Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-10-22

against her so unpardonably, and nee(
not expect to be pleasantly received.
| III, however, he should come home
early, she might relax little towart
him. But the hour came and passed
without him, and Mrs. Tracy grew
angrier. If he was staying away IL
punish her, he might stay as long as h'
llkei-she wonld never care.
But as another hour passed she grew
uneasy. With all his trying want oi
punctuality. Harvey neyer really miss
ed meal without sending her word
of explanation. 1t was already growing
dark as she pressed her face anxiously
against the window pane, when her lit
tie boy rushed in.
"O mamma there's such big fire
down town. Can't 60 and see it p
She had heard an alarm an hour OF
two before, but paid little attention to
1t.
mo, of course you can't, Willie, it is
too late for you to be ont. But where
is the fire 2"
"I don't know, but it's great, great
big one,T know. Hear how the whistles
blow-and see, the folks are running
more and more"
She caught few words from some
passers by which brought look of dis.
may to her face.
1.-The Phoenix block-and spreading
fast. Trouble with water freezing in
hose"
Breathlessly she ran into the house
and threw on her wraps. Then, with a
few words of direction to the sci want
girl, she took WilIie's hand and hurried
In the bitter cold of the fast closing
winter night through the streets. .becom.
ing more and more crowded as they
drew nearer the business precincts with
others, whose faces were all turned in
the same direction.
Her husbands Office was in the Phoe-
nix Block. A chill, deadier than that
of the inclement air struck to her heart.
as through her mind ran one after IA
mother dread imagination OF what
might be. She remembered his worry
about the safe-how little she had heed
ed him i'm her selfish resentment over a
little disappointment Her steps quick
ened with wild fear as she thought Of
the papers be had spoken of-she knew
the first instinct of his faithful soul
would be to peril his life for the safety
of what Others had confided to his care.
The crowd grew thicker as she near
ed the fire, until she could move only
with difficulty as she still pressed on.
They had not lived ia the place for any
length of time and the faces about her
were all strange, until at length fa-
miliar voice said:
"You here, Mrs. Tracy ? This is no
place for you."
She grasped the speakers arm.
''Mr. Brand-do tell me ! Is it seri-
Gus? Is it the Phoenix ?-and have you
seen Mr.. Tracy 2"
His face was more troubled than he
wished her to see as he tried to lead her
away from the crowd.
swell, a large fire is always more or
less serious, you know. 1t began in the
Phoenix-"
81 want to hear about it, she insist.
ed, as he paused. "How are things
there, now p''
"The fire went up the elevator shaft,
so there has been difficulty in getting
the occupants. But 1 do assure you,
Mrs. Tracy, tnat no lives are known to
be lost. The last saw of Mr.. Tracy
he and the other lawyers were working
like beavers trying to get out their be-
longlngs."
"When was that ?" she gasped.
"Perhaps an hour ago."
"I'm going to get nearer," she said,
and, as her FREUD could not dissuade
her, he took her arm and they slowly
worked their way toward the large
building to which the fire was now con-
fined.
1t was a strange and magnificent
sight. Winter had laid his pitiless fin
gel on every attempt to interrupt the
progress of the ruin. seeming to rejoice
in promoting the advance Of the fire.
fend. All the noble enginery of the
fire department was in full play, but
many bursted hose had been thrown
aside. and other difficulties from clog
ging ice in every direction were contin
ually arising. The tall, partly faller
walls of the brick building were sheet
ed with ice, which shone and sparkled
in the gas-light like the famed Russian
palace, and against which many q
stream of water fell in rattling hail
Banks of ice, from leaking hose, lay a.
cross the streets. while around the burn
ing building lay piled-up mass of ice
mingled with books, carpets. and furni