The Washington times., 1905-12-17

buyin things for your boys, an rob
bin honest folks of the chance to airn.
Now. Mis- White, I'll tell you lest
what I'm willing to do; you give me
somethin' to do. an I'll ework ont
twice the price of them things I took
an wen call It even. II you don't
all is, your husband VIII have to lose
IT, wonder what she'll say to that. :"
Marg ret said all this with her head
thrown back. in tone of indescribable
defiance Then she sat down with her
Bible and read a chapter.
The next day she watched the chill
dren's delight over their presents with
sort Of grim pleasure.
She charged them TO say nothing
about them. although there was little
need of 1t. Margret had few visitors.
and the children We're never allowed to
run into the neighbors'.
Two days after Christmas the post
master stopped at Marg ret's house.
his own was just beyond
He handed a letter to her. This
came Christmas morning." said he. 'I
thought I'd bring it along on my way
home. knew you hadn't been in for
two or three days and 1 thought you
were expecting a letter"
NHoHA Se' SAID MarE ret. She
pulled the letter open. and saw there
was some money in it, She turned very
white.
said the postmaster
mo. I amt" After he had rone she
sat down and read her letter with her
knees shaking.
Joseph Snow had at last got a good
situation. He was earning $50 a month
There were $40 in the letter He
promised to send her that sum every
month
Five dollars a week." gasped Mar
Eret My land! An Pve-stoIe,,,
She sat there looking at the money in
her lap IT was quite late; the cbtI-
dren had been In bed a long tfr,o
flnally she put away the money and
went herself She did not read in her
Bible that night.
1he could not go to sleep. 1t was bit
terly cod. The Old timbers OF tbA
mouse cracked Now and then there
WAS sharp report Ike pistol. There
was pond near by. and great crashes
c1me from that. Marg're might have
Deen' from the noise. in the midst of a
canhonade, 70 which her own guilt had
exposed her.
Taint nothin' but the frost" she
kept saying TO herself.
About three O'Clock she saw A red
glow on the wall opposite the window
m 'masinin' it," muttered she.
She would not turn over 10 look at the
window. Finally she did. Then sbe
sprang. and rushed toward fl. The
house where Mrs. Luther Ely lived
was on fire.
Marg'ret threw a quilt over her head
unbolted her front door. and flew
Fire. Fire. she yelled. Fire, fret
Oh. Mis- Ely, where be YOU? Fire,
firei Ssm-Sam Trask. you're all
burning up, Flora. Oh. fire, fire.
BY the time she got out in the road
she saw black groups moving in the
distance Hosrse shouts followed her
cries. Then the church bell changed
out.
Flora was standing in the road. hold
ing on to her children. They were all
crying oh. Mis- Poolet" sobbed she.
"ain't IT dreadful? amt # awfuI?"
Have you got the children all out -
asked Marg'ret
Yes; Sam told me TO stand here with
EN-"
NneTe your 1nOtner[
Il don't know. She's safe She
walked up first" The young woman
rolled her wild eyes toward the burn
ing house. There she is" cried she.
Mrs. Ely was running out OF the
front door with box in her hand.
Her son-in-law staggered after her
with table on his shoulder.
Don't you go in again. mother"
said he.
There were other men helping 70
carry out the goods. and they chimed
in
No, cried they; taint safe Don't
YOU go in again. Mis- Ely
Margret ran up to her. Them cur
tains." gasped she. an the parlor
carpet. have they got them oUt?''
"Oh, / dun kno-I dur know, I'm
afraid they amt Oh. they amt got
nothin' out, Everything all burnin'
up, oh. dear me, on, dear, Where
be you gOin?'
Marg'ret had rushed past her into the
house. She was going into the parlor.
when "A man caught hold Of her.
Where are you goingc'' he shouted
Clear out of this
I'm a-goin' to git out them lace cur
tains an the carpet.
1T amt any use We stayed in there
just as long as we could. trying 10 get
the carpet IN. but we couldn't stand
II any longer; it'S chock full of
smoke The man shouted II on: and
pulled her along with him at the same
time. There. said he. wnen they
We're out in the road: look at that"
There was a flicker Of golden fire in
one of the parlor windows Then those
lace curtains blaZed. ''Therer' said
tho man again; Il told You il wasn-S
any use
Marg ret turned on him. There we're
many other men within hearing. We'll.
I wouldn't tell Of H. said She. in a
loud voice. IF ! was a pack of stout.
abie-0"died men. and couldn't ha goI
out ;--s~l curtains an that carpet afore
they burned up. l wouldn't tell Of II -
Flora and the children had been TAX
en- into one of the neighbOring houses
Mrs Ely still stood out in the freezing
ar, ciutching her box and wailing
Her son-in-lay was trying hard 10
persuade her to go into the house
where her daughter was