The Osceola times., 1885-10-24
GRACE LORD.
An Incident of the Great Chicago
Fire.


burning up?' groaned Mr. Lord, turn
ing impatiently on his pillow.
But you ale insured" said hi. wife,
with pale face, you will not lose every
thing"
at isn't the Office that | care for.n
answered Mr.. Lord, "but package of
papers, very valuable, entrusted to my
care" and he groaned again.
"But won't the safe protect themsn
cried Mrs. Lord, eagerly.
That's the worst of It." said Mr..
Lord, in a voice husky with emotion.
'They should be in the safe, but in my
half-dazed state on the day was taken
i'll, | neglected TO pu, them there; they
are in my desk, and the only comfort /
have had since could think was that
it WAS good lock, aud have the key
but now,h
''Are theyso very valuable thenpn
"So precious that if they are burned
shall be d < 'aced it will be dishonor
If am unable to produce them IL Is
objectionable that ! should not have se-
cured them; il will Kill me. feel that
twill! Ohl il | could only move. or
Her0ert were here!'
Cant ! do something's" eagerly
asked his wife.
''No indeed! From what Mr. Brown
tells me the streets are filled with mob:
no lady would be safe in them for Il. IN
Sha xnAnll La
worse. Herbert might perhaps find a
way TO get them, aud to save his fathers
honor, If not also his life. I'm sure he
would. ., how can live and let them
tarn!"
Listening breathlessly with white face
to this talk, stood Grace Lord. who was
just entering the room when her father
spoke A thought had crossed her mind,
and plan had grown in these few Sec
oDds.
why cant save those papers?"
was the thought, and Il will. +" was the
conclusion, as her father ended.
Softly turning away from the open
door, She stole back up stairs to her
room.
Il can go as well rs Bert she whis.
pered to herself. IL know where papa
Keeps his Keys, and know Just where
his desk is in the office. lean run down
there before mamma misses me. and
how happy papa will be- He said the
streets were not SAFE" was the next
thought, but he said boy could 90.
I'll put on Bert's clothes" flashed into
her mind.
Without stopping 10 think more about
Il, She ran into her brothers room.
found an outgrown suit in his closet.
slipped off her outer garments and put
on these, snatched a last years hat from
shelf, and waiting only to get her
fathers keys out Of a pocket in his
clothes which hung in a hall closet. she
opened the street door and was gone.
1t was noble and generous impulse,
but 1t was fearful thing to do.
This happened in Chicago, during the
terrible fire thai burned that city ihir-
teen wears ago. Ii was early on Mon
day morning; the South Side was al
ready aroaring 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
'or an instant turned back. 1t was
hled with crowd of people hurrying
by with fear, horror and other strange
passions in their faces. Some were
loaded with household goods or teas
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. II was Il terrible
sight, whole city flying for life, and a
glrl alone. however brave, might well
be alarmed.
1t was only for a 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 had to
lodge between people and horses and
loads OF all sorts.
II was well she had not far to 60. for
The roof was inst bursting into tame as
she opened The door with her father S
keys His desk easily yielded to the
peculiar key she knew so well, and
among letters and papers laid package
she lnstinctively knew was the precious
one, so carefully tied and sealed, so out
OF place it looked there.
Grace seized it and started out, care
July locking the desk and putting the
Keys in her pocket. when the thought
arose. Where could she hide the pack
age?"
You boys would say in the inner
breast pocket of the vest. But there
was no vest, Mt any rate Grace had none
hhd inner pockets were an unknown
mystery to her She thought an instant
then quietly slipped it down the back oil
ner neck inside the clothes. The waist
eand was tight for her, and she felt sure
u was safe, and hastily ran into the
street.
=. Things had changed greatly even IN
,hese few minutes. The tall blocks on
oo'h sides of the street were on fire, a
ug building at the corner had fallen ana
cut OH ter return that way, while me
ar was full of smoke and cinders ana
ueat that nearly sulfocaied her. Instead
VI the crowd she had seen. il was de-
serted, every one had fled for his life
Smothrrcd. blinded. frightened. Grace
",ncd to run--alas! away from home.
" was the only way ste could 20. AT