Smyrna times., 1885-02-18

added, by way of a ST. & to my sensible
speech.
Il can't enjoy myself, Dick, she
said gently, "unless you come too.
Let me stay"
II desire you to go!" exclaimed,
banging my hand down ON the desk.
She looked at me with ,he great tears
standing in her eyes, and then, coming
nearer she bent over me and kissed my
forhead.
"Will you come and fetch me, Dick?"
she said softly.
Yes -no-perhaps-I don't know"
said rough y, as | repelled her ca
resses. And then, looking wistfully at
me, she went slowly to the door, glided |
out, and was gone.
That broke the spell, and I started
from my seat, more angry than ever, 1
was wroth with her now for Obeying me
so meekly, and l gently opened the
/ door, to hear her call the maid to accom-
pany her as far as the Wilson's. Then I
heard them po-heard the girl return,
and I was alone.
Alone? Well not exactly; for SO to
speak, vas having an interview with
my angry self, asking how could let a
feeling of annoyance act upon my better
nature, and make me behave as 1 had to
the sweet giriish being who, during the
six months we had been married, had
never looked at me but with eyes OF
love.
"Change your things and go after
her, " something seemed to say; but l
repealed it, threw my writing aside,
kicked off my boots snatched my slip
pus out of the closet, thrust the easy
chair III front of the fire, threw myself
into it, and then, with my feet on the
fender and my hands in my pockets, 1
sat, morose, bitter and uncomfortable,
gazing at the glowing embers.
''She had no business to gO!" ex-
claimed. "She knew was up all last
night writing that miserable book, and
was out of sorts, and she ought to have
stayed"
Then l reviewed the past half hour,
and grew calmer as leaned back, know
ing as / did that l had forced her to go,
poor child, and how miserable she would
be.
"Shell forget it among all those peo-
pie" l said bitterly.
But did not lelieve it, and at last
1 sat there clling myself idiot blind,
mailman, to pant as 1 had the first
seeds of what might grow into very
upas tree of disscnsion, and blight the
whole of our married life
Poor little darling" 1 said at last
ell wait up till she comes home, and
! then tell her how sorry 1 am for my
folly. and ask her forgiveness. But as
= d ma can l do that! VIII it not be
{ weal? Never mind, 1 exclaimed "II
4 do it! Surely there can be no brave,
| thing than to own ones self in tn,
@ wrong Life is short to blurr it will
: petty quarrels. And suppose she wer
/, taken ill to-night-my darling whom
e love with all my heart ? Or suppose sh
@ went too near the fire and her dres
t caught alight? There how absurd
!, Thanl goodness, she is in silk, and nc
!, in one of those hy-away muslins!"
" sat on, musing, ill suddenly theI
was a buzz outside the house. and the
It the rush of feet, 1 fancied heard til
- word fire I" repeated again and agaiI
/. and, turning to the window there was
Il glow which lighted up the whole pac,
1t 1 dashed down the stairs and out
e the door, to find the road thronged, fC
If a house q little lower down was in flame
le and to my horror l had not taken
5, dozen steps before 1 found it was Ol
st friends the Wilson's.
ct There was no engine, but a crowd
excited people, talked eagerly and iu
y then the fire escape came trundll
~ along the road 1t was quite time, f
If the house as I reached it was blazil
n furiously, the flames darting out in lOl
gn fiery tongues from the upper window
while Mt several there were people CT
;" ing piteously for help.
r fought my way through the crow
ir- and tried to run UP to the house, b
in half a dozen otiiciods people heid !
L back, while the men with the fire e'e'
tried to rear it against tn house: i
tie it would not reach because Of tn" e.
den IN front SO thlI the ma t" ct
I wheels of the escape over the iron IA
ings and this caused great delay.
4" Let me go!' painted to those W
on held me. Let ne go! Some one
nd some one is III the house!"
ire You cant do amy good, sir, " sale
policeman, roughly. 1.-The escape m
will do all that can be done.
by But 1 struggled frantically, and e
Sc loose, feeling all the while horrib
tile despairing sensation, as 1 knew that l
poor dqrling was one of the shrieli
ne, suppliants for help at the windows, a
asst that but for my folly might have saw
sat her
AsI freed myself from those who hi
aid me, and ran to the escape it was to ii
that the man who had asoended 1t
re- just been beaten back 10y the flames.
Its no good" he said; 1--WE IN
mt try the back of the house.
n.y. He was about to drag the mach
away, when heard my name called
rly, piteous tones and as | was once M
and seized, l shook myself free, rushed
5he ladder, with the flames scOrchi
Go and burning my face and painting Q
u" breathless, l reached n window VIII
Matte stood stretching out her hands
it'll | got astride of the sill, the flar
being waited away from me, and thu
Iout my arms around her but as 1 did
are the ladder gave away, burned throU
hem by the flames that gushed furiOusly fl
the lover window, and felt tina
said must either jump or try to descend
that the staircase.
pack There was no time for thinking,
climbed in, lifted Matte III my Nr
fri feeling her dress crllmble i'll my hH
IN of rs | touched her, and the horrible @
of burnt hair rose to my nOstrils a
lper- saw her wild, blackened face turned
more mine.
and Dick, Dick!" she gasped, "E