Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-09-02


after dinner she was more like q
machine than ever, for she scarcely
comprehended the details Of her work.
It is likely that she attended to them
all, but she did so mechanically. Her
thoughts were elsewhere.
The wheels went round and round.
Her thoughts went on and on. Should
she choose for her heart If she did,
she would choose Dick-dear, patient.
willing Dick. Should she choose for
her selfish self? Then she thought Of
what Leverson's wealth could give her.
The machinery seemed to be crash
ing at her with iron jaws. She fan
cied it was a great animal snarling
at her.
"l'm going home" she cried, at
length. Pm sick, dizzy, faint. If
I stay here shall go crazy. I've
got to get away by myself and think.
shall have no rest till / get it sill
thought cut"
She puton her bonnet and shawl, and
went out into the cool October air.
! How peaceful the blue hills looked
far off She wished she were one of
them. Then nothing would fret her;
! her restlessness would be gone.
Oh, which to ehoose-vhieh to
choose?
The words made a little verse Of them
selvas, and her. brain set them to the
monotonous tune of turning spindles
and darting shuttles.
She went towards home in a slow,
roundabout way. She saw men and
women and little children. Some of
them bowed or spoke to her. She did /
not recognize enc face among them
all. Her thoughts were not with the |
things about her. She seemed thou
sand miles away from earth aud every
body.
Suddenly the great factory bell filed
the air with swift elangor, that hurt |
her aching head as if cruel hands had
smote it.
Something has happened" she cried !
turning to look back. But the houses
hid the factory from her sight.
The bell rang out its hoarse alarm.
She ran up the street. When she reached |
the end of the block she saw great |
cloud of smoke breaking above the 4
roofs of the building between her and 4
the factory. Then she knew tae truth. |
The factory was on fire.
s'Oh, Dick, Dick p she thought. and 4
hurried towards the burning building. 1
Perhaps there was something her tired 4
hands could do to help the poor
wretches who were trying to escape
death. What would become of them,
of her. il the factory burned?
She knew, before she reached it, that
IL e. - l.
windows were loopholes of fire. The
caves were wreathed with flames that
coiled and uncoiled themselves like
writhing serpents.
Suddenly great cry rang out from
the crowd. and she saw hands pointing
to the window of a room over the main
entrance. Looking up. she saw Lever
son standing there. His face was very
white. He must have been asleep, men
said, and the fire had reused him from
what might have been pleasant slum-
Der, to put him face to face with an
awful danger.
sit is death for him." thought Lois,
with stifed breath. There's no posi-
BILE way OF escape"
"I'll try to save him." cried q voice
she knew-Diek's voice, and there was
something grand in the sound Of it.
Then she saw him fighting his vay
through the flames, and the last glimpse
of his face showed her how brave it was
in the wild tempest of fire and smoke.
She held her breath, and waited, pale
and trembling, while her heart kept
saying over and over, In = prayerful kind
of way:
sDear Dickl Oh, God save himr"
She knew then, in tine face of the
awful danger, that the lover who was
risking his life SO nobly was more to her
than the lover he was risking his life
for could ever be. She had made her
choice at last.
Suddenly, through the fame and
smoke, she caught sight Of Dicks face
at the window of Leverson's room. He
had Leverson in his arms.
"Throw up a rope" shouted Dick.
"Be quick, for Gods sake"
Some strong hand flung the line he
asked for. He fastened one end of it
beneath the arms of the unconscious
Leverson. and lowered him to the ground
Just as the flames burst out Of the
window below him, wrapping the whole
front of the mill in q seething sheet Of
fire.
groan went through the crowd.
There was no hope for Dick. He had
saved life at the loss Of his own.
"Dick, DickP rang out q woman's
voice. sharp and shrill, and full Of terri
BILE entreaty. ''Tfy to save yourself for
my sakei"