The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-05-24

below her, and she imprisoned five
stories above the earth. Holding the
child tightly in her arms, she ran to
the window. The street was filled
with excited people.
Out of the lower stories down which
| the fire had not yet surged poured
mass of frightened inmates. The
house was swept of people in minute.
| In the whole honeycomb of building
| only two human beings were left, Kate
and the child.
A great cry went up from the crowd
| below as one and another pointed to
| where kate's pain-d rawn face shone
out from the clouds Of smoke. Little
Joe chung to her. Like a picture of
Madonna and child, with souls filled
with prophecy of the great anguish to
come looked the two figures in the
| lofty window.
After the first inarticulate cry of
| horror that went up from the crowd
came clear calls from one to another:
Save them Can no one save them?'
1.-The whole fourth floor is sea of
| fiame,n was the reply that fell like
| lead on the hearts of the people.
she must throw the child down."
cried Il loud voice.
No. No y cried hundred.
'She is suffocating. She must
throw the child, or they will both be
! lost"
Through the terrible asphyxia that
was devouring her senses Kate heard
the clear command, and gathered the
child in her arms to obey the voice.
! On the instant a woman's wild shrek
rent the noise of the crowd below.
Frantically pushing aside the crowd,
| crying aloud in her agony, rushed
| Hetty Barrow.
She heard the man command.
She saw Kate's motion to obey.
No ~ she shrieked Hold the
child -
Red swords of flame flashed through
the smoke clouds and darted their
+ bright blades nearer to Kate and Joe. |
Throw the child 1t is the only
chance of life ~ cried the voice below.
The crowd seeing that instant death
from the flames would be the price of
moments hesitation, took up now
the cry of, Throw the child"
81 have faced death a hundred
times,n murmured an old soldier in
the crowd Il have done many deed
that was called brave, but never have
| seen time when | could be brave
enough to take the one chance in
thousand by throwing the child.'
But it is the only chance"
"rd be coward enough to take GER
tain death, but not the chance of that
throw and that leap" declared the
old soldier.
Throw the child Now!' command
ed the clear voice.
Throw the child" went up from a
hundred Threats.
But from the mothers heart and lips
went up the cry NO! No! Hold
the child ~
Kate took one look at the dizzy dis
lance One glance at the sweep of red
flame now close upon her, then gather
ing Joe away from her neck where he
clung, she leaned far out of the win
dow and dropped the tender weight of
life from her arms.
Sick with terror of his fate she clos
ed her eyes All through the smoke
clouds cleaned the child's yellow hair,
like the flash of IL falling star. Sill
ence like the silence of Il dead world
lay in the street below.
A seconds space and great cry rent
the air: Saved -
In an instant the mother had snatch
ed her boy to her arms. Then all
eyes turned to the window where Kate
leaned far out. At the great cry of
joy she had opened her eyes and she
saw that her brave decision had had
life saving for its reward. Lurd
blaZes almost laid hold of her. She
was almost too stified to realize that
chance of life was slipping from her
swiftly, when she was walked to sud-
den sense by the same commanding
voice: Jump from the window
Jump, now ~
Gathering up all energy left her, she
leaped out over the thickening smoke
clouds. Behind her on the instant
rushed the ruddy flames. The BRAY
est, readiest men in all the crowd had,
| as by one of those inspirations that
come to the truly brave, drawn close
| together as she made the saving leap.
! This way and that they leaned with
| arms of all uplifted, following with
straining eyes and swaying forms her
fall. They caught her high on their
| lifted arms Swayed this way and
that they lowered her gently. She
| lived
The air rang with joyful acclaim.
Now again may she justly be called
Brave Kate -
Hetty Barrow, with Joe's head on
her shoulder, looked into Kate's eyes
with wealth of unspoken, unspeak
able gratitude in her look. No more
fear of unkindness there for Kate.
| No more calling her a coward, afraid
to do something new, something that
hadn't been done before. Hetty's
wealth of gratitude for priceless cour-
age would sweeten Hates search for
work now. AS they walked up the
pavement together, some lightsome
| spring breeze loosened Il hawthorn
| flower from the basket Kate had not
ed that morning. The fluttering har-
| binger of sweeter, warmer days to
come fell on Hates shoulder to be
grasped by her eager hands To the
mountain girl it was like breath
from home, bidding her to be courage
Gus and patient, and success comes al
ways to those who hold to courage, to
| patience, to right.