The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-12

nuity had found way to accomplish what older heads had declared impos- sible.
 When she first learned the terrible fate of her idolized charge, she had stood for moment like one paralyzed with horror, then sudden idea like inspiration entered her mind. There was low woodshed whose roof ran directly under the windows of the room in which she had slept, and which was next the one where the baby lay. At the angle of the shed and house grew large grapevine. and many times, years before, in childish sport, Mary had climbed to her room by this vine; now it seemed to her the one, only chance of saving her darling from fearful death.
 Without one thought that she was risking her own life in the attempt, she stopped only long enough to wrap the light woolen shawl she wore over her mouth and nostrils to protect her from the smoke, then began the ascent of this frail ladder. The vine dragged downward at every step, and fre- quently broke from some of it's many fastenings; but, by great effort, she at last reached the roof and threw her arms over it just at the moment the vine gave way beneath her feet. She caught at the caves trough, which bent beneath her weight and began to break away but, by bracing her feet | firmly against the sides of the shed and house, she steadied herself for a moment, then, with torn and bleeding hands, slowly and painfully worked her body on the roof. In her great eagerness to reach the baby before it should be too late, it seemed to her as if she had been half an hour in making the ascent; but, in reality, it was but two or three minutes, and, just as those older and wiser had declared the feat impossible, Mary had accom- plished it, and stood revealed to the astonished crowd below.
 She looked 80 small and frail, stand ing there in the full glare of the flames, that, for an instant, amazed at her courage held all tongues silent. Then dozen voices shouted: "Come back! come back You will die if you attempt to enter the housel"
 She paid no heed to the call. Was not the one, dearest of all on earth to her, left there to perish in the fames2 Even had she known that certain death awaited her, she would not have hesitated. Without even turn ing to look at the shouting crowd below; she ran quickly across the roof and disappeared in the open window.
 The anxious throDg almost held their breath as they waited the result in agonizing suspense. In moment more, she reappeared with bundle in her arms. Low sobbing cries of "Thank God!" burst from the women, and the men rent the air with shouts of "Bravo! !" "Brave grill" But sud- denly their cheers were changed to cries of horror. Poor child! she was just one moment too late. As she cleared the window, the flames burst through from the other rooms and swept furiously toward her, as if en- ragged at loosing their victim. The light cotton dress she wore caught instantly, and he. quick rush across the roof famed the flames into the widest fury. A dozen arms were outstretched as she reached the edge of the shed, and she hurredly but care fully dropped in the hands of those nearest her, her precious charge, wrapped in woolen blanket to pro- tect it from the flames; then, spring ing the other way so that her burning garments might not touch the babe, she struck the ground heavily and lay still, stunned and blazing, in the midst of the crowd.
 Quick as thought, one of the men stripped off his coat, and, wrapping it about her, rolled her rapidly on the ground until the flames were ex- tinguished.
 In an instant, all was over, and strong arms bore the apparently life- less child to the nearest house, while the fastest horse and most reckless rider were dispatched for physician. They laid her upon sofa and threw off the coat wrapped about her.
 Some of the women nearest her fainted, and men drew back in sicken- ing horror at the sight. Nearly all her clothing was consumed, and the greater portion of body and limbs so burned that they bore no resemblance to the delicate flesh of child.
 In pitying horror, they covered the disfgured body with a sheet and waited anxiously the coming ot the doctor.
 Her face, protected as it had been by the shawl, bore no marks of the flames, and she lay with closed eyes, distended nostrils, and lips tightly drawn back, disclosing the ct teeth, through which the breath came in