The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-05-02

tcoucLuDqD HnoH 1ns1 fAaE.l
Wild bGhfC1k Of their hearts into peans
Of psais a8d kladness.
Tearing OF his coat and wrapping
II " F4s'p bod 20 ward on the
snbke II imhch - possible, until he
should return to her, Tom helped
Ars. Dsrham down into safety, and in
. moment more, again the soft, cling
Ing eFpp e. FmSwers wound around
Thick and fast the smoke circled it
self around them, while the flames
leaped out greedilg % feed upoa Eme's
beauty and Toms strength.
But strength proved victor over the
greed, and soon Tom stepped of the
last round and striding quickly be.
yond the smoke and flame, stopped q
moment before joining the group of
friends near by, and in brave, low
ing tones, said:
Nov, let me see my poor, little
smothered darlingi Tired, sweet
What = frightened little face it isl My
pet Il safe now, for only the flames of
my loye surround her, and a. that
emits NO smoke, these tears must 60
away for they prevent nay seeing into
the depths of my dear heavens Of
blue
Tom had strained every nerve to
keep the pain that was tormenting
him out Of his yoice, and 90 well had
he sueceo1ed that only the pallor Of
his face was noted, and Effie's sweet,
little hands huttered up to it, caress-
Ing it and pleading with it to hurry
and get rnddy and dark once more
The touch Of those gentle hands
flooded Toms face with the beauty of
gladness, and hash Of joy came and
rested there, 20 that Effie gsye . glad
little cry Of:
There it comes the dear color that
my heart has ached to see once more p
Tom smiled down upon her, in such
. tender, beautiful way, that Efie
could zee, ~ in . picture, the some
thing That was missing, or that she
had failed to see on her arrival home ;
the something was the brave nobility
which irradiated his nature, and shone
ont intensely, in this moment of acute
bodily pain.
They now Joined tho others, and
proceeded with them to the house of
Mrs. Derham's sister, where prepara-
tions had been made for their recep-
tion, ~ their own home, like . dream,
had passed away and left nothing
but ashes and charred timber to mark
the spot wherein had blossomed their
flower Of happiness, and filed their
lives with fragrance.
Warm was the greeting extended to
them by Mrs. Derham's sister, a. she
said, In tones thrilling with love and
sympathy:
my dear sister; you and your FAM
lily shall help to widen our home.cir-
Gle, brighten our hearth, and warm our
hearts with your presence, through as
many Of the coming days, be they fair
or dark, ~ you can be content to rest
under the wide, broad shelter of our
ThaLnpponoe Of each dropped out
in great round tears, and drowned the
words Of thanks that wanted to be
heard.
After few moments' conversation
in regard to the strife and horror Of it,
Mr.. Derham portrayed in words aglow
with grateful feeling how Tom Shell
don had risked his life to save him.
Turning toward Tom with voice
husky With emotion, Mr.. Derham ex-
claimed:
Il can not speak my thanks, dear
boy my tongue is so laden with the
weight Of my Indebtedness, that can
only clasp your hand aud bless your
dear braye heart
While speaking, he fervently clasp
ed Toms right hand, which was res
ponded to by q convulsive shudder
and . suppressed groan, brought forth
by the pain Of touch.
sAy arm is broken. explained Tom,
In sharp-cut tones then seeing the
great, wild pain in Ehie's blue eyes,
tried to add, "A straight-jacket will
fix 1t al right but the words had to
fight 30 hard to step over the pain,
that they tumbled and fell and left the
sentence broken.
Tom was soon lying on . bed wait.
ing for the arrival of the surgeon, who
soon appeared and shook his head
grayely over the swelling arm, and its
red angry burns.
Should have been called sooner.
Bad-very bad, am afraid of this infla-
mstion-looks like amputation.'
MOL Doctor, nor cried Efie, 'it
must knit together, and be strong and
we'll again
I'll see what can be done, little
trembler,' said he, in quieting tones.
But It proved that the arm must 60.
When Tom was told, . despairing
look settled down upon his face, and
then his eyes turned toward Eme, as
II to gather strength from her to en-
dure, but the strength and brightness
had AL gone ont of her face, and left
it pale and trembling, while her eyes
met his, and something in them, some
thing beautiful and tender, which
shone ont through misty vail of tears
that wss gathered there made him feel
- If he had seen love itself trying to
catch the pain from him, and bear all