is always very kind. He thinks
, look like mamma, and until he came here,
we have never been separated more than
7 one day. He has been my only school
teacher" She paused again, and then
returned to her old gay style. "How
! am boring youl' she said.
f "No, indeed; please 60 on. am very
f much Interested" said Charley.
t "Hush," said she. "Listenn
i In the room next to them the shril
r voice of a child was relating'what had
: happened at the quarry. Not a detail
vas omitted, not syllable was lost to
the group on the porch.
: When the story was told, she turned
TO him half-crying, hal.-laughing, and
= held out her hand. He took it.
y lis it true, Charleyp she asked. She
. had never called him Charley before.
+ "Yes, /"
+ "You need not make any excuses,
!. know how bravely you did it. L dom
v know how to thank YOU"
= She stopped. He was holding her han(
! very tightly, and the hand. she knew
a was throbbing as if there was steam
: engine in it. She tried to release it, bu
>. he held it tighterstlll.
you have my hand, Mr.. Berton," SHE
: said, looking hlm in the face. What she
saw there made her look more quickly tc
the floor.
"You have my heart, JESSIE" he said
with an earnestness that made her hear
a throb till she was well nigh choked. The
t 'rorward" girl was modest now. She
was trembling all over. But she did moi
: try to take her hand away. All! that
little hand; il was his hand now, and
7 her heart was with it. They were happy,
t indescribably and supremely happy.
/ All human joys are tleeting. They
were reminded of the fact by hearing the
) latch of the gate lifted. Messrs. N orton
, and CorsOn entered, accompanied by a
| very pretty young lady. Charley's hair
stood on end. 1t was Nellie Montague.
! ah,,,