Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-02

JQdI was SIlll 2DOdFQ LH1S pretty |
good old earth.
Then | heard a crash like a thou
sand claps Of thunder. The earth |
seemed to reel before the blast like |
a ship in 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, brr-rum. br-r-r-um-um- UNI!
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
Satan. 1t was awful-awful!
Amy covered her eyes with her
hands and sobbed softly.
''Don't"' begged Jack. "Please don't!
I can't stand itv'
She raised her eyes to his suddenly
"Oh," she said, "do you care?"
'Yes"' he cried passionately and held
out his hands. He was standing above
her. never saw greater tenderness
on mans face.
For an instant she looked at him.
then lowered her eyes again. A pearl
gIistened on the end of LASH
You aren't fair" she said, rather
rebelliously. You are taking an ad
vantage"
81 am unfair" he replied tremulous-
| ~. Forgive me-" He turned about
and bit his nails. He was pale, yet
| perspiration beaded his forehead.
Presently he faced her again.
Il am sorry" he said. I'VE 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, Il 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 trifle.' she said YEARLY. raising
her eyes and dropping them again. Il
had gone back after it and was return
ing when-yOu came"
| saw him glance at her quickly.
then avert his eyes. IF | 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" he said, 1T were best
we go. l will take you to Sister Grace
in Oakland. Would you mind?"
She hesitated Il will promise not to
less
"Unless?'
Unless you WISH"
Il will not mind, them she said.
Again we were in the throng. push
ing, showing With Amy between us,
Jack and l 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
SQdlI.. 1uo foQ uduleS Soe1ueu leap
ing toward us as though seeking to
clasp us to their scarlet breasts. We
could see the streets leading down tC
the wharfs-black with creatures. dumt
and swaying with the intensity of aw
full despair. The water front was {
surging mass. the docks crowded will
cringing humanity. their faces fend
ish in the reddish, pickering light
When I felt my feet again on soliG
ground | took a full breath l dom
think l 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 guidei
her out of the crowd. His face wa!
tense with the words that trembled il
his eyes, but were not to be spoken
He was aging fast. The strain. thu
anxiety. the heartache. were tellins
on him. We were all SILENT clinginy
to the joy of living. Amy with dewy
ewes Jack drinking in the sweetness,