The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-10-21

barrier, "class." stood between. Men
marry beneath their class every day;
women seldom or never.
H.
But harkl A low murmur rose behind
the stage, which quickly swelled into
cry Of terror, and multitude OF human
voices Joined In that awful paralyzing
cry OF "Firew
In one moment the scene was one OF
widest confusion. The fire began be
hind the stage, but that wonderful Iron
"curtain," which was to Dc such safe
guard In emergency, had grown rusty
on It's hinges, and no one had time or
presence Of mind to remember how It
worked. There was one thing better
than presence of mind, and that was
absence Of body.
In the midst of the race for life
around them Glbert's only thought
was how he could save Vivian, and,
STOPPING, he lifted her In his arms and
placed her on her feet on the seat; then,
still with his arm close around her, he
paused to think. There was no hope
that Che panic would subside, no hope
the flames would be suppressed, for al
ready they were leaplng and dancing
IN fury among the wings" and red
tongues OF fire We're shooting upward
and licking the files"
The crowd surged on toward the exit.
Women were being trampled under
foot. Men, In very frenzy OF terror,
were fighting their way; utterly for
getful of their manhood, they were
hurllng inside all who came In their
path. 1t was useless to enter the con-
test and strive to make way through
this frantic throng.
Suddenly an idea came to Gilbert and
quick as thought he lifted the girl In his
arms and prepared for action. OplO-
site to the exit where the human stream
was flowing was a narrow window
which he had noticed often. II was
high up in the walls, but he reInem-
bered that passers-hy by the stage door
used It as a peep-hole to see If the
house was filling; It was near to the
stage entrance and close to the open
street.
Still holding Vivian, he made his way
through the binding smoke; the win
dow was higher than he thought, quite
above his reach. but with almost super
human strength he wrenched the
benches from their places and piled
one Oh another till he could reach the
sill. The aperture was small, he knew
too small for even an ordinary sized
man to scramble through but she was
a slip Of q girl-she would have room
enough
Tho flames were rising higher, thS
cries Of those In peril more terror
stricken than before, when ut last hc
succeeded In breaking the glass and
wrcnching tho woodwork from Ia
frame.
Come" he said hoarsely, ''whilc
there Is timel There Is u door close II
your left hHnd-a swing door; 1t II
sure to be open to the street"
"But your the girl cried. "You e
first and draw me upY
| NJ NO. NAAlutlA saw DIV AAatAA tAO
realized that If she were saved at al
she must be saved alone! She mus
not realize It now, or 1t would maxi
his task well nigh impossible, and will
great effort he spoke calmly:
"This Is the better plan. DO as l tel
you and when you are safe you shall
give me your hand"
Silently the girl obeyed him. and 70
one moment her arms chung round hi
neck as he raised himself to his full
height on the lettering, piled-ul
benches The blood surged TO his brain
and the flames roared hoarsely In hi
ears. He would have given the wOrl
then for one kiss and thought It wei
lost, but he must not startle her h.
betrnying himself She would be safe
nnd-well, who knOws?-in heave
there viii be no barriers of CLASS"
In another moment she was seated O.
the stone sill, and Gilbert had caugh
and knotted the silk sash she WORE
Now" ne whispered, when | lowe
you down you will go rs fast as yo
can to the door, You promiseT"
but you are coning2 Oh, you ar
coming, too2" she cried IN anguish
and her tiny hands chung TO his own.
For one moment he gazed into he
eyes; then, raising himself with diff
Guilty he pressed his lips to the finger
lying in his grasp.
Remember" he said, "the door is I
your left hand. You have promised I
find It quickly. Now go. Cor he crleC
for the smoke was becoming dense
and the heat Of the curling flames gree
hotter and hotter.
And you-where shall I meet youi
"Never think of me-" he said. 81
shall meet you by-another way"
Then he lowered her gently, and l,
the scarf-the last link which boun
him to her and earth-slip from h
, grasp. And the girl. half stunned wit
terror, stumbled along as he had d
rected, the words ringing In her ear
r 81 shall meet you by-another way
} And Gilbert turned again to face II
( binding. suffocating smoke, the angr
: lurid flames. He knew what he ma
, done he knew there was no hope ,
? escape for himself; but what Of thai
! She was safo-thls girl who had con
! into his life and filled his heart for
3 | brief a space, was safe.