New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-05-21

:. An alarming fire, he said, gravely,
land we are poorly provided to meet
it-only two weak engines worked
manuallY. Unjust 20 there o. once.''
81 will 60 with you, "said Flora; and
before he had exchanged his slippers
for boots and drawn on his overcoat
she was ready.
They went hand In hand down the
steep hill road to the village; and ST.
lently, for they were absorbed in watch
ing the flames that spread with fearful
rapidity, now sweeping upward in
glowing sheets, and now with forked
tongues of flame piercing dense smoke.
Fire! How terrible it is! That ele-
ment never intrusted to brutes, and
given but charity to man, but confided,
one might think, to demons sometimes.
II ever, then certainly to demons to-
night.
plunged in excited confusion-men
working desperately with their incom-
plete engines; promiscuous bands of
people giving simprovised help; men,
women and children from far and near
gathering, and rushing in augmenting
throngs to the tumultuous scene.
Flora almost directly became sepa-
rated from her husband. People she
scarcely knew came and engaged her
in their terror-strickeh talk; but she
was not bewildered. Her swift intelli-
gence comprehended tie moment and
the moments need, and she thought,
with the quick instinct of her kind
heart, j" These men will be tired very
soon; they will need refreshment of
some som $50, sort &c: Coffee: good strong Coffee
She put her thought into instant act.
She looked around her for Mark, but,
not seeing him, she started alone, flew
up the hill path to her house, and or
dered coffee to be made and hamper
fuls of sandwiches; and, leaving her
own people busy, she went to houses of
several neighbors and aroused them to
the same work. Then she returned to
the place of the fire, followed speedily
by all she had ordered from home; and
table was spread near the stations of
engines, where it could be reached by
the firemen whenever relays of men
gave relief to their fellows, as from
time to time the most vigorous strength
yielded in the desperate fight.
Meanwhile Lady Alice and Mrs. Con-
greve had driven down to witness the
intense scene. Mark was there to help
them alight from the clarence; he as
sisted his mother to secure q sheltered
spot of outlook. And then, in response
to her half-expressed desire, he offer
ed to conduct Lady Alice to a nearer
point of view.
She chung to his arm confidingly,
though with q perceptible tremor,
shrinking from the crowd and clamor.
He found a snow-clad knoll left in the
eddying current of the throng, close by
the tumult, yet apart, and there they
paused, gazing forth, and not utterin9
q word, until, drawn by the subtle
magnetism of the beautiful presence,
Mark turned from the ''madding
crowd" and concentrated his glance
upon Lady Alice.
There she stood in her picturesque
costume, the plumed hat with its back.
ward wave cresting her ringleted fore.
head, the ermine-lined cloak opening
from her slender, brightly -draped fig.
ure Ike half-folded wings; her exqui'
site, little hands, gloved smooth,
like velvet. resting, one on his arm, the
other, with the mold of q Venus,
against her breast; and her delicate,
clear-cut face, brilliant in the blaze,
but not flushed beyond the quality of
its own pure tint, like q diamond which
no common flame can touch with the
least mark of fire.
"How strange and wild this is!'' she
murmured. zone can realize how
Nero, in his mad carnival, used an en-
erald to soften the fierce rage of such q
burning sight"
"You need no material medium"
SAID SAID Ms a sad gs1g to keep sspa you
magical precious stone; you look upon
the wild rage and the fierce heats OF
life, too, always through an emerald. -
He spoke in q voice whose flatterlng
information could not be mistaken, and
was not lost upon the delicate ear that
heard; but thereafter his eyes moved
restlessly, and he presently proclaimed
the object of their search by exclaiming,
"Oh, there is my wife!'
"Where?" asked Lady Alice.
IF ever one thought of Marks heart
responded to his mothers sigh. that "a
jar upon her taste was made uncon.
sciously by Flora, it was at this mo-
ment when he directed the calm cold
glance to her place, and her, image
came into emphatic contrast with that
of the serene and polished Lady Alice.
Perhaps the very indiscretion of his
wife in awakening attention to her un-
attainable 'modep' augmented the
keen perception of the difference. Who
knows what accidental stir may mar q
mans most perfect fidelity? If ever
one discordant clash swept across the
complete harmony of Marks devoted
admiration. it was at this moment.
Flora was pouring coffee at one Of
the tables surrounded by fremen.
Her gloves were cast aside; the hastily.
adjusted hood of her cloak had fallen
upon her shoulders; her face was
fushed-yes, even heated, over-heated;
MO- AAVoAOAo W0A0 4uAOAs dAkuAoIS ILLS
pulsive. She was speaking, not with
condescension, but with familiarity, to
these rough men. She was not only
pouring the coffee, but handing the
cups, and this not in stately profile,
like our well-known picture of the ideal
chocolate-girl, but with the sharp earn.
estness of self-forgetful server. The
men drank eagerly, but not uncon.
sciously of the rare attendance. Mrs.
Mark Congreve was, evidently winning
gratitude touched With chivalric ad:
miration, but not disturbed or abashed
by any stunning sense of superiority.
g Is that your wifea'' asked Lady
Alice, in her measured, modulated, de.
liciously low-toned voice. 81 did moi
recognize her.
Mark yielded for an instant to veal
misgiving; then his love rallied.
Yes, there is Flora" he answered,
Il 4 4 [ - n 4 81 q