The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-08-19

ootil NcHtuOWu.
sliding on their hands and knees half
a dozen yards across the waXed floor.
Everybody stopped dancing; even the
orchestra paused, and there was a
dead silence in the room for a full
minute. The colonel rose, busted off
his gloves and with a very pale face es-
corted Lille to a seat. Then, in a voice
grave and calm, but loud enough for
everyone to hear, he said: Miss La
velle. permit me to wish you a very
good evening" and departed. Girard
told me afterward that the colonel
swore he would not go into society
again while those man traps were in
vogue. Such a pity, too. Lille has
been setting her cap for the colonel
this year or more.
Altogether. | never passed a more un-
comfortable evening. and l could see by
Girard's face that he was irritated and
disguised. Consequently at an early
hou | pleaded a severe headache and
we took u departure.
Girard and | rode homeward in ST.
lence. He was very angry, and l was
completely crushed with modification.
That night we had a quarrel, the first
since we had known each other. and
parted in anger. / went to my room,
and, without undressing, threw myself
n a chair and burst into a passion of
tears. l had been foolish, and Glrard
lad been unreasonable. What is one to
do when fashion sets a law but obey
it? Ridiculous extreme!' he said;
which, entire nous, was true, though of
course ! wouldn't admit it. What
woman would?
Finally | arose to prepare for bed. l
parted the curtains and stood looking
listlessly out of the window for a mo-
ment. The wind was still blowing fu-
riously, roaring through the branches
of the trees and flaring the smoky
flames of the street lamps. Suddenly
my wandering gaze rested upon a soil
tary figure leaning against a lamp post
across the way. My heart throbbed
quicker. for l recognized Girard. The
poor fellow was watching my window.
How harsh and unloving l had been TO
him! My tears began to flow afresh,
and. late as it was, l felt as if I must
go down and call him to me. But a con-
trary spirit restrained the impulse, and
so l stood shielded by the curtain
watching him for a long time.
Suddenly l saw him start and lean
forward, asst peering into the basement
window, then run across the street.
Now l observed hat my room was full
of smoke. l had noticed the smell of
burning for some time, and had even
coughed with the ir~ritation; but / had
been too deeply absorbed to give heed
to it. / am a dreadful coward about
fire, and for a moment l stood still, too
scared to think what l ought to do.
A tremendous hubbub downstairs
aroused me from my trance. ran to
the door and opened it, but quickly
closed it again, for the hall was full of
thick, binding smoke. My room was
or the second floor to the front. Mother
and father occupied the real apartment.
They had already escaped, for l could
hear their voices in the street. They
were calling my name.
What should l do? Escape by the
stairs was out of the question:: | could
not have breathed an instant in that
smoke. Even my room was now so
full that | could not see. and | felt as
if were strangling. | threw up the
window and leaned out, calling for
help.
A small crowd had collected be-
low. Thick, black volum es of smoke
were pouring out Of the lower win
dows and front doors, lighted
by the red, fitful flashes within.
AS the cloud blew aside for a
moment saw Girard struggling in the
| 0raSp of a number of men who were ra-