Willmar tribune., 1910-08-31
WILL|VIAR street FAIR.
Sept. IA, Is, Is, IL
was one round of gayety. but did not
see or hear from David again.

1Qle irritation, for he asked that world
old question. and listening thrilled
at the beauty of his language.
He had driven me about in his elec-
trio as shopped one glorious morning.
| and we stopped to dine at a restaurant
| on the ninth floor Of a great depart
| ment store building.
1t was when we had settled our
| selves in a secluded corner that my
rowing eyes fell upon David He had
evidently finished his meal and was
| leaning back wearily.
How white and thin he looked.
Working steadily all summer without
rest or recreation had been too hard
on him.
The pianist began to play something
weird and sad. and the violin Joined
In sobbingly. l looked down upon my
corsage boquet of white violets tied
with silken cord, and resentment rose
| within me at the thought that with
| all his unceasing labor David could
| not hope to buy the violets which
Cyril bestowed so lavishly
Then above the hum of conversa-
tion. even above the crash of the mu-
sic. l became conscious of an air of
subdued excitement. The little wait
resses hurried about with white and
| frightened faces, men talked quietly
| together then fastened from the room.
"What is it?' l asked of Cyril. and
he went to see.
ho ~,
| doorway. "Something is wrong" he
| said nervously. I'VE had better get
| out"
But as we made our way to the ele-
| vators we found them already sur
rounded by crowd pushing and strug-
Cling recklessly to get nearer the iron
doors. clerks hurried down the narrow
stairway, disorder and confusion pre-
vailed.
Then l saw David's tall figure. He
had been speaking to one of the man.
ayers. Now his voice rang out clear
ly, convincingly:
| 'There is no cause to be alarmed
| he said "a slight fire in the front
part of the building will soon be under
control. The one great danger to be
| averted at this time is a panic. The
elevators can easily carry every one
here to safety in short time; cool
ness and obedience are all that is re-
quired."
he went about quickly, and with the
aid of men who followed his directions
long lines were formed reaching to the
doors of the elevators, which worked
swiftly as the orderly rows of people
moved slowly forward or patiently
awaited their turn.
| There was no sound within now save
David's voice encouraging, reassuring.
Cyril clutched my arm frantically.
1--WE will be next" he exclaimed.
MAKE a rush for it,
Then David approached: Polly" he
said very gently, Il am glad that you
are near the door,
"Just two more." called the elevator
man as Cyril hurried me forward We
had entered the car. when l saw
woman look up at Cyril beseechingly
and then step back in sudden disap-
pointment. She had little child in
her arms.
Then it all happened very quickly
the woman had my place in the ele-
vator, the iron door changed shut, and
I stood coughing little with the
smoke and smiling up at David.
"Oh. Polly" he said sternly, "why
did you do that?'
And I slipped my hand through his
arm and answered honestly, Il did it.
David. because I could not bear to be
outside while you were here, and am
going to stay with you to the last
I have fead in stories of faces being
Illuminated, and understood the full
meaning of the word as l locked at
David now.
He did not speak. but held me close
to his side as our life saver came flying
up again. The people were growing
unruly now and pressed forward
roughly.
Suddenly David lifted me in his
arms, the iron doors closed again, and
this time | was going down, down
with the fortunate ones to safety.
| AS we came out into the fresh air
and were led to place beyond the
! protecting rope cheer vert up from
the crowd, and I raised my smoke
smarting eyes to the windows Of the
ninth story, where little tongues Of
flame leaped and cured
Sick with fear l waited. knowing
that David would be the last person
to leave the burning floor. From time
to time faint cheers sounded as the
elevators unloaded their precious bur-
dens. then with a wild and glaring
light the flames burst forth unre-
strained. Tremblingly l covered my
face, but soon mighty resounding
cheer seemed to shake the earth. ''All
out safely" called a triumphant voice,
and the people all about were telling
excitedly of the presence of mind and
the bravery of the man who prevented
panic.
"Who is he?" asked a young man
who stood near with notebook and ner-
Gil in hand T~ -.
And I heard myself answering him
proudly, almost unconsciously, HE is
David Gray I said. ''the man l am
going to marry Then l turned to
find David's eyes looking into mine.
"Come. Polly he said softly and
hastily drew me away. AS we walked
down quiet side street looked up
into his dear grimy face with it's tired
! lines " +, ~ szzs=5.E55z &