The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-14

rest. snatchjnR hssty meals. and sTsriHg
neither miIpi nor body. WHEN nature a.
serted herzelf occasionally his hsn5s
dropped and his faith faltered, as happens
sometimes even 10 saints and martyrs: he
would turn 10 his ideal and think OF the
little maiden sitting in her rose garden.
the embodiment OF rest and beauty, I'LL
his courage returned, and be worked on
again steadfdstly.
one evening as he sat late IT his cooks.
seizing one Of those brief moments for
study which were now 50 rare, he no
ticed a strange light in the sky. Alert
and interested, ne opened the lattice and
looked out The night was very dark,
but just over the fir trees a fare or fed
broke the plt,Ey blackness. in the ar
rose a smell OF burning. The Carate dash
ed the lattice 10. a fire. he said 10 nm
self. pitching on his coat and forgetting
the gOlOshes and umbrella. A IRE. l
wonder where II is" on he way down
he met some OF the villagers benz on iEe
same errand as himself.
What is it-a farmstead, rick? what
is itgr Re queried hastily.
1T be the ouId Manor Cottage" one
rustic answered.
The curate staggered in his nasty
flight. The Manor Cottage. the nome
where his lady love lived! Fear lent nm
new wings. Almost the first on the
ground he saw furious flames leapinS and
curling round the caves and the CHM
reys. The crackle OF red-hot timber fell
on mis- ear. and the air choked him. heavy
laden with the smell of smoke and Gin
ders The curate looked round. Servants
had done what they could; buckets were
brought and emptied, each man busliy
lent d hand.
And the LADY," the curate, faint at
heart with terror. asked. is she safe"
At that moment a girl clad in white.
her hair unbound, appeared at the win
dow. She made as though TO ding herself
out.
Don't jump" the bystanders critd,
"Wait-wait-a LADDER Somebody bring a
LADDER
As usual in such cases. no ladder could
be found. The crowd hesitated and look
ed at one another doubtfully; every mo-
ment more thrilling. the heat waxing IN
tenser. a SILVER ran over the bystanders,
for clouds of smoke almost obecured the
trembling white Agure at the window.
Then might be seen a man, bis body
wound round with a strong rope, who
climbed up by the yeranda. aiding him
self, with hands and feet. by outstanding
buttress, nail, waterpipe. crevice, or foot
hold OF any sort. Like a cat. with swift
ness and surety. he climbed. TO the aston
ishment Of the yokels. not one uf whom
would have dared 10 perform the feat.
When he reached the window the girl
fell almost Historically weeping into his
arms. Quietly unWinding the rope from
mis- body he fastened il 10 the Uindow-sill
and proceeded again TO descend, this time
carefully, with the girl claspsd IN his
arms. As he reached the ground a great
cheer went up from the appialdinS null
tltude, to whom deeds of courage never
appealed in vain.
The fire being at last extinguished. and
all that could be saved by the combined
efforts OF the iiremen-now tardiiy arriv-
ed-aad the willing volunteers. the curate,
the nero OF the hour. went home TO bed,
bruised, weary but joyful at heart.
low glad l am l thought of being a
sailor once" he reflected. .and learnt TO
climb. Those birds nests | robbed as =
10y were not wasted; they Taught me
skill and prudence"
Pera was safe: he had left her I'm tbe
care CT the old servant. pale but unharyn-
ed. safe! safei the Joy bells rang i'm mis-
heart If she had persisted he would. n
least, have persisted with her. But she
was not dead; she was alive and we'll
and he had saved her. God was very mtr-
ciIul- The curate fe.l asleep and dreamed
mat he was walking over red-hot pillow
shares, which burnt hin, GreadfulIg. Yet
he cared nothing for the pain. for away in
the distance, raGiantly beautiful in her
white robes, stood Pera, beckoEing 10 him
kindly, and smiling an angelic smile of
welcome.
Again the cUrate sat at tea with Pera,
no longer in her own sweet rose garden,
all b!ackened and trampIed down and
StreWn with debris after the fire, but IN
coy little room in the empty vicarage.
which she had gladly accepted in her time
Of distress and honelessness.
She lay on the sofa still somewhat
white and shattered in nerve II. m the rE-
fects Of her recent danger. The curate
looked much as usual. sitting with mis-
faithful umbrella propped beside him.
Pera raised herself, leaning on her el-
DOW. They tell me it was you that saved
me. | remember nothing. 1t was all a
horrible dream. l don't believe 1 even
thanked you
duty"
Do you mean TO say you are in the
habit OF saving people in burning houses ~
No; l am not so vain. / don't thinl.
ever did anything Of the sort before"
But you would. I'm sure" said Pera.
gazing steadfastIy at him, lou would. |
believe there is something daring and
quiXotic in your nature"
apll he Ia
not only man Of peaCe?'
There are men Of peace and men OF
peace" nirsed Pera. Yours Is a fighting
nature; you love danger"
Il simply never think Of it," the curate
replied.
And that is the secret of courage"
said the girl on the sofa, lying back on
her cushions.
The curate looked at her. He saw her
always in MS minds eye as on that dread
ful night. The tangled masses of her
long brown hair, hanging over his shoal-
der. falling across his mouth. blinking his
eyes. the lit; e bare feet dangling helples sly,
and the y m young body, clothed only in
the mir. .yhtdTess, pressed against his
heart, ing on his bosom. She was
pretty now, charming in the pensive deli
never would she be again the sweetheart
of his dreams, in her appealing agony and
self-a banionment.
Would YOU have saved anybody, any
other person but me?" asked Pera pres
emily.
The curate hesitated. Il hope So" he
answered truthfully.
But you are not sure?" cried the girl
triumphantly 1t vas me you saved
only me. Then, that Is lows" she added
softly.
II suppose So" said the curate. but
why talk Of these things? Let Us rather
consider the plans OF the new house, which
you must shortly rebuild"
Il shall not rebuild it--at least not like
that" said Pera decisiyely. That part
OF my life is over. and l must have 4 new
house. newly-planned. 10 live my new life
in. Papa was a scholar, a recius=; he
built a house for solitude. for silent work
for himself ! am going 10 have a new
house. a house fun % JOY and laughter,
and the merry cries Of chill am rot
going 10 read my life-sIoI! ,Gks, bur
in the great big. busy wo.r. z. 4 IN the
hearts Of others. ! am gOl.g IL work,