The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-16
S ILL y
By M. L. AvARY..

=
"she never has serious thought. that
| girl,'' her aunt remarked. .If her name
| don't fit her to a T!''
She was coming up the walk, her arms
! full of apple blossoms, her hat dangling at
her side, singing one of the ragtime tunes
/ with which she scandalized the town.
| She do seem to be light headed" observed
| her uncle, Samuel Morris. But, then she's
! a good hearted thing
/ She could not remember her parents. They
| had died when she was so little. She seemed
| to be sort of accident in her uncle and
aunts family, rather burdensome and dn-
pleasant one, which by Gods grace they
must put up with. They lived in an old, old
| house on the outskirts of quaint, rambling
| old village. 1t was set about with orchards
| where many birds loved to nest. Silly, when
| she might have been enlbroidering herself
| petticoat, making crazy quilt or doing some
other sensible thing, preferred to stay out in
the orchards with the birds.
Samuel Morris dreamed that burglar was
pressing pillow down over lis face He
tried to cry out, but could not He heard
great banging at the door and voice call
! ing: -s--r
"Uncie, uncle!''
Somebody is killing poor Silly, he
thought but he could not move.
! Then some one pulling him out OF
bed There were smoke and gleam Of
shooting flames. Something wet was slapped
over his face. He was being dragged over
the floor and down the steps by one who
! painted hard A voice-silly' scream
ing:
Help me save uncle! Somebody go back
for aunt! l couldn't find her.'
"No use,'' voices cried back Come out
i quick! The house is about to fall in!
''I'll save her or I'll die trying! Take
| uncle!". ~.
They told him afterward, the few neishbors
who had seen the fire after it was well under
way and had come to help if they could. that
as she went back the steps fell down behind
her She had jerked the wet blanket from
around him and thrown it about herself.
| How she found her aunt in that smoke
filled house, with the roar and singing Of the
flames in her ears the fash Of FIRE in her
eyes, she never could tell. But find her she
did, lying insensible on the floor. She jerked
the sheets from a bed, tore them into strips.
tied these together and bound one end around
her aunt's waist. thinking as she did SO:
,-"Ah, how can lift her and lower her from
the window without killing her!' ~.
But she did it, this wise, strong young
Silly, who looked to those below like god
dess of the flames. Younger and more daring
help had come A ladder reaching part way
; UP was against the uncertain walls Dick
was climbing it. He received her burden as
she lowered it and passed it on to- those be-
, low. Then he held out his arms
Come, beloved he said. Come qutck1y!'
She had fastened one end of the rope about
> her waist, the other about the hedpost. She
q was looking down. GOMEZ Dick called
again She climbed out of the window and
! began to descend hand over hand. Her senses
, seemed leaving her. She let 60.
When she came to herselfs she was lying
, on a big white bed n the village parsonage.
People talking. --..--
"She had more sense than any OF US: never
: lost her head: knew just what to do
'.And she's brave. Think Of going back
5 into that house with the steps falling behind
her!''
Yes" The pastor was speaking slowly
and sponderously. ".Shes our village heroine.
t is Priscilla" --.--. .,. .-.. ~
Through, the door the voice of the rich
t man Of the village rang out:
r 81 am going to name the new library L %
a giving the village for her. .>.-..
7 "S-shr' The village doctor was speaking
e I'VE must have quiet now. She's recoYertns
.. consciousness.'. 49,. - - - ~-.-.'
i |. Apple blossoms she nurmured. foolishiy.
my hands are SO hot. Dick!' ~. r.. H..
He was kneeling by her bed, The pretty
: face and hands were bruised and blackened,
and the flames had not altogether spared the
t beautiful golden hair. .~ .n... .-.
, dick, 1t hurts so PAD 10 oeT eieNef anu
a brave They're saying I'm that. And 1've
u. got my name. But oh. Dick. don't want
: to be wise. It's so painful Let the others
call me Priscilla in whisper 1T sounds
+; dignifed, and like it from them. But you
you lust call me Silly. I'm not wise or brave.
v Dick Don't tell anybody I went back into
u the fire because 1 didn't have any better
, sense S." -5' s'... -
j You are right, beloved. said Dick. Wise
Lpeople do not run back: into the fire to save
. others Only the brave, the, fools and the
angels do that -''E@,-:t> - -