Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-11-07

the, beautiful things which would be
hers If she accepted Mr.. Leverson's
proposal. She felt as IL she stood
at the gate Of Paradise, and some
one asked her to come In. She had
wished this beauty to be hers. It
was to be had for the taking. A
word, and the hateful factory life was
ended forever. She could rest, rest!
And Lois! The poor: crippled limbs
might even be made straight. Who
knew? Then she thought of Dick, and
her heart gave little thrill, that wal
like reaching out of hands to him.
And yet he was so poor-so miser.
ably poor! He had only his hands,
she thought, swiftly Then some
thing seemed to cry out to her, re.
prcachfully< that he had more-infi.
self believe this man had-a great
honest heart, brimful of love for her
II can't think now!" she cried, put
ting her hand to her throbbing tenn
pies. LET me go-some other time,
maybe" and then she actually laugh
ed. But was only conscious of a
great longing to get away from the
man who had offered her his hand.
Presently she found herself in the
street alone. Was she dreaming?
Had Ralph Leverson really asked her
to be his wife, or had the fever smit-
ten her with its mighty, merciless
hand, and was this the delirium it
generally brought?
She went back to her loom next day.
with the wheels of thought still turn.
ing. Should she choose this one, or
that one? On the one hand, rest and
the beautiful things which wealth
could buy. On the other a humble
home and the wealth of loving
heart. Dear. patient, willing Dick!
How mean and selfish she seemed to
herself, for hesitating in making her
decision between the man she loved
and who loved her, and the man who
loved her, but whom she did not love
I'm going home" she said, at last
sick, dizzy, faint. Il shall go crazy
if ] stay here. I'm not sure but
shall, anyway"
She put on her bonnet and went
out into the warm June day.
But which to choose? Which tt
choose? The words made themselves
into little verse, and set themselve:
to the monotonous hum of turning
spindles.
Suddenly the clangor of the bel
smote on her ears. She turned ant
looked down the road, wondering
vaguely what the matter could be.
A wild, shrill cry of fire came t.
her, on the wind, and at that instan
a great, black cloud of smoke brok'
from the upper windows of the fac
tory. 1t was strange, but the frs
thought that came to Sybil was one o
eXultation. If the factory burne,
down, she need never go back to he
hateful work again.. She would b.
free.
Then she turned suddenly and raj
back to the burning building. Pei
haps there was something her tire,
hands could do.
She knew, before she reached II
that it could not be saved. The win
dows were loop-holes Of fire. TIL
caves were wreathed with fantasti
cornice of writhing ames.
Suddenly great cry rang out fror
the terror-stricken crowd. At the wiz
dow Of his private office upstairs sh
saw Leve:son's frightened face. H
must have been asleep, and had prot
ably just awakened to the reality G
his awful danger. She thought
was death. She could see no way c
escape for him.
d 'I'll try to save him." some one sait
It was Dick. There was somethin
e grand in the sound of his voice,
n seemed to her. Then she saw hil
|, fighting his way through the flames
t and the last glimpse of his face SHOW
d ed her how brave and determined
t. was in the wild tempest Of fire.
y She dropped on her knees and hi
her face in her hands, saying owe
:, and over again, in prayerful way
s Dear Dick, oh, God save hint" Sh
r knew then that the lover who wa
It risking his life for another, was nor
p to her than the lover he was risking
It for could ever be. She had made he
e choice.
d Another cry, like gasp, from til
r. crowd. She looked up and saw Die
g at the window of Leverson's room. H
r. had Leverson in his arms, and til
d man seemed to have tainted.
Throw up rope!" cried Die
Is hoarsesly. Some strong hands thre
)" one to him. He fastened it aroun
Re the unconscious man and lowered hi
to the ground just as the flames bur-
g out of the windows below him, wra
d ping the whole factory in a mass
u seething fire.
le He saw the wire of one of the ligh
y ming rods, not foot away from IL
window. He grasped the rod and dro
ID ped down, down into the lurid abys
b. The rod blistered his hands. but l
It chung to it. The flames billowed abo,
IS him, but he held his breath, and sill
e. ped down, down, down. A thougl
er came to him, that he was going dow
forever, and then-a blank.
Is The first thing he remembered, aft
ut that, was a woman's face beaming ov
n him, and a woman's tears dropping {
his face, and a woman's kiss was {
!" his scorched lips, and SYPHILIS vol
Sc was saying in broken way: 20
III poor, dear brave Dick!" and then
n thought he must have died, and til
&c was heaven.