The Wahpeton times., 1888-03-08

seemed to penetrate her brain. She
clapped her hands to her face With q
shrek. the house rocked and the door
swung and slammed, and she fen
faintlng upon the floor.
When Rose came to herself she vas
lying on tho lounge where Roger had
placed her; the storm was slowly roll.
ing OF below the horizon, with nov
and then smothered growl, and the
ram was patterlug in thin showers
which the freshened breeze shook from
the vines and boughs. She sat up di.
rectly, and presently, as soon as she
found her feet, went to the window to
look about. They were both silent;
and Just then good old Mrs. Vance
came up thegarden walk from her own
adjoining one fearing Rose was alone.
and not having dared to come to her
before; and che stayed to tea, and
wanted game ofcribbagein the even.
Ing; and when Roger came back from
escort duty to old Mrs. Vance, Rose
just lifted the candle.flame between
her lace and his, and saylnggood-night
hurriedly, was away to her slumbers.
Roger went to his room. Sleep he
could not. He stepped out on the
old broken balcony Of his window and
watched the wheeling OF the constella-
tions and heard the tiny cracking
sounds OF leaves and raindrops and
pebbles in the garden, of some night
bird. maybe, tapping the bough, or
else Of the dead vine branch beating
on q window.pane, and he thought
how bard and bitter q thing was life,
and half cursed it; and the vision OF
Rose would steal before him-the
sweet. smiling face. the dimpled vel.
vet cheek. the shining eye, the gentle
motion, and he said to himself tha t
was enough for any one to live in the
same world with such being.
At length 1T occurred to him that
this was enough of star.gazing. If he
were ever to be man, fit to win her.
even If unable. he must cease his day
dreams and work; and to work he
must sleep. He returned to his room,
and all at once. as if something stune
him at every pore. he staggered back.
What strange odor was this. What
strange atmosphere after the cool
night fragrance. The room was full
OF q thick pungent cloud-it was the
smoke OF burning. 'Fire! firel fret"
he shouted, and sprang through the
door for Roses room. The house had
been struck by lightning in the storm,
and the smoldering spark had been
making headway in the lonely up.
per rooms all the delicious summer
evening, all the time that he had been
leaning on the balcony drinking the
balmy air, all the time that Rose had
been folded in her sweet slumber, all
the time he had been hearing that tiny
crackle, and thinking it was the rain
dripping from the leaves upon the
walk. Another moment and over its
dull roar came acry, "Oh, Roger! Rog.
er! Oh, my dearest! my dearest! where
are you? Do you know it," And
Rose, with q cloak thrown over her,
burst through her door, and was
caught in his arms as he leaped
down the stairs at one vault
and bore her out into safety.
They had barely reached the gate
when the roof fell in, and though the
neiahbors came thronging round and
the engines were presently at play,
they stood there with the rest and
saw that it was of no use, and the
blaze Of the home Of their childhood
and their youth was ascending like q
smoke of sacrifice. Rose stood folded
in the arms OF Roger, hiding her eyes
from the dreadful sight as q child
might standing beside the grave of q
mother as it is filled. s.Let it 90 with
out tears-let it go" Roger whispered.
ut is q kindly flame. The old house
Is still protecting us; it has lighted our
way to each other. Without it We
should still have been cropping in the
dark. I should never have dared to
win yon; you would never haveknown
1loved you"
"You are coming right home with
me. children" said Mrs. Vance, ''till
We can turn round and see what's to
be done. Is the house insured9
Where's your papers,"
''They are gone" said Rose, with
everything else. We are utterly pen.
nilessl"
It was just . fortnight after that
when, as Roger entered Mrs. Vance's
house one night. Rose ran and clap
Peu y OlG Ol paper UeiOro 0lS eyes 80
closely that he couldn't see anything.
When he stepped back she was hold.
ing it over his lips. and then bashful-
ly tiptoeing up and kissing him
through it. DO you see what it is7'
she said, "It is q check for s., 800
from the insurance company. who
have taken the circumstances into &C.
count. 1t ia the insurance on the
buildings, and the lands are still left.
The old house is taking care Of us yet,
Roger. Two thousand for your bust.
ness. and the rest" she whispered
shyly, and blushing like rose. ito
furnish the new house."