The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-06-27


and at last she ewoke with the
strange feeling that her lover was
in danger.
Mechanically she arose. and having
donned wrapper and slippers. went to
the window. As she threw up the
sash and leaned out across the sill,
the saw that . cloudy sky had taken
Ma place of the starry one she had
Eazed at earlier in the night. The
wind had risen and blew In fitful
rusts around the corners of the house.
A troubled thought of the pleasure
she had anticipated came to Cecile.
and then all at once. as Q stronger
gust OF wind came to her, she smelled
X faint odor OF musk. Looking
quickly at the barn and other build
ings. she could see nothing unusual.
She raised her eyes and looked anx-
iously in the direction Of jacks
house. What was that red glow
spreading above the treetOps' she
wondered; and then she realized that
the Newton farmhouse was on fire.
Running downstairs she reused her
father; then out of the door and away
through the darkness she sped in the
direction Of the burning building.
All was quiet when she reached
the cato. which was locked. What
should she do? She looked up at
the high pickets with their cruelty
sharp points. and then began to
climb resolutely up; balancing her.
self on the top, she dropped to the
ground Her skirts caught on the
sharp points, but she managed to
wrench them free, and never noticing
how her hands were bleeding. made
her way to tho house.
Tho flames shot upward; the smoke
rolled in huge columns toward the
darkening sky, but still no sound
came from the inmates Of the burn.
ing building. Could she save thems
Would her father never come?
Looking anxiously around she saw
an open window; she sprang through
It, and found that she was in tho
thickest Of the smoke. What she did
must be done quickly. She snatched
Q wooden scarf she had thrown over
her head. and. binding it around her
mouth. prepared to fight her way to
the foot Of the stairs. Inch by inch
she pressed forward. till. blinded by
the smoke, she struck her foot against
the lowest step. With little scream
of joy she Jew up the stairs and
along the wide hall to Jacks room.
Jack was just awaking from Q
troubled sleep Hearing Cecile's
voice he instantly sprang up. COM
pretending tho danger almost before
she could tell him of it.
Mother sleeps downstairs in the
little room on the right" he said In
answer to her question. ''Wait,
Cecile!"
He frantically searched for his
clothing but Cecile was away again.
battling with the smoke, which al
most overpowered her. The flames
wore licking their way toward Mira
Newton's room. Cecile saw this and
bresthsd . prayer for help She
fairly few down the stairs and
reached the door just as one cruel
tongue of fire darted across the top
Of it.
She found Mrs. Newton in q heavy
stupor. and all her efforts to rouse
her were in vain. She could not
wait for Jack. SO she wrapped tho
heavy form in a blanket. and how.
she knew not, managed to drag her
into the hall There Jack Joined her.
He promptly relieved her of her bur-
den. and in an instant had led the
way to safety.
Mr.. Grey and his men, having but
just reached the scene, were prepar-
ing to fight the fire. and after taking
in this fact. Cecile's courage and
strength gave way. and she slipped
down ct Jacks feet
Mrs. Grey now came hurrying up,
and together she and Jack half
dragged. half carried the two help
less ones to her home. A doctor was
sent for. and the simple application
of restOratives aroused Mrs. Newton,
who listened with tears to the story
of Cecile's heroism. Turning to Jack
she said simply and humbly:
81 misjudged her. Forgive mo-"
Jacks face frightened. but he con-
tinued his restless walk before the
door of the room where Cecile lay.
just as the morning dawned she
opened her eyes and asked: "Is Jack
safe?" Then she fell asleep with
happy smile on her lips. She had
burned her hands and Arms: her
beautiful hair was singed badly. and
her strength had been terribly taxed;
but in a month she had recovered
sufficiently to take q short drive, and
Jack took her to see the ruins.
Every building on the place had
been burned to the ground.
Il am glad of it said Jack. II in
tend to build q new house to which
l shall be proud to take my wife.