The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-11-20

and asked him to come in and help her
move sick child. Miss Molly gave
him cup of coffee. The east was gray
with the yelling dawn when Blossier,
weary enough, stopped before the last
house at the end of street. His bow
arm dropped; his eyes fastened them
selves OH a corner of the house. Yes;
there it was-fire. A curling spit of
flame leaped, vivid in the darkness,
around the corner above the floor of the
porch.
The double bass fell. Blossier ran up
the walk. Before he could reach the
house the sneaking flame had grown
bolder. 1t had fastened itself into the
wooden pillar by the wall. He shouted;
he threw stone at the door as he ran.
Around the corner the fire was BURST
ing up from pile of debris against
the wall. 1t caught like teeth in the
dry clapboards, The porch pillar was
burning. Blossier ran in upon the blaz-
ing stuff. He had torn off his coat and
wrapped it around his fists, and he
kicked and knocked the brands far out
lAlO luC SlufCl Ntlh anu Iac SLQSSs
Two women were now beside him. 1t
looked as if the house would go. The
little flames were burning merri]y.
That meant most of the town would
go, for fine dawn wind was springing
up. They brought buckets of water
and ladder, and meanwhile Blossier
was whipping the fire with shovel he
had caught from one of them. He con-
trived to command the women without
losing a second; he made them pour
water from the floor above; he fought
like tiend. Suddenly memory of the
barricades rose clear and sharp within
him as he had not remembered them
for years. The spirit of war swelled
like 4 trumpets note within the little
man, and his soul responded to it's own
cry for the salvation Of "les femmes ct
les enfants''
1t was sight to see the alien. old
Blossy, in the weird growing light, his
life in his hand, his clothes burning
upon him, his face scorched and smoke
blackened, fighting at the close quar-
ters of a death struggle an enemy
that was not his enemy, gaining a vic
tory that did not save him.
The joyous light was pouring over
the summer earth in delicate, elating
wavelets when the last flame flickered
out, and Blossier fell amid the cinders
as if he, too, were gone.
Inc crying women, one white, one
black, bent over him. The old negress
started to lift him, but her mistress
caught her arm.
can't 'Cindy," she said, stake his
feet" And she pushed the servant
aside and stopped herself over the
ghastly face.
Miss Jane," said the other, 81 kin
tote him by m'se'f. You's too trem-
bly,
III help tote this man into my house
myself. Ant 'Cindy," was Jane Nc
Grath's answer, and together they lift
ed their burden.
Into the spare room," said she in
the hall. Her voice was clear and
hard, while her tears, falling like quiet
rain ON Blossier's face, We're making
little white blots and streaks there.
In the beginning of the conflict Mrs.
McGrath had set her five-year-old
daughter on the gravel walk by the
front gate, out of harms way, and told
her to stay there. There she still sat,
crying Justify.
GO over after Miss Mary Bell
Croft" Miss Jane now commanded
Ant 'Cindy, "and take Janey with
you and leave her there. The children
II look after her awhile"
AS she spoke she was cutting his
clothes away from Blossier. His arms
seemed badly burned. She saw this
had better be done before he became
conscious.
''Do you know the news?" called
Mrs. Pembroke to Mrs. Kitchens
across the way, hurrying out to the
front gate, while her breakfast was be-
ing put on the table. "The town came
within an ace of burning to the ground,
lock, stock and barrel, last night. Jane
McGrath's house was afire, and old
Blossy-Mr. Blossy, 1 reckon feel like
calling him today-put it out, and he
got burnt mighty bad. Old Ant 'Cindy
came over hours ago to fetch Mary
Bell to come help Jane fix him. They
amt got no idea how it caught. The
children, Ant 'Cindy's grandchildren,
and little Janey had been piling up
some rubbish 'gainst the wall, making
a playhouse, and that was where the
fire begun. You never can tell what
children are up to. Like as not they'd
been trying to roast corn or something.
There was a right smart south wind
blowing early, and if James house had
got fairly caught No; 'Cindy said
they didn't think Blossy was burnt
dangerous Yes; you're right. He is
lucky to be in James hands. Jane amt
smart, but she's mighty clever. It's a
wonder didn't see the whole thing. l
was up and down all over the house
most of the night, and l heard that
poor thing scraping and bomming on
that there big fiddle of his all over the
town. Yes; it was kind of company,
but lay down bout daybreak and got
10 snooZing after while. Mary and lit
tie Mary stayed mighty still. I never
heard 'em up and down none after IL
O'Clock, but Mary says she never slept
two hours. Bat, l tell you, a man
never has the wife that III worry over
him like his mother. feel like I'll
walk to Tullahoma myself today if /
can't find out something bout Jimmy
any other way" And Miss Catherine
wiped her eyes as she turned toward