Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-24

which cast its white glare far up and
down the street, hung punches of hol-
~ and evergreen ;-ssAll hope aban-
don, We who enter here"-this grave
of manliness and honor and purity
had decked itself with the very gar
ments of Christmas, that the young
and foolish might the sooner fall into
it. AS the door remained open mo-
ment, the reeking fumes of hot liquor
came boiling out into the pure night
air. The young mans brain relied
"a companion grasped him by the
arm with rough good humor, AID
dragged him forward.
He turned his back upon the stars
of Christmas Eve-and the padded
doors closed softly behind him.
Meanwhile Lijah listened to the
retreating footsteps of his friend with
intense satisfaction.
"Hil Amt dis Christmas Eve
fer ole 'Lijah p he said, softly, tax
ing a survey of his surroundings, and
proceeding to settle himself in one of
the most uncomfortable chairs in the
room.
Pretty soon he looked at the clock.
The hand indicated exactly half-past
seven.
"Reck'n I'll begin dis yere business
on time" he soliloquized, picking up
the lantern Farley had left for him.
1t would have been laughable and
pathetic at the same time, had any
one been there to see how anXiously
he peered into every corner for signs
of danger, scrutnfzlng the door mats,
gravely pausing before tables and
desks, giving a comprehensive glance
now and then at the ceiling, stepping
on tiptoe, and, with eyes as round as
saucers, listening as he approached
each door. This entire performance
he repeated regularly on the quarter
hours, as Farley had told him; his
features relaxing into his gleeful
chuckle each time, as he found HIM
self in the cosy office with all well be-
hind him.
Meanwhile the hands of the clock
upon the wall crept round in leisurely
fashion to nine, half-past, ten and
'Liiah's broad, white smile expanded
further and further as no Farley APP
peared.
Giles done trus' me lots dis yere
night, sho'ly.' he repeated again.
"Guess you's a tolable good watch
man, POI ole 'Lijah, you is"
He had finished his quarter-past-ten
round, and had been sitting for some
time in his straight-ba chair, sing
ing softly to himself, and Eliminating
on Mars Georges manifold virtues
and the fair face of his lady, and was
watching the clock for the signal of
his next survey of the premises, when
he noticed a peculiar effect in the up
per portion of the room. The ceiling
seemed to be going farther away, and
lifting higher and higher. Was he
falling asleep then, after all, like an
ungrateful sentinel? He sat bolt up
right, rubbed his smarting eyes, and
looked up again. The ceiling was al
most out of sight. At the same mo-
ment the old negro was seized with a
violent fit of coughing. He sprang
to his feet trembling in every limb.
There was no longer any mystery
about it; the room was rapidly filling
with smoke, which poured in steadily
through the transom in the Office door.
'Lijah stood a moment and tried to
think. Then he ran, lantern in hand,
into the entry and down the stairs,
uttering incoherent cries of 90, Lor
O, Mars George! Look yere, look
yere! O, 'Lijah, you wuf'less Ole
O, Lor', O, Lor' p scrambling, tum-
bling, sliding, he found his way down
through the sitting smoke, which boil
ed up in ever-increasing volume from
the basement. Reaching the street,
'Lijah ran plump into policeman,
and, his teeth chattering with terror,
tried to tell him what was the matter.
Suddenly the crowd, which seemed
to have sprung up out of the ground,
fed to right and left. A magnificent
pair of black horses dashed fiercely
up before the store, leaving behind
them long trail of floating sparks,
from the beautiful, glittering creature
of brass and steel at their backs.
Then came one piece of apparatus
after another, engines, ladders and
hose. In the confusion and uprOar
Of their arrival, the policeman, had
quite forgotten the trembling old
black man with his lantern. Now he
looked around and saw him crowding
his way toward the store, from which
tongues of flame began to dart vi
ciously.
; "Come back there % shouted the
officer sternly, rushing upon 'Lijah
and jerking him backward so that he
nearly fell, 'Don't you see the stair
ways all on fire."
''B-but Mars George done trus'-'
; s'Idon't know anything about that, .
interrupted the policeman, pushing
back the crowd to right and left.
'sYou can't go in there again, and
that's all about it.
A determined look came over Ii
, jah's dark face. He stopped shaking
and watched his chance. 1t came
| coon aDd with q movement wonder