The Republican journal., 1903-07-23

tempting and tantalizing of girls was
too much for him. He knew that, to
her, he was merely middle-aged fogy
marry Fred Norman or some other
Young cub. His house might burn to
cinders for all that he cared, but the
wild intoxication of having her in his
arms for those few minutes, he resolved
should be his. With resolute man,
to think is to act. He hurried toward
her. "There is not minute to be lost,
Miss Ashton; trust yourself entirely to
me-" With these words he lifted her
bodily from the ground Amy Ashton
had no time to think; her arms fell
naturally enough upon his right shoul-
der as he lifted her with his left arm
and carried her out to the main stair
case.
Every one who was sufficiently clad
to make an appearance in public had
hurried to the seat of operations in the
neighborhood of the back stairs and the
kitchen.
Spencer carried his fair burden down
the deserted staircase and through the
hall, and set her gently upon her feet
in the garden. AS Amy Ashton touched
the ground once more, the flames leaped
from the burning roof and chimney,
and her eyes met Spencer's by the weird
glow of the fire; something she read IN
his glance reused all the wOmanhOOd in
her
"Mr. Spencer, how dared you touch
me? How dared you carry me? 1t
was a stupid schooolboy's trick: l
could have walked downstairs perfect
ly easy. 1t was cowardly OF you to
take such advantage of my fright"
The excitement was over and the re-
action had set in. Amy Ashton's feel
ings at this moment were difficult to
analyze. Hatred of the man who had
dared to do this thing and contempt for
herself for having been so easily
trapped were both fighting for the mast
cry of her mind while both these
emotions were in turn almost numbed
by the sickening recollection that her
hair was as she had arranged it
when retiring for the night, and de-
scended down her back in the severe
simplicity of plated pigtall. She
grew hot all over with shame as she
fancied that she could still feel the
pressure of the mans arms about her
body, and then her hair-how can an
unfortunate girl assert herself with her
hair in a pigtail? The position was
hideous; maidenly dignity cowed by its
own pigtail. Finally vanity won the
day, as it is apt to do with men and
! women alike. Being carried, after all,
was not SO very dreadful, in fact-rath-
er-rather- Well, at any rate, that
part was not dreadful-but the pigtail?
That thought crushed her.
Her mental torture was suddenly
broken in upon by shouts, the noise OF
grinding wheels, the thunder OF hoofs
aud the Jingle of harness. The flre en-
gine had arrived.
Amy Ashton stood by Spencers side,
in the warmth of the summer night,
fascinated by the scene. The ruddy
glow of the fire turned the tree trunks
and foliage of the avenue bright red,
and lit up human faces with curious
vivid beauty. The wild energy OF the
| inexperienced amateurs gave place to
the cool, methodical strategy OF the
fully equipped trained men. There was
hardly a breath of air stirring, and the
fire rapidly died down as soon as the
engine got steadily at work. The color
faded out of the landscape, and the
threatened house stood out black
against the sky.
81 must 90 in at once, please, Mr.,
Spencer. It feels quite chilly now.'
''Please say you forgive me, Miss
Ashton, before you go. The temptation
was great"
Il don't want to hear about the