The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-31


lay back upon the grass and thanked
my Woodworking old guardian angel
that was still aboard this pretty
good old earth.
Then I heard 8 crash like a thou
sand claps of thunder. The earth
seemed to reel before the blast like
q ship IN a storm. Between us and
that red glare something shot upward
something big. black and screeching
"a building that man had studied and
planned and labored to build. An
other followed. and another and an
other, like handfuls Of sand thrown IN
the air by children. Whole squares
seemed rising and melting. 1t was
br-r-r-um, br-r-r-um, br-r-r-um-um-um!
There was no waiting, no pause. The
world seemed leaping into atoms,
while the flames reached up long arms
to grasp the fragments before they re-
turned to earth. 1t was the. wrath of
God pitted against the fiendishness of
5Satan. 1t was awful-awful!
Amy. covered her eyes with her
hands and sobbed softly.
"Don'tr' begged Jack. "Please don't!
I can't stand it!!'
She raised her eyes to his suddenly
ooh" she said, "do you care?'
"Yesr' he cried passionately and held
out his hands. He was standing above
her. I never saw greater tenderness
ON mans face.
For an instant she looked at him.
then lowered her eyes again. A pearl
glistened on the end OF lash.
"You aren't fair" she said, rather
rebelliously. "You are taking an ad.
vantage"
II am unfair" he replied tremulous-
ly. Forgive me-" He turned about
and bit his nails. He was pale, yet
perspiration beaded his forehead
Presently he faced her again.
81 am sorry" be said. "We might
have saved some of your effects. You
have lost everything, am afraid. for
see, the flames must already have
reached your hotel" His voice was
solicitous, almost tender. Yet there
was no trace Of passion in it.
NO" she said, 81 did not lose all.
The rest does not matter" She spoke
softly, avoiding his eyes.
"You saved something" he asked.
He was looking away to where the dy-
Mantle and the fire were leaping at
each others throat.
"a trife," she said wearily, raising
her eyes and dropping them again. 81
had gone back after it and was return
ing when-you came"
| saw him glance at her quickly,
then avert his eyes. "If l might
guess he began, but she interrupted
"You forget. You are not to be un-
fair"
He bit his lip, but smiled wanly.
Come, then,' be said, "it were best
we 90. l will take you to Sister Grace
in Oakland. Would you mind?'
She hesitated. II will promise not to
see you," he resumed quickly, "un-
less
"Unless?"
"Unless you wish"
"I will not mind, then," she said.
Again we were In the throng. push
ing, showing. With Amy between us,
Jack and | fought our way inch by
inch till we reached the ferry build
ing and were aboard the boat. Slowly
we crossed the bay-with the pace OF
a snail. The red flames seemed leap
ing toward us as though seeking to
clasp us to their scarlet breasts We
could see the streets leading down to
the wharfs-black with creatures, dumb
and swaying with the intensity of aw.
full despair The water front was q
surging mass, the docks crowded with
cringing humanity. their faces fend
ish In the reddish, pickering light.
When 1 felt my feet again on solid
ground I took full breath. don't
think / ever put my lungs to any bet
ter use. Amy was laughing-the un
natural merriment Of one whose nerves
are frayed at the edges. Jack guided
her out Of the crowd. His face was
tense with the words that trembled in
his eyes, but were not to be spoken
he was aging fast. The strain, the
anxiety, the heartache, were telling
on him. We were all silent--I clinging
to the joy of living, Amy with dewy
eyes, Jack drinking in the sweetness