The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-18
READ IN THE. FLAMES
By MARY WOOD

The men who had been boon companions in
her tomboy days declared that jolly good
fellow had been changed into prlg and
voted her schemes for elevation as all tommy
rot. She scandalized the old minister&who
had baptized her when baby by her open
avowal Of agnostic beliefs.
Jack Selwyn tried in vain to stem the
rising tide of antagonisn1, but then every one
knew it was only because he was too loyal
to desert his old sweetheart. Jack had not
been able to go to college. There were the
young brothers and sisters TO whom he had
to play fathers part. So he had turned to
work as an antidote for longing for the un-
attainable and was now Mr.. Bergen's right
hand man. 1t was even whispered that his
employer would have been glad to welcome
nearer relationship. - *. .s-.--
1t seemed, however, that Katharyn had no
memory of the promises whispered by a GER
tain Katie. To be sure, there has been look
in her face when he greeted her on her day
of homecoming that had sent his heart up
into his throat: Perhaps 1t was not as he had
feared she had not grown beyond his reach.
But the succeeding days had brought only
disillusionment. The girl, smarting under the
almost universal rebuffs Of her well meant
efforts, classed him ruthlessly among ths
ranks of her opponents
If she missed their old time condolences,
their happy talks on men and books, she
gave no sign. Instead she withdrew more
closely into herself
. Her rooms were the ground floor of the
Bergen homestead. There she sat and read
or unused bitterly long after she had said
Good night" From her windows the lawn
soped down gently to the river. Often when
her head grew weary she would slip out
quietly to breathe the freshness of the night
One evening the moonlight had lured her
from her books. The strains of a. violin came.
softened by distance. All Seotville at
49, l1l>z yIoa
paltry excuse had been that she and her
mother had promised to spend the night at an
old aunts in the country during her fathers
absence on business trip, but sudden indis-
position had kept them from going, and now
Katharyn hurried down the river path, as II
to escape the witching sound.
She had wandered farther than she knew
when a cry broke the stiffness: "FireI
Fire!" She turned and ran back dizzily-
Swift intuition told her that the column OF
smoke and flame rose from her own home.
Scotville thought all the family were away
There would be one to awaken and save
her mother.
AS she painted up the lawn she saw con-
fusedly string of people. They were passing
buckets: These girls in flmy ball gowns
| (the girls she had patronized), these men in
immaculate evening dress (the men she had
| frowned on), were fighting to save her home
But there was no sign of her mother
| One wing was ablaze, while smoke poured
! from every window OF the main building. FER
haps it was too late.
With cry of anguish she broke through
the inner circle Of figures and before they
were aware Of her presence had darted up
the steps and disappeared into the smoke
A wave Of heat as from a furnace met her
as she dashed up the stairs. Sparks from
the burning landing above rained down upon
her head, but she flung open the door OF
1,or 9th rsa md cta n ha hpd
The was empty.
She turned back blindly toward the door.
Smoke whirled in upon her, choking, suf-
fccating. The very walls seemed to fash inta
flame.
She fell forward.
She awoke to the delicious GOODNESS os
water dashed upon her AS she opened hey
heavy eyes two anxious faces bent over her.
One was her mothers pale with terror, but
untouched by smoke or fame The other
she recognized it in spite OF burned and
blackened skin and singed hair; it wal
Jacks
With a little sigh of content she closed
her eyes again. These two that she loved
best were safe. Yes, she acknowledged it II
herself now-she loved Jack Selwyn.
4 And he had saved her. She had felt hii
strong catch her when she fell Aftel
all the months of her studied unkindness h,
, had risked his life to save hers. She hat
Deen Dllnd lndeed, Dut she mad read hei
heart in the light Of the flames
Now she put out her hand timidly
t "Jack,' she whispered softly.
He seized her cold little hand in his
What is it, Katie?'' he asked his voic,
, trembling with newborn hope that seemed tos
good to be true.
And when she opened her eyes and gazet
up at him trustingly he knew that love hat
conquered pride and that the sweetheart O.
childish days was his to have and hold for
evermore.