The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-02-22
1NoEroN UNION: THURSDAY, FEBRuARY - 1sos

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harms way for time at least, and
held the muzzle steady, watching its
work. And in truth it was not long be-
fore they understood which would con-
Quer The southern and western DOR
tons of the building had flung out great
flames that futtered and flared on the
breeze like titanic flags, and steadily,
slowly at first, then faster as the Sec
onds flew, the five were driven back
ward, up the low slope Of the roof to-
ward the gable ridge. Tom Vanreyel
held the first joint of the nozzle, and he
retreated with a sulky face, lifting his
foot grudgingly at each step. Thew
were all silent now, and no one spoke
until VIII Cummings faltered
"Surely they'll get a rope up to us
some way?"
Will knew as we'll as did the others
that there was no way, but his speech
struck the sullen heart of the chief with
remOrse. He turned II hope you'll
FL forgive me for getting you up here.''
A sound, half sob, half giggle, came
from the parched lips of Eugene Ma
drillon as he patted Tom on the shout
der without speaking, and Crailey nod
ded quietly, then left the group and
went to the eastern edge Of the roof
and looked out upon the crowd. Cum
mings dropped the line and sat down,
burying his hot face in his arms. for
they all saw that Vanrevel thought lit
was no use.'' but question of a few
minutes, and they would retreat across
the gable and either Jump or 60 down
with the roof
Since the world began idle and in
dustrious philosophers have specialized
much upon the thoughts of men about
to die, yet it cannot be too ingenious
to believe that such thoughts vary as
the men. their characters and condi-
tons of life vary. Nevertheless, pur-
suant with the traditions Of minstrelsy
and romance, it Is conceivable that
young unmarried men called upon to
face desperate situations might, at the
crucial moment, rush to common ex-
perience of summoning the vision, each
of his hearts desire, and to meet, each
his doom, with her name upon his lips.
An extraordinary thing occurred in
the present instance, for, by means of
some fragmentary remarks let fall at
the time and afterward recalled, such
as Tappingham Marsh's gasping, AT
least it will be on her fathers roofw
and from other things later overheard,
an inevitable deduction has been
reached that four Of the five gentlemen
in the perilous case herein described
were occupied with the vision Of the
same person, to wit, Miss Elizabeth
Carewe, "the last, the prettiest, to come
to town.
Crailey Gray, alone. spoke not at all,
but why did he strain and strain his
eyes toward that empty pedestal with
the grotesque carvings? Did he seek
Fanchon there, or was Miss Carewe
the last sweet apparition in the fancies
Of all FIVE Of the unhappy young men?
The coincidence of the actual appear
ance of the lady among them therefore
seemed the more miraculous when,
wan and hopeless, staggering desper-
ately backward to the gable ridge, they
heard a clear contralto voice behind
them:
Hadn't you better all come down
now?" it said. '"The stairway will be
on fire before long,"
Only one thing could have been more
shockingly unexpected to the five than
that there should be sixth person on
the roof, and this was that the sixth
person should be Miss Betty Carewe.
They turned, aghast, agape, chop
fallen with establishment, stunned and
incredulous.
She stood just behind the gable
ridge, smiling amiably, a most incon-