Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-05


&rowi; 'aint one 1lfe thrown away enough?
That little cove-him with the gaiters-the same
that broke the dopr-he's gone I seed him
jump right slap intoithe middle of it. He wont
never come back no mofes'
Together we led Weastehd round to the front
once more, all three staggering like drunken
men. The flames were higher than before. but
the upper story and the roof still rose above
them like black island in sea of fire. There
was Miss Cissys Widow dark and unopened
There was no sign Of the flutter of q female
dress. How terrible it was to stand and wait
for the end, powerless TO- stretch out q saving
hand: Poor Welstead leaned against me sob
bling like child. a ghassly longing came into
my heart that might see flames In that room
that might know 1t to be all over. and her pain
and trouble at an end. Then heard the crash
of glass falling outward. and bent nv head to-
avoid seeing the very thing that | had wished
for; and then there broke upon my ear shout
from ten thousand voices, 30 wildly exultant
and madly jubilant that never hope to hear
the like again.
Welstead and I looked up. Balanced upon
the narrow ledge outside the window had
oeen watching there was standing man, framed
as it were in fire. His clothes were hanging
around him as q few tattered charred rags. and
his very hair was In q blaze The draught caused
by knocking out the window had encouraged
the flames, so that lurid curtain hung behind
him, while the ground was fully seventy feet
eternity on each side Of him, stood Joe Smith.
the uncouth and ungrammatical, tying two
sheets together while women sObbed below and
men shouted, and every hand was raised to bless
him. He staggered and disappeared 80 sud-
denly that we feared he had fallen. but he was
back again in en- instant. not alone this time.
for the girl he had come to save was Sung over
his shoulder. The brave fellow seemed to have
doubts of the strength Of his impromptu rope,
Ior ne rested his own weight upon the nearly
red-hot water-ppe during those twelve perilous
feet. supporting Miss Newsome by the arm
which clutched the sheet. Slowly, very slowly,
they descended. but at last his feet touched the
tOpmost rung OF the escape. Was 1t a dream
that heard voice high above me say: Hall
right, missy" before burst of cheering rang
out which drowned every other sound
Miss Cissy, more frightened than hurt. was
delivered over into her half-dstracted fathers
care. while helped to lift Gentleman Joe from
the escape. He lay painting upon the ground.
burned and scorched. his sporting coat tattered
and charred while, strangely enough. the pris-
matte necktie and horseshoe pin had escaped
the general destruction, so as to present an alb
surd oasis amid the desert around He Law
without speaking or moving until Cssy New
some was led past him on her way to cab.
Ihen ne made feeble gesture with his hand,
which indicated that he wished to speak with
her. and she stopped over him. No other ear
but mine caught that whisper.
Don't fret, miss" he said, "cause 1t was the
wrong boss came in. He's good feller-a deal
better than me-and did as much, but hadn't
the luck"
vulgar little speech. but Cissy's eyes got
very moist as she listened, and I'm not sure that
mine didn't too.
The Office was sadly reduced after that. With
Weistead and the Gentleman on the sick list,
there were only four of us at the desk. and the
reaction from the excitement had left us any
chlng but lively. / can remember only one re-
mark ventured upon during the first day. The
dreary scratching OF pens bad lasted unbroken
LOT over an hour, when little Sparkins looked up
from his ledger. l.al.
~ suppose you would call him gentleman
after ALL he said.
"A very much better one than you will ever
oe, gro"led Dullan, and We relapsed into the
scratching of pens.
was present at the wedding of Charley
,Welstead and Cissy Newsome, when, after
long delay, it was finally celebrated. BY the
original arrangement was to have figured as
pest man, but my post Of honor was handed over
TO certain very ugly young man whose ap-
pearance suggested the idea that he had spent
the last few weeks in q mustard poultice Tn
romantic as it may seem. this youth not only
went through his duties with all the nonchalance
In the world but danced at the subsequent fcs-
tlVlties with the greatest vigor and grace 1t is
commonly rumOred that this activity of his,
combined with sundry interesting anecdotes con-
corning horses and dogs. have so prevailed upon
the heart OF susceptible young lady, that
there Is every probability Of our having repe-
ttlon OF the marriage ceremony. Should it be
so, trust that ! may at least revert to my
original position as best man.-AH the Yed,.
Round.