Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13
THE ICE LADDER.

one winter morning: 30 strange. indeed.
that she started up in bed. pushed aside
the curtain from the window just within
reach. and looked upon fairyland-a world
of snow. And snow came so seldom to
this far southern country that 1t was little
wonder Madge could scarcely take her eyes
from the beautiful sight. Many happy plans
fitted through her busy brain, for. Of
course, this unlocked for storm meant
holiday for her and every one who. like
the Cartoons lived miles away from town.
Perhaps she would not be able to get to
school for several days; well. she could
prepare her lessons way ahead, and. Oh
the fun. with papa home and the boys, to
say nothing Of possible visitors from coun-
try places near by. The prospects OF COM
ing delights almost overpowdered Madge;
she found dressing irksome task but 1t
was at last, and she went tripping
downstairs to join hex excited family at the
breakfast table.
Such high spirits were never known.
Even Baby Elsie went mad with gee, and
beat the table with her silver spoon saying,
Now, now, boofer now THE top of
her voice.
After breakfast Madge. in her bicycle
suit, with bright WOODEN cap drawn over
her ears. fought the boys endless snow
balls, and they all fixed toboggan slide
and rugged up a raft for the occasion.
Baby Elsie. too, was cloaked to her chubby
chin. and Mr.. Carleton put runners to her
carriage, SO she could be pushed all over
, the beautiful white ground.
But the crownhg loneliness was the
wistaria vine that clambered all over the
front of the house; every leaf bore it's
weight Of snow. every twig and tendril was
inclosed in ice, and huge icicles hung wher-
ever they could find hold Mamma called
1T the ice ladder.
A.
was jolly sleigh ride in an old wagon,
with cleverly connected wooden runners,
which after supper Mr.. and Mrs. Garlic
ton used to drive short distance across
the country, to call on some friends The
boys had gone to their grandmother's to
spend the night, SO the house was very
still. Baby Elsie was alseep in her crib
upstairs. with Dinah. the nurse. tired but
morrow. She should have been in bed.
perhaps, but she had permission to sit up
until half-past o'clock, and Madge
would not have been Madge had she gone
one minute earlier. She sat doing in the
chair. when suddenly she awoke with a
start and listened to what seemed at first
like the soft rustic of leaves. then it grew
to fx kissing whisper and slaneing fear
tongue of flame and then a faint puff Of
smoke creep in under the library door.
She was on her feet in a moment: she
ran to the door and opened it. A cloud
of smoke rushed In from the hall: she
| ran to the back door and sent a cry out
into the night.
Fire. fire. she called, and her clear
young voice went echoing over the hills:
then she slammed the door, for the gusts
of wind were tanning the flames. She
hurried to the nursery. The baby was
fast asleep. Dinah was wild with fright
The flames were already busting through
the walls.
Run, Dinah, tell them to hurry" She
cried, pushing the frantic girl outside.
Dinah needed no second bidding, but fair
ly tore downstairs shrieking all the way
Then Madge slipped into her heavy jack
ct, drew the little red cap over her head
and ears and caught up Elsie, who was
awake now and crying Justify. She
wrapped her in a shawl and ran with
her to the door. just In time to hear
| crash and see the stairs give way, the
hot hot flames n =, shooting up with terrible
turned back into the room. Putting Ell
sic on the bed for a moment. she ran to
the window and looked out; the front
OF the house was as yet untouched by
| the fre roaring in the back. The wis
| taria vines looked like frosty lacework
by the light of the rising moon; the CEN
trail branch thick and sturdy. ran up
close beside the window, and was cased
In Ice. She could hear shouts now and
the crunchfng Of the snow beneath the
hurrying feet. The smoke in the room
was unbearable; Baby Elsie began to
| choke and cough between her frightened
sobs; Madge's eyes were smarting and
stinging. her throat was dry and her
lips were getting parched; it was high
| time to act.
Come. Elsie shall ride pick-a-back." she
cried trying to laugh and encourage the
| poor little tot Get up on Madge's back.
| hug tight around my neck, There!" She
caught a sheet. tied two ends together in
hard knots around her waist and the other
| two around her neck. thus making a secure
nest for baby on her back. Then remem-
bering her woolen mittens in her coat
other moments thougt. ran to the win
| dow. Baby Elsie clinging fast, behind,
| laughing and enjoying the ride
Madge grasped the vines on the veranda
| as she stepped out of the window, and
then slowly and painfully began to slide
| down to the ground. BY this time all the
| plantation hands had assembled, and there
| was great excitement below. Some one
| had brought a mattress from one of the
cabins, placing it under the struggling girl
| and her heavy burden. Little by little she
| came, clutching every tendril in her way,
her breath coming in gasps. There was a
| sizzling sound above, the fire had burst out
of the nursery window and was attacking
! the vine.
| Jump cried some one from below but
| she gave no heed; a Jump now would almost
| kill her precious charge. Then came a
| dreadful crack, the ladder was slowly CIV
| ing way. Then everything grew black;
| Madge felt herself reel, and then she knew
, no more.
When she opened her eyes again and
| found herself in a strange bed and in a
| strange house, with Baby Elsie sound
| asleep on the pillow beside her, her mother
| bending over her, her father pacing up
| and down the room. she looked and Won
| dered for a moment. but a hazy light
| seemed to dawn upon her as she glanced at
| the baby.
| ut wasn't anything but the ice-ladder,
| mamma, all the way from fairylnd,' she
| said, with a drowsy smile, as she closed
| her eyes and fell asleep again.
yr~l. do hn hon
| a wreck on the white ground, and all that
| was left of the wistaria were the scorched
| roots, whic h Madge nursed tenderiy
/ through the rest Of the winter. In the
| springtime Mr. Carleton had his new house
| half finished, and then Madge planted her
| vine once more, amid the rejoicing OF the
| family.