The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30

N profound Blenc6I u bOIG muSfcAl CllnklnBs
Here's to him."
"To the BRIDE"
"a long life.'
"And merry one"
As the company wiped it's mustache, Garland.
the self-elected orator of the occasion, straght-
ened himself up, clutchng the back of chair
with one hand, and waving in the other small,
empty tumblor, he proceeded in an unneCes-
sarily high key: ITO cast bright horoscope
for two Young lives is more than pleasure: it
is Joy To ratify on such an occasion is more
than pleasure: it is duty. In the happiness
of our comrade we are finding happiness for
ourselves. We are glad that she is handsome,
proud that she Is rich, and we will rejoice with
his reioicings sympathize in his experiences,
console him in his repentings."
With peal of laughter, cheer and tiger,
the company that had evidently made up its
mind for night of it, elinked glasses with the
salutation Of the plains.
"How."
"How"
"How"
That toast was never drunk for at that in
slant faint through the roar of the storm came
the sound of shot,
Down went every glass On the instant every
relaxed muscle sprung into soldiorly attention.
Without the exchange of word every officer
present, grasping as he went both coat and cap,
flung himself out Of the door and plunged into
the stormy darkness.
The long roll was beating. A guard, painting
and breathless, reached the club house He
was crying Fire fire in the officers row."
Before the drums had ceased beating, both
officers and men from the clubhouse and
barracks were fighting their way through the
| drifts toward the fire. Buffeted and stung by
| the wind, blinded and impeded by the Snow,
| they still pushed forward. Banning, Garland
and Vance were met by their companies on the
officers walk, in front of the. commanding Off
| GERS quarters
| Where was the fre- No one seemed to know
whose quarters were burning. red light was
| beginning to shine through the whirliDg snow.
Rodgers and Trenhams, " somebody shouted.
| Thank heaven, it is bachelor quarters" an
swored n dozen men. mo, no. 1t is next door,"
called Vance who was in the lead 1t is
Roberts's quarters, and, my God, the Captain
| not at home"
The commandments quarters were lighted.
Tho Colonel, equipped for the storm, rushed
from the house. He was followed by two
women, muiiied in furs.
Presently nearly every inmate of the Fort
| was out in the storm, either to work or to look
! helplessly on. The flames shot up from the
rear of the house, the entire front was in dark
| ness.
Men, I'll tho buckets and pass them along"
| 1t was the Coonels command, who himself
| with dozen officers behind him, broke open
tho insecure doors and called loudly to the
still.sleeping inmates.
A sudden burst of flame through q door at
the end of the hall lighted the entire lower
floor.
Mrs. Roberts, Mamie, JIM" called the off,
GERS. Vance, ahead as usual, dashed from the
hall TO The bedroom, where the lady was found,
just reused from sleep. and holding In her arms q
little girl. Both mother and child, the former
fainting from fright, were hastily wrapped in
blankets and carried out in safety through the
smoke. While Mai Mil aud the Colonel were
rescuing these two Vance and Garland had
disappeared in the smoke on the stairway
There came hoarse cry over the stormy
parade, Water all frozen, sir" 1t was from
the Sergeant In charge of the tanks. The
building must go The stairway was in flames
There were four persons on the upper floor
| Ladders were hastily raised to the second story
and tho double storm windows were smashed
In from the outside. AT this moment a gust OIL
wind swept tho smoke aud flame from the stair
way and Garland was seen descending, stag
gerng down with a woman in his arms. The
big roliieking Irish Captain had risked his life
to save servant maid.
| Regardless of the heat and smoke thai
scorched aud BACKED, 90 or more. both officers
and men, leaped to the foot OF tue stairway
took the woman from her reseuer, when Car
land. falling unconscious, was himself carried
out into tho open air.
Among the women who had braved the storm
was one whose face in the glare of the flames
seemed whittier than the drifts in which sh'
stood. Since the moment Vance disappeared
on the stairway her eyes had been riveted oil
the upper windows.
The fire, unchecked, spread rapidly hun
dred men could do no more than the one VIII
had found his way to the boys sleeping-room
Through the window faint waving shadow
suddenly formed into distinct outline as TIT
flames burst through into the front chamber
The officer. with the boy, dead weight IN hi
! arms, reached the window and climbed on
through the shattered glass. he touched til
!, ladder, that was steadied from below by q
many men as could close in around it.
, A cheer went up from the soldiers. On
woman in tho group stood silent motionless
her eyes never turning from the figure In tn
window. The o. ers covered their faces {
shut out the thin. hat might happen.
Then came a clash; the house was falling
= but the man on the ladder, weighted wit
! boy in his arms swung himself clear OF tn
burning tinbers and in another moment Gu
and burned and bleeding, Vance and the la
were among their friends, safe in storm below
I TO tho crowd closing round the rescued part
DR. Maus cheerily called out:
Mrs Roberts was not hurt, the baby is a
Z right Garland is burned, but not seriously
. and Vance. hello! you are not III very goo
shape; and Jim-why, how is thisY"
, Taking tho boy from tho arms OF tho officer
the Post Surgeon made hasty examination
. He felt the lads pulse his heart, stopped
! listen. and then, with look on his face this
: startled them ALL he dropped the little black
! ened hand and replaced him in the arms OF h
. rescuer.
4 Doctor. not dead 2"
q mo. no; look again. Jim has only fainte(
n The fire did not touch him."
4 1t was the smoke" said the Doctor, sadly.
a "Give him TO me!"
"Let me take him !"
4 Now that all earthly doing was over for jim
|, the tiresome, tricky little terror of the post
y great wave Of forgetful pity took him up an
# invested him with the sauctity of death. III
= little dead face WAS wet with their tears.
a "And l was too late. What will his motht
> say ?" Tho officers voice trembled. The hanC
a some Captain was absolutely unrecognizabl
a he was SO blackened and singed and BLOOD
q stained. The battle, with fire and smoke an
q broken glass, had been short but severe. A
n he bent over the boy tears washed Il little pat
over his sooty checks. and fell upon the dea
n Loy's face.
l. am take him to his mother" and disregard
a ing the Doctors orders, aud his blistered HAND
i. and face Vance, with the child in his arm
r. turned and walked rapidly down the row 4
If ward the commanding officers quarters
! Some one followed him. He heard his nan
"a and paused A girl with face like marbl
Z! int, h.. Iail