The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-10-17

CnlS. his OeieSUiHc, Will lONc-iiupdS-
stoned eyes, gave him sweet encourage
ment.
The minutes heightened into hours,
the hours into days and the days into a
week, and at last the painter pronounced
his work complete. With a sigh of in
finite satisfaction and relief he laid his
brushes and palette aside. Now was his
struggle with grinding poverty at an
end. The happiness that he had so
long coveted, but never hoped to gain,
was almost within his grasp. How
cheerful the world looked; how brightly
the sun shone, and how delicously
sweet the birds sang all around. AS he
gazed in rapture on his beautiful picture
tears of Joy coursed down his cheeks;
his heart swelled with pride, and a
prayer of thankfulness assembled to
Heaven from his moving lips.
When night at last infolded the world
within her sable arms. and the lighted
lamps of the city cleaned like so many
stars, the artist sailed forth to the
theater, and took his accustomed seat.
Never was such crowd packed within
the spacious hall before. Celestine
Bordelon closed her engagement on this
night, and her friends, of all classes,
had gathered to honor her. The or
chestra sounded, the curtain was raised
and Celestine, in all her dazzling, gilt
tering beauty, stepped upon the stage.
AS she gazed on the many upturned
faces her heart thrilled with a happiness
she had never felt before. The happy
face of her lover, turned upon her from
his distant seat, filled her with new
enthusiasm, and she sang as she had
never sang before.
Hank! What sound is that that inter-
rupts the song upon the singers lips,
and causes every face to blanch and
every heart to stand still with sudden
terror? 1t is a voice telling in alarmed
tones that the theater is on fire. The
voice ceases, and then the panic breaks
forth. Every avenue of escape is
assailed. Great, strong men, in their
agony of fear. dash weak women and
children to the ground and trample
| upon them. Wives, relatives and
friends are nothing now-every life is
battling for itself.
The red glare of the flames; the great
volumes of smothering smoke; the shrill
screams of the women and children;
the hoarse curses of the men; the groans
of the injured; the cries of those en-
deavoring to command and rescue
altogether make terrible and heart
rending scene.
In all this confusion and distress
where is Luciene LIE Fevre. the artist?
There he is, with smoke grimed face
and battered clothing, assisting that
old terror-stricken man to escape the
burning building. One of the first to
escape the flames himself, he has re-
turned again and again to aid those
who could not aid themselves. At last
all are saved, and he turns to see if his
Celestine is among the number. No.
she is not there, and no one in the
mighty crowd can tell him aught of
her.
A sudden chill envelopes his heart,
terrible thought takes possession of his
brain. Surely she can not-but, listen!
Hear that terrible scream-a woman's
scream of mortal agony-borne shrill
and piercing to the artists ear, and
causing the blood to turn like ice in his
swollen veins. Looking upward in the
direction of the cries, at window of
the burning building, surrounded by
cracking flames. he sees Celestine Bor-
delon, waving her hands and calling
for help. The sash of the window IS
down. and the poor girl in her terror
has not the strength to raise it. Even
had she, it would benefit her none. As
leave die in the flames as to be dashed
to death on the stony pavement.
For an instant the multitude, looking
on from below, is silent, and then a
mighty shout arises. Something must
be done to save the perishing woman,
and that quickly. 1t is dangerous
undertaking. Already the walls of the
building are shaking. and the flames
grow fiercer and fiercer
who will risk his life to save yon-
der woman?" some one shouts; but
there is no time given for answer, for
Luciene LIE Fevre steps forth from the
crowd, with compressed lips and de-
termined face. and taking ladder that
is lying near, he plants it firmly against
the trembling wall. Celestine sees him,
and her heart grows stronger; but
when she hears the well-known voice
shout up to her: Have courage, dar-
ling, will save you, her nerves grow
strong as steel.
Slowly, step by step, does the heroic
artist toll upward. Everything depends
upon the utmost care. Again the crowd
is silent. Every lip is moving in prayer
for the success of the artist. Higher
and higher he goes! Angrier and
angrier grows the fire. The great
building is now one vast sheet of flame,
which roars like ten thousand demons
turned loose from the internal regions.
Now! Luciene has reached Celestine.
1t is but the work of moment for him
to tear the sash of glass away and
stretch out his arms and take the trem-
bling girl. Whispering few words of
encouragement in her ear, he clasps her
firmly and begins his tortuous, peril
Gus descent. The walls tremble and
shake; huge pieces of burning timber