The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-12-11

Ol the IINeTIleu knew tu3l he was
wealthy relative of the esquire's wife and
J that he was from Boston. 1t took only
few sly whispers and winks, grimaces
and gestures for those jolly young fell
] lows to agree that If heAshoved himself
at the ball in his starch and buckram
they would take him down to the river
and souse him.
Meanwhile at the Yellow tavern,
Grandfather and Debby, who had been
left at home to see to things. were hurry
ing around to get everything in order
for the dancing to begin at 8 o'clock.
"I believe there is change of weather
brewing Debby," said the old man about
noon, "and am a good mind to fasten
up the big -bulkhead; the..winter stores
are all in.
81 would replied the young woman.
ST was just thinking, that, for all we
have hsd so much warm weather, winter
would be likely TO find us unprepared,
and that we had better have been bank
ing the house and listing the doors and
windows, than entertaining all this COM
pany, but We are not likely to spend an
other Thanksgiving like this"
NO said grandfather solemnly, "not
at all likely. You will remember this
Thanksgiving day at every other Thanks
giving day as long as you live Debby," I"
and he stubbed away to the barn after
straw with which to fill the great bulk
head in order to keep out the frost.
The next Deborah saw of him he came
into the kitchen, lighted tallow candle
and disappeared with it in the cellar.
He came back again presently, dipped a
pail of water from the cistern, and saying
pleasantly, 81 guess you will have to
help me here moment, Debby, he went
Immediately down stairs again.
The young woman supposing he need
ed her assistance about moving some
heavy box or barrel, put the last of the
chicken pies for the supper in the oven,
very carefully fastened up the thick,
heavy oven door and then followed the
old man.
What did it mean The cellar was
full of smoke and flame. ALI she could
do was to seize grandfather by both his
hands and hurry him up the stairs.
Somehow the straw caught from the
CANDLE" he said, 81 tried to put it out,
but the more I smothered the more it
spread; Behold how great a matter lit
tie fire kindleth ! There is no help for
it now, it all will have to co." and the
old man walked into his own room, hung
| his hat up ON its accustomed peg, s-t
down by the claw-footed light stand,
| crossed his hands over his dead wife's
big bible and looked through the south
| window to the little family burying
ground or an upland near by and across
it to the bow of his beloved river.
By that time Deborah was far up the
road on her way to the village, carrying
carefully in one hand dipper of water
and crying "Fire I" as loud as she could
whisper, thinking, in her alarm, that she
was shouting at the top of her voice.
The merry company were Just return
ing from church, and she came upon
them where they were lingering in the
edge of the wood, while the girls picked
mountain myrtle with which to set off
their simple toilets in the evening.
Ruth, who stood near the road chat
ting with the handsome stranger, who
had been duly introduced by the squire,
was the first to see Deborah, and at once
noting her excitement, called
"Grandfather? Where is he? What
The house on fire 2" ...
The words had no sooner passed the
affrightd woman's lips than the stranger
caught them up and shouted,-
''Fire fire the yellow tavern is on
| fire - and seizing one of Ruth's up
thrown hands he ran with her in advance
of the company down the woody hill
across the green meadow and into one
|
The angry flames having got a fine
start had burst out the bulk-head,s ran
up the side of the house and caught
among the dry tinder-like shingles, while
inside the house it was coming up in
many places through the white, sanded
floors.
"Grandfather Grandfather" shrek
Ruth, running from room to room of the
large old house, and coming upon him
still gazing out at the river, with look
upon his face as if he could already see
beyond the confines of this world.
''Leave me Alone" he said, with q
voice of quiet authority. "Leave me to
go with the house. 1t will soon be over,
and there is providence in it. I could
never have lived away from the river,
never"
"You never shall move away, granth-
er," cried Joe, who had rushed in, and,
gathering the little thin old man in his
strong, young arms, he ran with him out
of the burning house, calling back to his
sister,
Ruth Ruthy come quickly. Save
| yourself or it VIII be too late
''The tall clock said pretty Ruthy,
speaking quite eollectedly to the strang-
er who still stood beside her; "that must
be saved, even if everything else goes. !"
Ruth Ruth 70 rang from the crowd
outside. who came as near as they could
to the intense heat of the raging flames
Ruth Ruth, run through the north
pantry; the roof will soon fall in p
"Where Is the clock?" the stranger