Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-08-08

VINO waits, only sometimes not till
has ceased tt wish for them.
Toms opportunity came at last.
1T was a hot evening after a bis
terlng hot day, when any mortal
with good common sense might nat
uraliy be expected to seek the cool
p~reezes, but ill-fortune decreed that
this should be the night when every
body worth mentioning should
throng the huge temporary pavilion
where the ladies were holding a sort
OF church Enthusiastically for char
1ty. 1t was a hot place. The ceiling
was low, the drapings and festoon-
lngs that adorned and concealed the
bare boards hindered the free pass
age of the air, the many lights
and h crowd made the atmos-
phere sitting. There was to be
an amateur literary program, mu-
sic, Rotations, and even a little
play by home talent, so, of
course, it was everybody's duty to
go there and swelter-and most of
them did. Vesta was there looking
deliciously cool in some misty white
raiment, and Irving, who chatted and
NNoShCd as SdNIN as ever. IHOuRn Tile
hot weather evidently did o agree
with him.
Looks as if you could knock him
over with a feather!" Tom grumbled.
Pretty protector he is for any grill
He'll faint before the evenings half
over" Which was but little exagger-
ated. Irving was indeed more fit for
a sickbed than for a crowded hall.
Suddenly Ned Wheeler seized Toms
arm. Look there-that flaring torch
above the left of the stage! It'll
catch hat draping in another mo-
ment. There, it's caught This
whole place will fash up like finder.
Now's your chance. Save Vesta and
win her! He can't
The pavilion was large and packed
to the doors, every aisle filled with
chairs. Tom was but a few rows of
seats behind Vesta, but even as he
sprang to his feet, bewiIdered by the
suddenness of the danger, the Gus
tOmary idiot raised the cry of fire.
not quite ~inexcusable this time, for
despite a frantic attempt to tear down
the blazing stuff, the flame was al
ready flashing from loop to loop and
dropping fakes of fire on the flower
trimmed hats and gauzy dresses be-
low; and the delighted audience of
a moment before had become a mad,
terrified, panic-stricken mob, yelling.
shrieking, pushing and tanning their
way toward the doors. Tom had fair
ly to fight his way to Vesta, though
she was but three rows back from
the stage. :.
She stood still, drawing her light
cape over her shoulders, grave and
anxious indeed, but cool and self
possessed though Irving stood at her
side deathly pale and trembling, while
the crowd surged past toward the
doors and the sparks fell thickly
around them. Tom saw her take her
escorts arm with a reassuring smile
and move slowly a step or two-more
than that the jam would not permit
the next moment he was at her
side.
She gave him a radiant smile, and
said something he could not hear for
the rush of flames overhead and the
hubbub around, pointing to the stage
where one of the actors still stood,
hoarsely shouting out something no.
body stopped to hear. Certainly not
Tom. There was no time to waste
in humoring a girls whims now.
Irving felt that, for he fairly thrust
Vesta into Toms arms, shouting:
"Take care of her; / can't" and
dropped back gasping into his chair.
Tom gathered her into his arms,
aynlfSno IN hic cfronnfh Ha nooloI |
it all, for Vesta was no fairy. He had
not dreamed a girl was SO heavy.
Besides she resisted most decidedly.
ST can walk" she protested. Put
me down and help him." adding some
thing about the man on the stage
which Tom did not even try to hear,
but dashed for the door, holding her
fast TO his wildly exultant heart.
Let her struggle with all her girlish
strength; had he not wrestled with
athletes? What were her unframed
against his?
Let the crowd jam, painting, shrek
ing and maddened around the doors;
had he not fought his way through
mad a mob on t~helfootball ground?
He lowered his head and charged
IHTOuSu III Ike q JUL, hurting dSAuc
trampling over all who came in
way. There, he was safely in the
open air with his prize, ready to
shout for very joy. His chance had
come at last, he had shown her what
a real man could do. She was won,
ought a fellow to do next?
couldn't stand there holding a girl
who struggled to get away. He set
her down, beginning some awkwardly
r~eassuring phrase, but she darted
away and disappeared in the crowd
the darkness. Tom stood still
very big and awkward, and
disappointed. She might have
him one word at least.
"Got your chance at last, didn't
gasped his friend, coming up
him. "Irving's goose is cooked
this time. 1 reckon. Come on and
help the hook and ladder boys if you
don't want to take her home. You
hurt any, of course?"
No, not he. and he understood help
the fire company much better
than receiving the compliments that
now began to shower upon him.
They were all very pleasant, of course,
put where was Vesta? Well. he wasn't
to look for her. She would
come presently and thank him when
his gaping crowd were not by. So