Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-10

the garden walk from her own adjoining
one, fearing Rose was alone, and not hav-
ing dared to come before; and she stayed
to tea, and wanted a game OF cribbage IN
the evening and when Roger came back
from escort duty to old Mrs. Vance, Rose
Just lifted the candle-hame between her
face and his, and saying goodnight hur-
riedly, 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 consultations 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 a window pane, and he thought
how hard and bitter thing was life, and
half cursed it; and then the vision of Rose
would steal before him-the sweet, smil-
ing face, the dimpled velvet cheek, the
shining eye, the gentle motion-and he
said to himself that it was enough for any
one to live in the same world with such a
being.
At length it 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 daydreams and
work; and to work, he must sleep. He
returned to his rom, and all at once, as if
something stung 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 thick pungent cloud-it was
the smoke of burning. Firel fire
frer 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 Roadway in the lonely
upper 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 that 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 cry, "Oh, Roger Roger. Oh, my
dearest my dearest where are you Do
you know it?' And Rose, with a 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 neighbors
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 youth was ascending like a
smoke of sacrifice. Rose stood folded in
the arms of Roger, hiding her eyes from
the dreadful sight, as a child might stand
ing beside the grave of mother as it is
being filled. 'Let it go without tears
let it CO." Rogers whispered. at is a
kindly flame. The old house is still pro-
tecting 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 would 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
everything else We are utterly penni-
less f'
1t was Just fortnight after that when,
as Roger entered Mrs. Vance's house one
night, Rose ran and clapped a bit CT paper
before his eyes so closely that he couldn't
see anything. When he stepped back she
was holding it over his lips, and then
bashfully tiptoeing up, and kissing him
through it. "Do you see what it is ?' she
said at is a check for $500 from the
insurance company, who have taken the
circumstances into account. 1t is the in
surance ON the buildings, and the lands
are still left The old house is taking care
of us yet, Roger. Two thousand for your
business, and the rest" she whispered
shyly, and blushing like a rose, " to furnish
the new house"