Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-09


roof. admitting light and afr, but Il was
out 81 her reach. She could see through
the cracks under the caves the crowd
without. and she screamed for help ana
beat upon the walls, but none could see
Or hear her.
And finally. when red fiery eyes seemed
o1arinu 81 her. and the hot tongues OF
flame came licking through the door and
the roof. IL II eager for their victim. she
had sunk down and buried her face IN
her arms in an agony Of terror ana de-
SPAR.
bessie! Bessiel'
She knew the voice. He was beating
ct the door, which at length with
crash gave way. Then he had her IN
his arms, and she chung to him, gasping,
as she buried her face in bis bosom:
1--WE will die together. Watr0
IT was no time even TO answer her.
With one rapid glance he took In the
whole situation. The stair behind him
was in flames.
He tore down the r0pe which. hung
with clothes and blankets, was stretched
across the long attic. He threw blanket
about he, tied the rope securely around
her waist, and then climbed with her
through the opening in the roof.
It was then that the crowd, seeing
them thus, broke into ashout, andrushed
toward the spot whereait was supposed
they must leap for the only chance OF
their lives.
But the young man lowered down his
burden into the eager arms ontstretched
to receive her, ard Instantly followed
the rope, seized by the advancing flames.
giving way before he had quite touched
the ground.
Eager hands dragged him into place
of safety just as the FIRE, bursting into
the attic, enveloped the whole roof in o
sheet of flame.
ssYcs," said Mark Blakey, conf
dentially, to his brother John, as, next
day, they walked about the charred re-
mains of the ancestral home-ssyes, it's
pretty bad loss, to be sure, but it
might have been worse. In the first
place. there's the Insurance; and next,
the house was mere rotten old concern,
which the next high wind might have
blown away. Why, bless your heart
part Of my business in B. yesterday
was to see about pulling down the old
house and putting up new one. The
fires saved me the expense Of the first,
and reckon that / can carry out my
plan, though In palmer fashion than
had thought of.
'I'm glad to find it's no worse for.
you, Mark. And what will you do for
young Healy7'
Mark Blakey's hard face softened.
Tears sprang to his eyes.
'sI'll give him what he asks forbes
sic. He'll find her prize worth any
mans having. But won't be able TO
do much for them, under present circurh-
stances. They must wait, as my wife
and / did. Why, you know we waited
over seven years. 49,
But Bessie and Walter had not 80 long
q probation before them; for, loi in
clearing away the foundations Of the
old house, what should be discovered,
securely buried under the stone cellar
hearth, but an old iron teakettle, con-
tanning the five hundred dollars and the
dozen silver teaspoons which Aunt
Placey had always said should belong to
Bessie, and which she was so afraid OF
having lost or stolen from her.
1T was d sum sufficient to start tho
young couple upon, and there was no
fear that Walter, once started, should
not be able to make his own way in the
future.
There's only one thing that now both
ers me-" said Grandmother Blakey, as
she suspended her darning- needle and
thoughtfully gazed over her spectacles,
s'and that is, how on airth that fire
could have got started"
Il know, gra'mar' said Dickey, With
Q cunning little look of shrewdness and
importance. sit was the mouse did
itl''
THE monsel Law me, child, what
mouse2"
.sWell, see him jump of the dresser
and run under the pile of shavin's aud
light-wood, and there wasn't no trap to
catch him, so put match in the shaw
ms to drive him out, and. it was him
burnt down the house. - Sats0n Archer
Weiss.
Holding Him Cheap.
There are some circumstances in which
Il - I1afknr ~. 10 q Tls.rosow v.<eSI.,..,~.