River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-04-15

valley a mile or So above. Her posi-
ton commanded magnificent view
of its course. as il SLOWLY wound under
the old ferrv-bridge on down past the
small village OF Wyoming till it faded
away beneath the dim arches of the
bridge at Wilkesbarre. Across the
ri fer, nearly two miles away, the large
breaker of West Pittson shaft
/ doomed in the distance. She thought
of one whose daily occupation led him
there and wondered if he was still
"balCw." She could see they were
hosting coal by the great white clouds
of steam that ever and anon shot up
from the east side of the breaker, and
then rapidly vanished in the clear. still
atmosphere. Here she loved TO sit and
dream of the future, building castles
in the air. and here too many an
hour was passed with him she loved.
Her present reverie was broken by
young voice yelling, Kate. ain you
comming to supper? Hurry up"
"All right, jim she replied; and
with a lingering look at the great black
building she gathered up her sewing
and followed her brother into the
house.
The following Saturday afternoon the
good people of Pittston were startled
by the roar of the great steam gong at
the paper mill sounding the alarm of
fire. The news spread with alarming
rapidity that the West Pittston break
er was on fire, the grave predictions
were made of serious results to the
miners below. The news was soon
whispered among the girls in Miss Mid
dleton's work room. and a moment la
ter Kate Young, pale and trembling,
advanced to the fOrewoman's table,
and then hurried from the room. She
did not go home but went straight to
the fire.
1t was heartlending scene. Al
ready a vast crowd had gathered
around the doomed breaker. among
whom were wives wringing their
hands in agony for their husbands;
mothers for their sons; some with little
ones cliuging TO them, others with
babes in their arms, all pitifully crying.
Young men and women were eagerly
running to and fro in search of brothers
and other near relatives In the midst
of the thr0ng a beautiful girl, flushed
and breathless, caught the arm of
miner boy forcing his way through the
crowd. and in eager. anxious tones
said: Jack, Is Bill up?'
Jack was Bills youngest brother.
He stopped. "Why, Katie, YOU here?
Come away over to Watsons;" and
he led her unresisted out of tie rapidly
growing crowd.
When clear of the multitude she
4 a 4 III I.
Bill?" A troubled look spread over
the lad scOuntenance as he endeayOred
to shun her piercing gaze. Impatient
AT his delay, she laid hold of his Shout
der. their eyes met, and from his the
burning tears burst forth. while a half
smothered sob escaped him.
She stood a moment immovable, and
then turned her eyes from him to the
raging flames that shot high up into
tie heavens, here and there little
forked tongues piercing through the
dense volumes of black smoke. The
whole building was now ensheathed
in lame. Jack. as though angry with
himself for allowing his feelings to
master him, stemmed the flood of tears
and strOve hard To swallow something
in his throat. Stepping in front of
Katie. as though to intercept her view
of the fire, he urged her to go to Wat
son $ with him.
.'Bill is probably all right, :" he said.
They don't know all who 90, mp, and
the fOotman told me Bill was near the
/ foot when the news came down.
! There were two or three carriage loads
raised. happened to bring car to
T . IL, 81 - sst1 fbf4 lagf lnoxv-
ing, and Miller, the driver-boss, yelled
to me and | ran to the cage and was
puiieu on.
Katie stood rs though he had not
spoken. She appeared wholly uncon-
scious of everything, heI gaze stead
/ tasty fixed on the roaring re. When
/ in the crowd but few sec, nds before.
with the eager, half-frightened look OF
anxious expectation on her cOun-
I tenance. hope and fear striving for
supremacy, she was a girl. Now her
whole aspect was changed; she was
woman. As girl she had been
/ pretty. as a woman she was beautiful.
Finally she was prevailed upon to 60
T to Watson :, the miue-inspector ),
where she was kindly and sympatheti
cally received. Here she learned there
was no possibility of rescuing
+ those entombed until The morrow, as
much had to be done after the fire mad
/ been extinguished before any one
could attempt to go below.
4 1t was long past her usual hour of
/ coming home when in the gray
+ twilight of departing day she YEARLY
entered the Kitchen where her mother
sat alone. The sad news had long
preceded her The mother met her
daughter on the threshold and saw at a
glance, from the sad despair depicted
on her face. that she knew the worst.
Neither spoke. but the mothers
actions were lovingly consoling. She
+ kissed her daughter tenderly, re-
moved her hat and jacket. led her to a
chair ut the table, and poured out
/ cup Of fragrant tea. But it remained
untouched Katie sat for few min
utes in the deepening shadows. her
head in her hands. her arms resting on
/ the table. and then slowly arose 10 re-
+ tire. Her mother embraced her again
aifectionately. and, with tears silently
coursing down her checks, whispered a
tender God bless you, my dear. good
night.
Katie reached her room, her heart
almost bursting with pent-up grief,
and her first relief was found in an I'M
controlled outburst of weeping.
Sunday morning broke serene and
/ bright. AT the first gray dawn of light
/ she had risen from a sleepless bed and
seated herself at her open window, in
front of which. perched on one of the
topmost branches of the cherry-tree. a
song. Large butterflies already float
ed to and fro on their gorgeously-col-
ored outspread wings in search of the
flowers whose rich fragrance, strength
ened BY the heavy dew which still elu- 2
TO them, perfumed the whole atmos-