Arizona republican., 1899-03-23

J
 dance that evening.
 As often before, the dining-room of the Aurora hotel did service this night as a ballroom, and from the crowded doorway Tom Reed looked at the dancers, and he caught the flash of a i jewel on Kitty's hand.
 After the dancing had progressed some time the men about the walls be- gan shouting:
 <" A song! T song from the sage. brush nightingale!" Having TO cold to urge as an excuse, and being as willing to oblige them as they were anxious to have her, Kitty Mims mounted chair amid great applause and sang the fla vorite songs. But the "Suwanee l River and Home, Sweet Home" were not given tonight, there being no wish | to divert thought from the present festivities to other scenes.
 During the evening Kitty managed to get near to where Tom Reed was standing, and she whispered: Thank you, Tcm-"
 His eyes did not deceive him. Some of his flowers were in her dark hair, and the golden heart hung from a chain that encirc1ed her smooth, white throat.
 Tom Reed did not wait longer. but went to his cabin up the mountain side and lay down, but it was not to sleep. He could rot define his feelings, could give, if questioned, no adequate cause for the tumultuous joy at his heart. He was too happy for reason, tOomuch excited for rest.
 It was near daylight when he fell into a doze, but in his dreams he still saw the blossoms in her hair and the heart of gold up6n her breast.
 She was calling his name-ouder- louder. She was beating on the door.
 From Reed! Tom Reed! For Gods sake, come out. The mine is on fire ''
 He sprang up and threw open the door.
 There stood Kitty, white faced and excited.
 ''see, Tom. see! There are eight men in the shaft and eight of them married-''
 Tom Reed did not wait to.hear more. He saw the pillar of smoke shooting up from the mouth of the mine, about which the people crowded, the bravest not daring to descend the fatal open ing. Even Rufus Ford had lost his head and seemed paralyzed.
 What are you about, Tom Reed! Don't go down, man! Don't!" shout ed the people.
 Stand by. the fire has not touched the shaft. Pull up-usuaE signal!"
 That was all Tom Reed. said. The next instant he was lost to sight. He had gone down the chain, 'hand over hand"
 Encouraged by this daring example, the men got their senses and the wom- en hushed their yelling.
 After long minutes. a signal came up from the smoking depths. The sta tionary engine was started. and the | bucket rose holding four blackened, i half-suffocated men.
 Again the signal was given and again the bucket rose, with four other men, and one of them gasped out: ''For heavens sake, lower away! quick! | Tom Reed is roasting!"
 The bucket flew down the shaft from which lurid heat gusts now came with the smoke.
 An awful lapse. of agonizing seconds. then came a faint signal to Haul up!"
 The bucket flew to the surface enveI- oped in flame.
 X cry Of horror burst from the throats of strong men, and Kitty Mims fell, fainting beside the blackened, blistered form that was snaJched from the mouth of the pit.
 Any other man but brave Tom Reed would have died,' was the general com ment weeks afterwards. when it was fO1DJ Tom yvOuII Irve-IiUe hut never again to look up at the sky and the hills that he loved.
 "Why-why did you go down ?'' asked Kitty, as she sat beside his bed, won dering why he was feeling her fingers they had no jeweled ring now.
 q thought of the wives of the mar ried men, Kitty. I was single. What mattered it so that saved them"
 Hush! Tom!"
 He felt a tear on his hand and he knew her lips were near his sightless face.
 ''You will want wife now, Tom. Let my eyes do for both. Father is will ing"
 It is the privilege of queens to pro- pose, but then Kitty was a queen. and she is none the less one now that she is Mrs. Reed and the landlady of the Au- ora hotel.
 If Tom Reed ever bemoaned his calamity no one knew it-not even the wife, from whom he could have no se- :rets.-N. '. Ledger
 Second Thoughts.
 The sound of the door closing behind 1im fell like Epe1i