The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-07-03

row rubber or some material. and |
once she had shown him her studio
where she worked over designs for q
wholesale house. She was always
frankly friendly. and he respected the
rights of It. H.
But to keep from loving was quite
another thing Even before he had
known her he had fallen in love. and
acquaintance had only strengthened the
feeling. More than once he thought
Of moving away out Of temptation, but
before he decided the fateful moment
came.
He was working with his door ajar,
and, CHANGING to look up, he saw
puff Of black smoke blow In. He
sprang to his feet and rushed into the
hall The stairway was cracking mer-
| rily, and two floors below the flames
had full possession. Theirs was rear
building. built in the yard OF the high
to fight. and all chance Of escape by
stairway or fire escape was hopeless
He ran to Agnes door and burst in
when there was no answer to his
knocking. He knew that she was In.
for he had seen her pass One glance
showed that he was right in his fear
She was stupefied by the smoke, and
he had to drag her out.
There was scuttle to the roof, and
from there an emergency ladder led to
the top of the next building, climb of
twenty feet. Desperation lent him
strength, and somehow he got her
! through the scuttle and was just lift
ing her over the edge Of the adjoining
roof when the flames burst through the
roof he had just quit.
In the jostling she had received the
smoke had been forced out and the air
forced into her lungs, and as he laid
her upon the roof she opened her eyes.
"What IS the matterY' she cried
IL remember now. saw the smoke
in my room, and 1 tainted. You came
for me?'
Sure" he smiled. ut wouldn't DC
neighborly to leave you behind, would
it?''
Behind? There?" Her glance wan
dered to the pillar of flame that rose
through the ever widening opening
and she shuddered convulsively.
ut was splendidv' she cried, witt
glowing eyes "You must have had
terrible time How did you do it?"
ITO tell the truth" he laughed, :"
don't know. just remember that
climbed up. and that's all"
Her hands were clasping each othe
neryously, and she looked down at tn
ring. s'Do you know" she began am
then caught herself, with blush.
"What is it!'' he asked curiously.
She shook her head. Twas thinkin
Of an old tradition of the ring"
ITS too new to have traditions" b
protested.
She took it of and held it towar
him. THAT is 1904" she insisted. y
n was my great grandmothers. Thoma
A Hall rescued her from drowning. Sh
gave it to her eldest daughter whe
10 she vas
" "RescuedY' demanded Vance. e
at scented the tradition. How was yo'
lie mother rescuedY
e. "A runaway" she answered. wit
le averted head.
"And there is no T. RI. in your case?
ut he demanded. lyon are not engaged
"a 'No." she said wonderingly. "Wha
err ever gave you that ideaY
J., "You blushed so when said that Il
ae date was 1904 And to think that 9
ps this time have said nothing on a
& count OF r. H.. who was married
be hundred years ago. Do you think tn
he you could learn towel to bow to tt
"a rule Of the ringT
e. II think I could" she said SOFT
ed 'No, I don't think. know. ha'
&C. liked you for long time. and It's n
a becausesI am superstitious that / a
saying Yes" ys~s---s...~ ~
be It was a quarter Of an hour later TIL
1T blue shirted fireman toiling over Il
be roofs with q hose discovered them.
Mt Are you the people that were In tt
top foorY' he demanded.
$. 1--WE are" agreed Vance
ag 'Well, please 60 down and tell Il
er chief it's all right" he said. "They'
el getting ready to dig you out"
ID Il should say it was all right
lis laughed Vance. "I'll tell the chief wi
r pleasure"