Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-15

escort duty to old Mrs. Vance. Rose
| just lifted the candle flame between
her lace and his, and sayinggood-ni
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-
lions 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 oil the dead vine branch beating
on window.pane, and he thought
how bard and bitter thing was life.
| and half cursed it; and the vision OF
Rose would steal before him-tbe
sweet. smiling face. the dimpled vel
vet cheek, the shining eye, the gentle
motion. and he said to himself tina {
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-gazins. II he
were ever to be a man, fit to win her.
even II unable, he must cease his dav.
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 thick pungent cloud-it was the
smoke of burning. Fire! firel fireln
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 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. "0h, Roger! Rog.
erl 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 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 their 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 standing beside the grave of a
mother as it is filled. LET it go with
out tears-let it go, Roger whispered.
at is a 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. / should never have dared to
| win you; you would never have known
l 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 insuredY
Where's your papers"
They are gone" said Rose, with
everything else. We are utterly PEN
nilessl"
1t was Just 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 tiptoeing up and kissing him
through it. DO you see what it Isl"
she said, 'It is check for 50, 800
| 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
sbyly, and blushing like a rose. Ito
furnish the new house"