Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-02-26

eyes, indeed, my dears," said Miss
Adams, "and Mr.. Smith informed me
only yesterday that she gave fellow
such noble aspirationsr'
A merry laugh rang out at Mrs.
Smiths expense, but ere she could re-
tort, the irebell Changed loudly, fol-
lowed Immediately by the heavy roll
of the engines over the paved streets,
and the cry of "Fire! Fire!w from in
Vulnerable voices.
A wild, lurid glare lit up the town op-
posite the hotel, and with one accord,
and many exclamations, the group up
on the porch Joined the eager, rushing
crowd moving in the direction of the
confagration. Cries of "Where is tt?'
and only indistinct replies from the
distance reached the hotel group, as,
keeping as closely together as possible,
they were pressed onward with the
ever increasing throng. until, when
some five blocks distant, the thick
smoke from the burning building made
them gasp for breath, while Mr.. Ellis,
with Mrs. Leslie in front, shouted
back:
''The whole Weldon tenement is
ablaze! Hurry up, men, and help to
get those people outw
A quicker impulse forward and a
nervous shrek from Mrs. Leslie caus-
ed the other ladies of the party, re-
gardless of the excitement of the oc-
casion, to utter again critical and dis
paragfng remarks, such as,
Better have stayed at home, the
baby! That violet odor sickens me in
this dense smoke"
"Where is her husband? I wonder"
LEFT for Frankfort tonight" came
the reply.
''Should think"
But here their conversation was stop
ped by the tumult around them, and
they were now as near the conflagra-
ton as the women dared to go, and
speechless they watched the brave fire
men as they directed the hose on that
portion Of the building which remain
ed standing. More than half had al
ready fallen, and the occupants were
crying and moaning, half crazed with
grief at the loss of their household
goods. The tidings that all the in
mates were saved caused a shout Of
joy to go up from the crowd, when
suddenly, from an upper corner win
dow, a baby form appeared-a wee girl
figure scarcely three years old! She
was blackened by SCOT and smoke, and
was sobbing and calling, Mamma,
Mammal!
"'Tis Tilly Browns babyw shouted
one Of the rescued tenants. "She's
gone out washing and she amt come
home yet. My God! What will she
do?'
"Save the babyv' "Save the babyv'
shouted the frantic crowd, and the
firemen sprang to their work with re-
newed energy, but all in vain. Five
brave men, in as many seconds, were
almost killed in the attempt to reach
the apparently doomed and helpless
child. Still it cried on, its calls for
Mamma" growing pitifully weak. The
shouts Of the multitude became louder
and hoarser. Women cried, and some
tainted and were borne away. The
group of women from the hotel were
sobbing Historically, their mother love
touched. But they never realized the
moment when a blue and white robed
figure sped swiftly from them; nor did
they guess there was one less of their
number until, simultaneously with a
glad cheer from the crowd, the form of
Mrs. Leslie for one brief instant an
peared at the open window as she
snatched the child up in her arms.
burying its face upon her shoulder, and
enveloping its head in the ends of the
long white scarf she had hastily
thrown about her head. They saw her
rapidly disappear in cloud Of smoke
and fame as a stiffness like that of
death fell on the astonished people.
The next instant the very air seemed
rent with shouts and exclamations of
applause.