Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-23

I
There was little time to save aught but
precious lives. z
Redmond, who had at once opened
the door with his latch key. rushed up
stairs to the room which his friends occu-
pied, but was Mortified to find the pas
sage in a living fame. GOOD God"
he groaned, chow shall / rescue them?"
He rushed out again and Joined the
crowd who had collected under Louis's
window. No sound issued from the
room. Perhaps they We're already suf-
located. Redmond shouted no answer.
Two men went hastily for ladder: it
would be an eternity before they re-
turned. Meanwhile they were in the
very jaws of death! A tall tree rose
firm and grand near the window. Red
mond flung his coat ON the dewy grass
and assembled it quickly. How, he
could not tell, but he gained project
ing branch, threw up the window and
vaulted into the room. He was clever
gymnast, but in his hours of amuse-
ment he never dreamed of this terrible
need. The room was full of thick
smoke that almost stopped his breath.
The girls lay unconscious in sleep that
IN few moments would be eternal.
He caught the first one, and supporting
her light form in one arm, with the
other he aided his downward descent.
and placed the unconscious form in the
hands outstretched below. The lurid
| light showed the still face of Louise. Till
then he had not known which one ne
had rescued, for he had purposed to
save both, or die in the attempt. This
had been the work of moment. It
was only that of another to reascend,
perform again the brave deed, and give
to tremb bling arms the other unconscious
form.
Redmond Clarke had large reserve
power in his organization: but his real
strength. physically, was far from enor-
nous. The need for the exercise of his
tremendous will being over, he tottered
and fell insensible few rods from the
spot where the two girls lay on some
bedding that had been thrown out from
the burning house.
Kind neighbors were making prepa-
rations for the removal and accommo-
dation of the sufferers. Louise, under
the reviving influence of the night air,
gasped Once-or twice, and then slowly
Enclosed her eyes. She looked around
on the burning building and the disor-
dered scene, with a strange, unreal SEN
satiOn. She rose slowly to a sitting po-
sition, and saw Redmond lying still as
death on the dewy greensward. The
flames leaped and reared. and the harm
less silvery moonlight paled before their
lurid, wrathful CLEAN.
"HoW did [ come here?" asked
Louise, in dazed, bewildered manner.
You have been carried out of this
burning building, unconscious" said a
gentleman standing near. THAT per-
son" pointing to Redmond, saved you
both. He has not spoken since"
Redmond ClarkeP p she said, half
dreamily. He was not here last night
He went to Ashland to escape the
food" and again sank back uncon-
scious.
The three were carried to the same
house, and in a few days the girls re-
| covered their usual health. Redmond's
recovery was slower He had not ro-
bust health, and the anxiety and extra
exertion of that terrible night, coupled
with a cold taken while lying on the
damp grass threw him into a fever,
from which he recovered slowly The
two girls attended him with thankful
ness for the privilege to show their
gratitude for the service he had rem
dered
Blanche magnanimously refrained
from reminding Louise of the thoughts
to which she had given expression on
that memorable day. There was no
need. Louise remembered with sharp
regret the injustice. In Redmond's
eye she seemed to have developed into
a new character; she was so gentle, so
womanly. The elixir of life seemed to
eminate from her presence. The I'M
dercurrent of her thoughts ran thus:
" Can | ever admire enough his noble
courage| She wondered how he came
there on that night He had not re-
turned when she retired at late hour,
but the matter had not been mentioned
between them. In his weak state the
physician forbade the least excite
ment.
One day she stood looking at him as
he seemed to slumber on low lounge,
to which he had been removed from
his bed. He looked very pale, but
beautiful as ever. II never thought he
would prove such hero" she said, half
aloud. 81 see now how utterly false
are appearances" She touched his
forehead lightly with her soft palm, and
then was turning to 60, but clasp of
his large, white hand detained her.
az have heard your words" he said,
looking into her flushed face and un-
steady eyes calmly steadily, "Will
you sit q moment beside me?"
She obeyed the request. The inhe-
rent power of his nature was rising to
the surface, and a stronger individuality
than her own was making itself felt
above mere physical weakness.
viii you say that you love me,
LOuise?
The question was low. steady and
firm. The answer came lower, and
with a slight quiver in. the tone-"I love
you"
~ am not exacting debt of graft
tude. Do you love me of your own
sweet willY
She looked at him. A new atmos-
phere seemed to surround him. He was
not to her the Redmond Clarke of Old
She reached her other hand for him to
clasp. az do not love you through gra-
titude. If you had saved the life of my
greatest enemy [ should have admired
and loved you as WELL"
She was noble in her surrender, as
she had been conscious in her doubts.
:" At last, at last" he said, and with
her hand in his he glided into a gentle
slumber.
Afterwards he told her of his dream
and midnioht walk She waS n11zzlad