The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-09

just lifted the candle flame between
her lace and his, and sayinggood.night
hurriedly, was away to her slambers.
could not. lie stepped out on the
old broken balcony of his window and
watched the wheeling o. the constella.
tons 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 window.pane, and he thought
how bard and bitter thing was life,
and hall 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 tina t
was enough for any one to live in the
same world with such u being.
At length 1T occurred to him that
this was enough OF star.gazins. II he
We're ever to be a man, fit to win her,
even ii unable. he must cease his day
dreams and work; and to work he
must sleep. lie returned to his room,
and all ut once. us il something stung
him at every pore, he staggered back.
| What strange odor was this. What
strange atmosphere after the cool
might fragrance. The room was full
OF thick punsent cloud-it was the
smoke OF burning. "l'ire. fire! tire!"
he shouted. and sprans through the
door for Rose room. The house had
been struck by lightning in the storm,
and The smoltlering spark had been
making Roadway 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, ooh, Roger! Rog.
er! Oh, my dearest! my dearest! where
are you? DO you know it," And
Rose, with 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 hel out into safety.
They had barely reached the gate
when the roof fell in, and though the
neishbors came thronging round and
the engines were presently Mt 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
smoke of sacrifice. Rose stood folded
in the arms of Roger, hiding her eyes
from the dreadful sight as child
might standing beside the grave of q
mother as it is filled. "I4et it 20 with.
out tears-let it co." Roger whispered.
at is a kindly flame. The old house
is still protectin. us; it has lighted our
way to each other. Without it we
should still have been cropping in the
dark. | should never have dared to
win you; you woultl never have known
loved 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 insured?
Where's your papers"
"They are gone" said Rose, "with
every thing else. We are utterly pen.
nilcss!"
1t was Just q fortnight after that
when, as Roger entered Mrs. Vance's
house one night. Rose ran and clap
ped bit OF paper before his eyes SO
closely that he couldn't see anything.
When he stepped back she was hold
ing it over his lips. and then bashful-
ly tiptoeins up and kissing him
through it. "Do you see what it ISL"
she said, sit is u check for $4,000
from the insurance company. who
have taken the circumstances into &C.
count. 1t is 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 bIushing like q rose, ito
furnish the new house."