Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-06-12

HOW cold IL was In BECKER Lane!
The wind seemed to have a particular
spite against an old. ramshackle,
three-story frame building that stood
on the corner, humping into it, and
sweeping and growing about it until
it heayed and groaned, as if crying
out against its rough playfellow. The
falling snow piled up against it, and
by the dim light one could see how the
boisterous wind lifted the snow and
flung it against the old house, snow
balling it, roaring with glee as now
and then a window broke in. Up on
through one of the broken windows as
il curious to see the inside, then
formed little piles which were whirled
around the room by stray gust from
the big wind outside, then piling up
against two huddled up figures that
lay in tho farther corner, revealing a
girl, scantily dressed, q rag of cot
ton shawl wound round her, an eleven
year.old girl, but with an expressive
wisdom and experience in her face
that made one shudder, while plying
her. Her eyes were -sed and she
breathed softly. The other ives a dog.
The snow kept piling up against the
two until the dog moved uneasily, and
licked his mistress hand with a fer.
vol that woke her instantly. She pat
ted his head, and slowly rose, reveal
ing an immense pair of shoes in which
her feet were lost, cut and torn, and
one latchless. The snow, losing its
support, few around the room, then
settled down on the floor, making a
white covering of purity that hid its
dirt. Everyone in Blocker Lane knew
the girl and her attendant, the dog.
The dog had been rescued by Fleddis
from an immense tin pail which he
was regarding aggressively one sum.
mer's day, crouchirg in the sun with
despair written in his very tail.
Blocker Lane first knew them as
"Fleddis an the dawg," then as Filed.
die an Fleddis." putting the dog first.
He was terrier of the ordinary size,
but his love for his mistress was so
fervent that it was a constant source
of wonder to the 'Avenoo', as it was
derisively called, why some on 1t
wasn't leaking out'n his skin" Fled
die" she said, wait ere till comes
back" and he curled himself in
corner accordingly. Gathering up her
wisp of shawl, she dragged the shoes
down the worm-eaten steps. almost
being run down by half drunken man
che cfappod nntcido IIa roicad iS
fist threateningly. "Oh! Fleddis!" he
hiccoughed, and lurched on. Poor lit
tie girl! How pitiful she looked as
she passed up the narrow alley! AS
she came to the wider street, shah
by house, brightly lit up. caught her
attention. 1t was children's party
going on, but she peered through the
half-curtalned windows with little
gasps of admiration and envy. until
some one opened the door and she
scuttled away. AS she went up the
street she begged timidly and when
she finally got a copper from a passing
man it was accompanied with: Chill
dren like these begging! Shameful"
The snow was falling lightly, but as
she tramped on it got in her shoes and
she could barely walA, her feet were SO
cold. 1t was getting dark. and she
stopped at friendly bakers and got
a roll for her cent, the kind-hearted
woman putting some cakes in the bag
as she saw how wistfully her custom.
er eyed them. AS she drew near the
frame house she called home, light
fiared up in the sky, bursting through
a dense bank of smoke and revealing
the alley crowded with a jostling
throng, fire lines drawn. and streams of
water scattering against the ram
shackle buildings, coating the street
with ice and freezing on the fire fight
ers below. A sudden pang seized her.
Fleddie! The fire was already circling
and coiling around the rotten frame
she had left, and it was doomed. The
firemen saw this. and trying to protect
the other houses, thought nothing OF
the dog. The room was brightly lit,
and Fleddis saw her pet coiled in the
corner. 1t stirred, and then jumped
up as the light became brighter. Round
and round it shifted, then ran to the
stairs. They were smoking, but the
dog went down few steps, then run
ming back fearfully, sprang to the
window and hung there. looking down
pltifully. Compassionate murmurings
ran through the crowd, and a net was
held below, but the dog would not
Jump. A cry of sympathy went up
from below, and then-oh! his mis-
tress caught her breath as he gave a
long howl of pain and terror. looking
at her. The howl rose above the deep
undertone Of sound, and seemed to
pierce her through and through. As
he dropped there was a little rush
about her, and then from the specta-
tors arose a cry of horror as little
white figure struggled through them
and plunged into the fire lines. On