The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-30

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half n dozen oficiOus people held mt
back. while the men with the fire escape
tried to real it agaln0t the house;
it would not reach because OF the gar
den in front, so that they had TO get
the wheels OF the escape over the IRON
ratings, and this caused great delay.
Let me GO" I painted to those who
held ME. Let me go! Some one
some one is in the house. -,
You can't do any good, sir" SAID
a policeman, roughly. THE escape
men will do all that can be done
But I struggled frantically, and got
loose, feeling all the while a horrible,
dcspairing sensation, as | knew that
my poor darling was one Of theshrleE-
ING suppliants forhelpa at the windows,
and that but for my folly | might
have savedher.
As | freed myself from those who
held me, and ran to the escape, 1t was
to find that the man who had ascend
ed it had just been beaten back by the
flames.
Its no good" he said; eve must
try the back OF the house"
He was about to drag the machine
away, when l heard my name calIedin
piteous tones: and as | was once more
seized. | shook myself free, rushed up
the ladder, with the flames sCOrchln9
and burning my face and painting and
breathless, | reached a window where
Matte stood stretching out her hands.
I got astride OF the sill, the flames
being waited awayfrOmm me, and threw
my arms around her; but as | did so
the ladder gave away, burned through
by the flames that sushed furiOusly
from the lower window, and felt that
| must either Jump or try to descend
by the staircase.
There was no time for thinking, so /
climbed in, lifted Matte in my arms,
feeling her dress crumble in my hands
as | touched her, and the horrible Odor
of burnt hair rose to my nOstrils as !
saw her wild, blackened face turned to
mine.
"Dick, Dick" she gasped, "save me-"
and then she tainted.
Fortunately, | was as much at home
in the house as my own, and making
for the staircase through the flame
and smoke, I reached it in safety, but
below me was what seemed to be a
fercely blazing furnace. | recOiled for
a moment, but it was my only hope,
and | recalled that the lower floor was
as yet untouched by the fire; it was
the one beneath me that was blazing
so furiously. So, getting q good tight
grip of my treasure, / rushed down
the burning stairs, feeling them crackle
and give way as bounded from oneto
the other. .....
1t was a fiery ordeal, but in a few
seconds | was below the flames, and
reached the hall, where / struggled to
the door, reached it and fell. HIcould
but open it / knew we were saved; but
| was exhausted, and the hot air
caught me by the throat and seemed
to strange me. raised my hand to
the lock, but it fell back. | beat feebly
at the door but there was only the
roar of the flames to answer me-; and
as | made one more supreme effort
painting and struggling to reach the
fastening, | was dragged back by the
weight of the burden | still clasped to
my breast.
1t was morethan human endurance
could bear, and / felt that the end was
near; and to make my sufferings more
poigant, Matte seemed to revive,
struggling with me for her life, as she
kept repeating my name, and chung to
me, till
"Dick-dear Dick! Wake-pray
wake! Are you ill.,"
Istarted upto find Matte clinging to
me; ard, clasping her to my heart a
great sob burst from me as / kissed
her passionately again and again,
hardly able to believe my senses.
ooh, Dick she painted, ''you did
frighten me sol / couldn't stay to
supper at the Wilson's dear, for
could do nothing but think about your
being here alone, and cross with me
Sol was SO miserable, Dick, that
slipped away and came home, to find
you lying back here, painting and strug
Cling; you wouldn't wake when Ishool
you. Were you ill2"
"Oh, no, not at ALL" / said, as kiss
ed her again and again, feeling now FOL
the flrst time sensible OF smartlngp pan
in one foot.
"You have burnt yourself too, Dick
Look at your foot.
1t was quite true; the toe Of on
slipper must have come In contac
with the fire; and it was burned com
pletely off.
"But, dear Dick,n she whispered
nesting closer to me, fare you yer,
angry with your little wife for bein
such a girl?"
could net answer, only thank Go
that my weak fit of folly was past, a
/ clasped her closer and closer yet.
"Mattie," / said at last in a yer
husky voice, "can you forgive me fo
being so weak"
could say no more, for the hinG
rance of two soft lips placed on min'
and while they rested there / made
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