The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-13


here there was fresh burst of tears-.1
will have no other personi"
She remained locked in her room
until from her window she saw Captain
Grimwell leave the house.
Then there was a knock at the door,
and when Fanny unlocked it Bella came
in.
sWhy, Fanny she cried, "what
is the matter? Our visitor inquired for
you. He wanted to bid you goodbye.
Papa and 1 said we would look for you
and bring you. But he then answered
that he would not permit it-that, per-
haps YOU had headache, and he would
not have you disturbed. He spoke quite
/ tenderly."
"Did hep" said Fanny, clinching her
little white teeth.
Then she related what the Captain
had said to her about a valentine. Bella
was indignant.
81 think as you do" she said
"that papa would like to have you
encourage this Grimwell as sutton.
Don't you let him persuade you. What
will you do with his valentineP'
g 1t shall go into the fire. promptly
answered Fanny.
There was little sleep for her that
night. She did not even go to bed; but
in her excitement she walked her room
for hours, dressed exactly as she had
been when Captain Grimwell came to
the house.
by small table near a clothes press,
and picking up book endeavored to
divert her mind by reading. She had
placed her lamp near the edge of the
table in order to have good light.
Ut was about two O'Clock in the morn
ing when Fanny's book dropped from
her hand, and she unconsciously fell
into doze. Occasionally she was half
walked by knocking noise, which
would cause her to start without open
ing her eyes. The noise was produced
by staging hanging by ropes from the
roof, some carpenters whom Mr.. Bur-
ton had employed not having yet finished
their work. The staging, hanging about
twenty feet below the window of
Fanny's room, and within about three
feet of the ground, swayed, scraping
and knocking against the side of the
house every time there came gust of
wind.
All at once starting in her sleep at
the sound, and yet not waking, the
young girls elbow struck the lamp,
which was thus upset.
1t fell-making but little noise-into
the clothes press, the door of which was
open, and in an instant handbook there
was ignited. The flames spread to
other boxes, then to the dresses hang
ing above them, and soon the wood
work of the closet was cracking and
swapping as it took fire.
The flames now camS rolling forth in
sheets and the door 81 the apartment
was in few minutes ablaze.
just then Fanny awoke. Seeing the
fire which was spreading around the
room, she uttered half-stiiled shrieks,
while, nearly smothered by the smoke
and the heat, she CROPPED towards the
window, her way to tae door being shut
off by the flames.
The window-sashes were closed and
securely fastened with small bolts.
Sometimes these bolts were hard to
move, and weakened and confused as
she was by terror, Fanny found them SO
on this occasion. Her trembling fingers
flew from bolt to bolt without elect.
Meanwhile she heard the Kissing and
cracking of the flames, and could
hardly breathe Oh account of the
smoke.
She dashed her hand against one of
the panes of glass, breaking it, while,
al Il. IL
Help! helpr' But she had little hope
of beng heard at that early hour in the
morning. The smoke became vet more
dense as her carpet took fire, and she
fell, gasping for breath, upon the
floor.
At that moment nimble form,
which had been climbing one of the
staging ropes, hanging. as stated, from
the roof, arrived close to the window.
g Miss Burton, where are ycu?"
came clear, manly voice, which Fanny
recognized as that OF Frank Furman,
the young m;dshipman. She family
the youth kicked away the sash. frame
and all
He sprang into the room, caught up
Fanny. and. getting astride of the
babe her cling firmly to
his neck with both arms. Revived by
the fresh air. she followed his direc-
tions, so he was enabled to slide down |
the staging-rope with her to the |
ground. There he found her father,
who had been aroused by the noise that
had been made, and to whose care he
now resigned the young girl.
81 will climb up there again, and
do my best, sir, while you go for help"
cried the youth.
A second time he mounted 10 the
burning room, and, finding a pail
there, he rapidly drew water from a
pump in the apartment, and COM
menced to fight the flames.
1t was perilous work, owing to the
thick smoke, which almost suffocated
him, but. although badly scorched.
and, for the time, half blinded, he con-
trived to keep the flames in check nm
I'll MIR. Burton came to his assistance
with several neighborS. A ladder and
hose had been obtained, and thus the
Ere was finally extinguished.
The gallant young Mid. then asked to
see Fanny Burton, saying he had note
for her from Captain Grimwell-
He was shown to the parlor, in which
The fair girl was now seated.
She 5lushed deeply. and Frank also
colored. but somehow the fact of his
having had the young lady in his arms
when be rescued her seemed TO have
some of his bashfulnesS
81 have a letter for You. Miss Bur-