Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-01-23
Flercely rose the ak.

their axes gllstening edges timbers
snapped in two like twigs. and their
rough. brown hands dragged men and
matrons and maidens from the wreck.
nor paused for thanks or praise.
Swiftly, surely swept the fire on
ward; sharper, heavier. faster fell the
strokes of axes, glistening in the light.
But at last the heat became so fierce,
so intense. that even the bravest was
driven back and forced to listen, help
less and aghast. TO the peadings and
the groans OF those they could not
help.
And so they huddled on the sands.
the rescued and the rescuers. weeping,
sobbing. praying, plying. but-help-
less
And above the flames wild roar;
above the grooming of the dying.
woman's piercing cry rang out upon
the night.
God! Save me; oh. some one save
mel"
Above the heads OF those who hud-
died round about and through the
darkness, over the sage brush and the
cactus, the cry sped on its way until
at last IL fell into the ears OF one who
lay prone upon the sand-one who had
lain for hours, a pain within his heart.
his mind oblivious to all surroundings.
He raised his head and listened and
in his eyes the vacant stare gave place
to the light OF reason.
noip H. ,oica cav,oa - hiro.
Save me; some one save me"
He sprang to his feet and, with a
cry OF Nina Nina" he sped like a
coyote towards the red glare that
seemed reckoning to him through the
darkness.
With the woman's name still upon
his lips, he sprang into the midst OF
those huddled upon the sand and seiz-
ing an axe. leaped desperately into the
burning wreck.
Fiercely rose and fell his axe: the
flames Tapped his feet and climbing UP
and up, fed hungrily upon his gar
ments and his eyebrows and his hair.
But still he worked: still his axe rose
and fell; still the name of Nina"
came from his parching lips.
And then. with his flesh blistering
in the fire; with his muscles quivering
from the red-hot kisses of the flames,
he reached W mans hand and
dragged her from the reach OF the de-
vouring element.
Tenderly he lifted her and laid her
on the sand, then he reeled and sank
upon the ground. a quivering mass of
scorched humanity.
With the dawn a relief train came
and among those on board was tall
young man who went eagerly from
cabin to cabin, where the injured lay.
searching for one he loved.
And the woman for whom he
searched was sitting beside a rude
bunk, on which a man lay dying. The
man had hold Of her hand and was
drinking in the light Of the woman
eyes.
81 am glad you were not badly In
jured, Nina, he whispered. then
pressed his lips tightly together to
stife a sob Of pain.
The woman smiled family and laid
her hand upon his pillow pityingly.
81 thought I--hated-you," he fall
tered. after ~ause. But God-Nina.
| DON'T DON'T can't-I-love--"
Hush" the woman said. firmly, but
kindly lowering her eyes before his
gaze. He watched her in silence. and
when she raised her face again to his,
he said. with a painful effort:
IL was to blame-Nina-I thought
thought you didn't care for me. But
you did-didn't you-Nina?"
His eyes were fixed upon her with
wild intensity. and she trembled.
Eyes. John, did care for you" she
said. quite low. And the man smiled
and closed his eyes.
Then It was that the tall young man
came softly into the cabin and saw
the woman weeping beside the still,
white face OF the dead.