Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-28

dark stairs out into the street with the
stars shining clear and cold overhead.
| wrote the next day and thanked
her, but if dreamed Of anything more
it was useless, Tor nothing came back
in return to the Office excepting the
regular roll of neat manuscript, which
/ could only send down to the printer
and have put in type.
And so the weeks Of work rolled
around into months, and it was sum
mer time and the corn grew yellow, and
then came the cold autumn winds
and swept aside the faded leaves, TO
bring us again upon the threshold OF
winter, with its snowy walks and ICY
air.
One morning | sat there again at the
old table, with blue tobacco-smoke
curling up in fantanstic rings to fade
against the low, dingy ceiling; sat there
facing the old pile of near MSS, with
a fair face floating before me in a mics
Of shadow: sat there dreaming a day
dream and building castle of smoke
until Joe, the ofhce-boy, suddenly in
terrupted my reyerie by entering with
with message.
| glanced hastily over the paper he
held. My partner was seriously i'll at
MS home in Somerset and desired to
see me without delay. A hasty glance
at the time card, and the next train
bore me southwark, over the fair farms
of Jersey. 1t was only the ride of an
hour, and, as every few moments
sufiiced for all our business, it was but
little after dark when again stood up
on the cold, bleak station platform of
that little country village, anxiously
waiting for the night train to carry me
to my more comfortable city quarters.
Five minutes, ten, fifteen passed
slowly away and, swinging my hands
about to keep warm, ] walked up and
down the narrow platform, and even
pracliced some athletic feats upon n
ladder which stood leaning against the
freight-house.
took one last look down the track
for the expected headlight, and then,
as turned back, had my attention at
tracted by line OF sparks flying out
of tall chimney belonging TO house
just opposite me. They came forth in
perfect stream, would flare up sepa-
rately for a moment and then one by
one melt away in the darkness. The
wind seemed strong enough to bear
them beyond harm, and | merely
watched their falling from idle curl
osty. But suddenly, rs i looked,
one larger than the others, unable to
be carried away by the light air, falls
on the dry shingle of the roof, rolls
along until near the edge towards me,
Thea stops, smolders a moment and
bursts out into tiny flame. | heard
quick, startled exclamation, beside
me. 1t is the switchman.
"My God Mrs, Chases house is
afire p
Then, like q flash, came to myself,
and as ! did so thought of the ladder
against the freight-house.
"Here men !" ( shouted, "come with
me !"
Together We grasped the heavy bur
den, and on a run staggered across the
lines of track towards the house, where
we could see the little flame growing
so steadily larger and larger each me
ment.
easter, boys; don't lose any time"
| cried out, as we rushed in among the
group, that had now collected.
"End her up !" and as they did so, l
flung aside my heavy coat. and pre-
pared for the ascent.
Better let me go, sir" whispered
the old switchman. 81 don't believe
that ladder is very safe. "
"It's my place" answered, hurried
ly; 81 weigh less than any of you.
Hold the ends tight !" and 1 ran swiftly
up the lower rounds. Then, slower and
slower / felt my way, for the old frame
bent and cracked beneath my feet like
rotten stick. 1t just reached the
edge Of the sloping roof, and just be-
yond my reach chung that blazing bit
of wood, charring the shingles. A lit
tie further a little further Oh, for
something that ] might cling 20. Fl
nally, | succeeded in working n shingle
partially loose, caught slight hold of
It, and Strengthened my body out over
the roof, made one desperate reach
forward, grasped the blazing fragment,
and, forgetting the pain, flung it with a
backward movement over my head
into the air. One half cheer broke
from the Threats below, and then q
support of the lead gutter suddenly
gave way. l lost my balance, my fin
gers slipped from their narrow hold
and | came back with full force upon
the ladder Crash 1t gave way, and
/ was flung hoadlong cut into the air,
and down upon the hard, graveled
walk below
1t was long, weary nights and days
of pain that followed of hidcous
dreams, of wild, childish yaporings, of
delirium, and almost death ! What
dreams-terribly real dreams, l had
what fearful pictures ever passing the
scope OF my disordered imagination,
with their dark and light shadows
Now some scene, weird and wild
enough for the regions of eternal pun