The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-11-14
Irn put on pert,s clothes.o flashed into

on Those, ,snatched last year nat from
shelf, and waiting only to get her
fathers keys out of pocket in his
clothes which hung in hall closet. she
opened the street door, and was gune.
1t was a noble aud generous impulse, but
1t was fearful thing to do:
This happened in Chicago, during the
terrible fire that burned that city thir-
teen years ago. 1t was early on Mon
day morning; the South Side was al
ready a roaring furnace, and the North
Side, in which my story lies, was even
then on fire.
When Grace turned the corner into
much used street, she was appalled,, and
for an instant turned back 1t was
filled with a crowd of people hurrying
by. with fear, horror and other strange
passions in their faces. Some were
loaded with household goods or treas
ures they hoped to save, others carrying
screaming babies, or dragging children
too frightened to run, and now and then
two or three holding between them one
too i'll to stand. 1t was a terrible sight.
a whole city flying for life, and a girl
alone, however brave, might well be
| alarmed.
1t was only for moment, however.
Grace thought of her father, and
plunged into the street. The Office was
| not more than half mile, and her feet
fairly flew, although everybody else was
going the other way, and she hal to
dodge between people and horses and
loads of all sorts.
1t was well she had not far to go, for
the roof was just bursting into fame as
she opened the door with her fathers
keys. His desk easily yielded to the
peculiar key she knew so we'll, and
among letters and papers laid package
she instinctively knew was the precious
one, so carefully tied and sealed, so out
of place it looked there.
Grace seized 1t, and started out. care
fully locking the desk and putting the
keys in her pocket, when the thought
arose, "Where could she hide the pack
rep"
Yon boys would say, in the inner
breast pocket OF the vest, Blu, there
was no vest, at any rate Grace ha
none, and inner pockets were an un'
known mystery to her. She thought an
instant, then quietly slipped it down the
back of her neck inside the clothes
The waistband was tight for her, ant
she felt sure it was safe, and hastily raj
into the street.
Things had changed greatly even il
these few minutes. The tall blocks oi
both sides Of the street we're on fire,
big building atthe corner had fallen AM
cut off her return that way, while tn
air was full of smoke and cinders an,
heat that nearly sufrocated her. Instea'
of the crowd she had seen, II was de
serted, every one had fed for his life
Smothered, blinded, frightened, Grac
turned to run-alasl away from home.
1t was the only way she could go. A
the first corner, she found herself n
longer alone but one small atom of
moving mass of people. To turn tn
other way would have been like tryin
to stem a furious rushing river, and be
sides, that way was thick smoke an
fire. She was carried with the crowd
bewillered, lost. but even in that awfr
moment filled with JOY that she had he
fathers papers.
The fire marched on with rapid strides
driving before it the multitude of home
less wanderers, among them our poo
e Grace. To the Lake shore they went
Il and as the hot breath Of the flames fo
lowed them even into the water far ou
;, as they could stand, till the water cam
= up to their necks. Even there man
were suffocated, ana quietly dropped in
s. to the water and were not missed
l. Grace went as far as she could and kee
y her head above water She though
with pane that the papers would b
- wet, but they were well tied, and any
way they would not be burned. So sh
= tried TO take comfort, though an awfr
, fear had come upon her that she shoul
- never see her parents again.
= Then, too, she remembered that n
=, one knew she had gone, nor where
= look for her,and though she had though
:. only of being brave, she found she ha
been foolish, But the papers are saf'
and papa will be glad" was the though
that always came to comfort her de-
pair.
;" At last, after hours of agony and te
u ror and distress, with groans and erie
~ and prayers in strange confusion, sue
70 as no one can imagine who did not pa
81 through it, when many thought ii
g. world was burning up, and all had lit
hope of getting out alive,the fire burne
ly itself out in that that part of the cit
and swept on to the north.
IN 1t was late in the afternoon before II
b; weary, hungry, fainting fugitiyes vel
IN tured to crawl out of the lake, wriT
OF what water they could from the
a clothes, and set out TO find Is spot c
IS earth where was no fire, II such sp+
be. there was.
IN Gracc joined in the rush over Il
heated earth, water pouring from b
CO clothes at first, but soon dried, III Il
as heat around her. Home and papa
er package was her only thought Iow, b
er where was home? AS soon as she reaeh'
wv the pavements she saw that she W
hopelessly lost. Where was Dearbol
as street9 Where Clark street9
N Al was alike uurecognizable.. Eve
house was burned, lalhp-posts, stre
en- signs, all leyellel with the ground 81
.er looked upon smoking and -steamiI