The Delta independent., 1898-08-12
CHAPTER xv.

memory Of every family ut the post.
hut for ths most unusual though fcftu-
nate change In the direction d the blast
all onicess' row IN the northeast hoas
mast have been swept away. as ON m
othss well remembered night the quar-.
tess Of the infantry-all Of officers' row
On the northwest sids-had melted away
in . food Of flame some years before.
With tho garrison gone there was NO
fire department, and even had there
Leen ono Of metropolitan proportions it
could have accomplished next to moth
Ing. The big tindsr boz Jointly oocu-
pied By Ms5ors Barry and Stannard was
swept awsy - thonsh In the twinkling
Of an eye. In less than ten minutes Of
the alarm Q broad sheet Of dre swept
across the roadway and far out upon tho
parads, licking mp the fence like 4 row
of matches and blistering tho hopeful
young cottonwoods. just budding along
ihs bordering soequia, while in less
than 30 only . mass Of glowing embers
lay glazing in the sercely tanning sale.
ind every vestiss' Of the goods and
Cbattels had gone TO feed the flames.
The D0vel was that the inmates got
out at all
Fbss 70 discover the fire was Mra
Barry. aroused by dense and suf,ocatins
smoke, and . sound Of mapping and
cracking in tho kitchen. she called
AAry. who sprang from her coaoh.
rushed to the kitchen door. and, with
en- awful shrek. recoiled before the in
stant rush of the flames into tho dining
room. Maynard. still writing In his
room, heard, dew down the stairs,
stumbled over her on the front piazza;
then, bsuding low. broke through the
aenss smoke now pouring through the
little hall. found Mrs. Barry 1eebly
striving to reach the doorway and boee
her. half suhocated. into the open air;
then. facing hcme now - well ~ dead
ming smoke, had dashed mp the staiFs
and burst into Nathalis's blazing room.
The giYi had managed 10 reach the
wardrobe and to throw about hsS tie
very wrap sho wore the morning - a.
swered Nalooey's impudcnt sumnoss.
and thss Aad fallea helpless s.d half
sti6ed. unabls to open the doue. 1cok.
los Of himself, Maynard dragged the
Ilaaket from the bed. wrapped Il aboet
The slender and beloved foem, lifted he9
lihs child IN his strong arms. end, fol.
lowsd b ~ sssthing tosGccs of naoe,
sia0s&1g biz hair. syebros:s md ms.
ssehA - ssssehiaS tbs din q hAe
1aes - hasAs and neck ard ear. haA
eoas boeodisg deWn tho row Of blasing
kalustess ard ost isto The open air b..
fore ~ 1sli, blinded. burned and almost
saRocated. bot triumphapt. Tho guard
was there II tvs miAptes, the bands-
snen and "doaghboys" snOn came rush-
ing fro0 their qSaStesa Women and
children poured, shrioking. from the
houses nearest. while others less alarm
Cd hurried from those farther down tho
row. Ws1nse Was as the spot a. quick
- The gard. end ssdef his cool bead
I'd dirsctioo she seecssd ladies' were car
sied o. led 10 Ma Rays, and then they
ssat 70 The hospital for . strstchss Scs
poor Aaynard, writhinG in terrible
pain. whils his sisteT. swayipg to and
fro froa sids 70 side. knels with clasp
I'd hands. moaning and sobbing and i'm
ploEins people to do something for him.
deaf to his stern sdmonitiou Of silence.
and only osasing when be sought 70
ssaeses to his feet and.lcavs her.
Ovsg him presently hent Walters.
checked and sore distressed. To him
soou came the little doetos. apd through
p lass oe Wesptns women snd childreu
Sissy boss him 70 the captain's quaytess
down The sow-Waltess would admit a
nothing le0-snd there with sofs cotton
cd street Gil and soothing lotious.
with t~udef hands and words Of bound-
lsss pssiss and sympathy, they did tbeiR
utmost to comfort and 10 soothe. Wbea
the 6se. swept By tie gale away froo
The sess Of the row. bad burned itself
Oas and Walters roald hasten to the
bsdsids Of the bsavs yosns fellow. be
almost sobbed alcud when he strovs t.
ssswer Naynsrd's half apolosctio
'Bsoks ~ arrest. sis. hus cooldn'e
help t."
Neantine. thoseh ss1sri.g sAsck
I'D partial sa9ocssios. Nsa Barry ssd
1lio Baird wsss prusosseed unistarsd
ssa were bsing asvossdly stsesded -
Ilsa Ray'a Aasy. The hoassoaid, Was
ssill - . ss01hysess3cal seses - ss-
SuissA n0o Waitin9 - thaa an ~
~=S@S
/. 81