Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-03

ry had place. Lily was now so well
that her mother arranged to leave her to
the care of trusty Irish woman The
entertainment was to begin and end ear
ly, for only on condition of returning the
same night would Daisy be persuaded to
leave her child.
When the morning of the Fourth came,
Daisy, for the first time since her arrival,
was at the station when the train came
in, and Jack and Mordaunt, sauntering
up, saw with astonished eyes her pretty
little figure lost to sight for a brief space
in the fervent embrace of a duster
clothed young man who stepped from a
car. Mordaunt had tact enough to turn
the incident to account, and calmly re-
marking, 1.-The chosen one. suppose"
walked off, leaving Jack prey to woe.
The newcomer was widely introduced
as Dr. Bruce and made one of the party
driven that night by Jack, who had no
heart to join the merry conversation of
his passengers.
The ball was delightful, the fireworks
magnificent, but Jack was thankful when
the farewells were said. There was
grayness in the sky which remotely pre-
saged dawn as they reached home, and
all but Jack promptly retired to snatch
such short lengths of sleep as remained
to them. He, after caring for his horses,
sat down upon an inverted barrel just
within the stable door and gave himself
up to dreary thoughts, which were soon
invaded by the consciousness that the
freshly rising breeze was carrying
strong scent of burning upon its wings,
Instantly alert, he ran to the house, find
ing a bundle of oily rags stuffed under
the piazza floor. Hetore away the mass,
stamped out the fire, and running around
to the front found the incendiaries had
putin better work. Smoke and fire were
starting from several points, and the
western corner, right under Daisy's
room, was already bursting into flames.
Loudly calling "Fire" to arouse the
sleepers, who would not have too much
time to get down from the upper rooms,
he climbed up to Daisy's balcony and
pounded at her window. She sprang to
the window white as death, but under
standing just what he wanted her to do
Let me in, and l will carry the baby
down stairs" he cried hurriedly, for the
wind famed flames were making quick
headway with the light boards. "Follow
me closely. Don't stop for anything. ]
will come back for your things"
But all her possessions had to go with
the rest, for the fire gained force so rap
idly that Jack had to work hard to as
sist some of the others to get out alive.
Uncle Jerry, sleeping on the ground
floor, was one of the first to get out, and
with Daisy and the trembling little one
stood at safe distance sadly watching
the destruction. Suddenly Daisy darted
forward, crying: "Oh, where is Malcolm?
He has not come down." AS she spoke
a cry from above drew every ones eyes.
From one of the highest windows
white, bewildered face looked out. "Oh,
Malcolm" screamed Daisy, "you shall
be savedw And she flew distractedly
toward the fiery place.
go back" sternly commanded Jack.
HE shall be saved if l die for it." He
dashed into the burning doorway, and
for an awful moment the spectators
waited. Then with crash the roof fell
in on one side, cutting off the stairs.
But Jack was seen the next instant at
the window by the doctor. Some of the
men were strapping two short, light lad
ders together with frantic haste and
steadying them against tho wall, where
they nearly reached the window. They
shouted to Jack cheerily, finging him a
rope, which he was seen to fasten around
the other mans waist He lowered him
to the top rounds, then stood quietly
waiting for him to descend the ladder,
which would hardly bear the weight of
two. Swinging himself out, while the
flames, which had burst into the room,
seemed to chase him, he dropped upon
the ladder.
AS his feet touched the ground a
crowd of men surrounded him, all eager
to clasp his hand. But they fell back to
make way for Mrs. Lane, who ran up
with pale face and eyes shining like stars
in the early light. There were eloquent
words ON her tongue, but not one could
she speak. She could only put her two
little hands in his and gaze up Mt his sad,
honest eyes, with big tears falling from
her own.
1t was hard moment for Jack, and to
relieve his embarrassment he murmured,
II was SO glad to be in time to get him
down safely for you"
"For my sister, that means You'know
he is my only sisters husband"
"Then he is not the one you are en-
gagged tot" gasped Jack.
"Engagedl What are you talking
about? am not engaged to any one,
but hear that you arer' said Daisy, re-
treating in great disorder from the rap
turous embrace with which Jack, made
bold by something he saw in her face,
refuted the statement.
Mordaunt joined a vigilance commit
tee that rode off at once to search for the
ncendiaries, capturing them, as they
1ad reason to hope from past experience,
1T group of miserable huts which shell |
5ered gang of reprobates, but instead
of returning with the party Mordaunt
5ook train for the east and has never
come back. Jack and Daisy, with hearts
made kind by love, forgive and forget
md have sent him cards for their we'd
ling which in celebration oP tha avept