The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18

VIC bAtiNA was GlukiAltu IldtQt HAltaG Sli'
sat grey and fearless, her features rigid
and her brows drawn and knitted, staring
fixedly out in front of her, without saying
a word, and fighting and wrestling in
agony with the despair that clutched at
her heart.
After a time she rose and kissed her
father. and her lips and face were cold
as steel.
Il must be alone, papa. You have tried
to break it gently TO me, dearest. and
viii try to bear it, but my heart feels
dead" And then she left the room.
1.-THE MAN WITH A PAST.
"Shure, an let the rampin', roarin' dew
lis come on, tin thousand av EN-, and
We'll split their ugly black Wlzens for EN-.
And it's niver mither's son of EN- ull
see the ind O this day. Hurroo!
Silence in the ranks therew
"Shure, and it's me that's as soilent as
the cock that woke St. FATHERS con-
science, said Tim McKree in a half wills
per, and spoilt the proide of him; just
as Wen topple over these black Soudan
OWLS. Can ye see a smell av EN- out o.
them high up skoy-seraping wlnders o.
yours at all?" he asked the man next to
him, very tall, broad, powerful man
whose features were tanned by exposure.
mo, Tim" he answered, mot glimpse.
But the devils are ABOUT somewhere. and
may be on Us in an instant. Yes, by -,
l caught a glimpse of them then. Look
out and stand steady"
STEADY there men; they're coming, %
called out the officer; and every man held
his breath. Take careful aim; don't waste
a shot, for they're sure to be ten to our
one, and every bullet must go home"
a screaming shout rose on three sides, a
huge horde OF infuriated blacks seemed to
rise out of the ground and came rushin2
down upon the British line with headt9ng
speed and terrific violence.
Volley after volley of deadly fire was
poured in, but seemed powerless to stay
the onward rush of the enemy AS soon as
some fell others took their places, and
the ranks seemed almost uubroken as
they neared the small body of British
troops.
The charge was a furious one ana for
the moment the confusion among the Brit
ish was complete; one side Of the square
was btoken, and the men were figntinp
hand to hand, thrusting. warding. stab
bling, wrestling for life and honor and tht
flag, in one mighty, heaving, palpitating
shouting mass
When the line gave way for a minute
the tall powerful soldier stepped into the
gap. and calling to those round him, stood
his ground in the face of most immiuen
peril hacking this way and that, ant
swinging his huge sword about him with
sweep so deadly and a strength so pro
digious that the enemy hung back foi
an instant In superstitious belief that his
life was charmed.
That momentary halt was a turning
point British cheer went up, and the
next minute the enemy were flying, and
covering the ground with dead and dying
In their course.
But the man who had dared and done
so much did not see the retreat; he went
Al -s..N
unto death, when the rush first began,
and he fell Just in time for the wrigglng
pressing. hurrying feet of his comrades
to stamp and kick and tread the re-
manning breath nearly out Of his body.
Many had seen the splendid courage OF
the man. and were sorry when the roll
was called and Private Henry Waters
daredevil Waters. the man with a past
as they called him-the heaviest drinker.
the hardest swearer when drunk, the
gloomiest comrade when sober, the tall
est and strongest and bravest man In the
corps-did not answer.
But he wasn't dead.
mo such luck" he growled to himself
when he found he was only wounded and
SCARED almost beyond recognition.
III.-FIRE
No cry rushes faster through the London
streets than that of "Firel" and as il flew
crowd, gathered up from street corners
and reeking taverns, and by-streets, went
speeding In the direction of Drury-lane,
where some old houses were ablaze.
With the crowd were some sandwich
board men who had been snatching a rest
IN one of the alleys. and among them one
man, tail and straight, with the relic Of
a soldiers bearing and a face on which
drink and dissipation were written large
in Haunting, unmistakable characters.
He strobe along with his head bent down
and without trace of the eager, excited
curiosity that moved the others. When
they reached the scene OF the fret was
a house In one of the most crowded courts
the place was in full blaze, and the
flames were licking and roaring and driv-
ing over the whole front
Suddenly a womans scream was heard
her baby was in the fire. She had been
drinking, and had returned to find the
house i'm flames. She cried and raved and
cursed and prayed IN turns. and then
called on the men to fetch out her child
Save my child, you men. Are you cow
ardsP she shrieked.
ITS certain death, miss" answered a
bystander, land a mans life is more ac-
count than a child's."
There was a movement among the crowd.
and the tall board-man stepped FOR ward.
Certain death. Is it?" he exclaimed.
cycling the flames. III go"
He tossed off his boards buttoned his
coat tightly. inquired in which room the
child was and dashed into the burning
house.
Amid the rasping and licking OF the
Games, the sound of the timbers cracking
and breaking under his heavy tread could
be heard by the crowd. who held breath
In suspense.
The flames Increased in hight ana fierce
ness, the sparks flew In greater clouds
and heat forced the crowd back. and the
smoke rolled up In dense, suffocating vol
umes.
The moments seemed like hours. and the
man did not return
Then a crash inside the house was heard.
and the smoke and sparks and flames
rushed out OF the doors and windows
He's gone" said the man who had spo-
ken before. Hes brave man, but I
knew IL was certain death"
Al that instant. however, sounds were
heard In the small passage, and great
shout arose from the crowd as the huge
form Of the man was seen through the
smoke holding bundle In one hand and
cropping wildly with the other.
As he reached the doorway he fen for
ward. and the baby rolled out OF his arms
In "a moment It was ciasped In the moth
ors arms who tainted with drink and
.NnIfsFnauF mud fnW "a Wp4t..a a.