The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-06
TIE EVENING STORY
Her Ere Ilafidie.

Her EIFe Lauu1G.
(By Louise Merrifield.)
The shouting at her window awak-
ened Sibyl. She sat up in bed, pushing
back her heavy loosened hair dazedIy-
''Wel1?'' she called.
A figure sprang over the sill. and
stood sharply silhouetted against the
dull orange glow outside.
II thought somebody was in here,
she heard a mans voice say The
hotel is on fire. Hurry!"
''But-wait moment. What do you
want me to do?"
There came a great crash some
where in the rear of the hotel, and
roar of beating flames. He waited no
longer. but went straight to the bed,
wrapped her in blankets, and lifted
her bodily.
II can walk protested sibyl. cling
ing nevertheless to his shoulders.
"Be STILL" he ordered shortly
Were the last out"
AS he lifted her to the sill, and
swung out himself. then started down
the ladder, a sudden giddiness swept
over her. He stopped once, breathing
heavily.
There were shouts below them of
encouragement She heard them say
the life net was spread.
Your hair blows across my eyes"
he gasped. s4Take it away"
She managed to sweep it back, and
as she did so. there for an instant as
they stood balanced on the brink of
death, she saw his face for the first
time in the light of the flames. His
helmet was pulled low over his face,
but she saw the strong, clean lines of
the jaw, the close, resoIute mouth and
aggressive chin, above all, his eyes,
keen and alert between half-closed
lids as he looked at her.
Above them there came a second
laundering crash as the two upper
floors fell in. The outer wall, where
the ladder rested, swayed and a cry of
horror went up from below. He smiled
grimly at her, tightening his hold
Better trust to the net hadn't we?''
NO she said Don't drop me,
please. I'm not afraid"
He began the descent once more,
past windows where tongues of fire
leaped out, and threatened her float
ing hair and light gown, and the crowd
held it's breath watching the two.
Don't lean away. It makes it
harder he managed TO get out. Obe-
djently she held closely to him, her
face almost pressed to his, and curl
ously enough, she had no fear of death
in that moment, only a vague wonder
ing that after a whole season in Wash
ington's diplomatic whirl, she-Sibyl
Traverse=shou1d wander down here
to Palm Grove, Fla, and feel her first
thrill of love at the voice and touch of
a perfect stranger.
She remembered smiling at the alb
surdity of it, and then all the world
seemed to turn into smoke and reach
ing flames.
The first words she spoke an hour
later. as she lay in a guest room UP
at Airlie cottage, were in harmony
with the rest of the nights adventures.
what is his name2"
Whose name, Sibyl darling?" asked
her friend, Rose Airlie, anxiously. Are
Won hurt much IT didn't burn
your hair a particle.
WAS the fireman hurt-the one that
saved me?"
"Not very badly Burned around
the arms and wrists, that was all I've
wired your father and mother, and
everybody not to worry, that yoh are
all right and not to think of going
North until you are quite strong after
this shock. Anyway, I told you that
YOU simply would have to stay until the
floral ball, and now you must, you see-
It's fate
sibyl said nothing. She was think
ing of a pair of gray eyes, and lips that
laughed at peril.
The floral ball was nearly three
weeks later. Her chaperon, Aunt
Stella, had gone back to Washington,
but Mrs. Airlie took her place, and
there was an amused CLEAN in her
eyes. that escaped Siby1s attention
she was still q tri1e pale, and her eyes
quaint empire gown of primrose satin.
you look like miniature painting
of Walewski.' laughed Rose. Wasn't
that the name of the adorable Pole,
Napoleon loved ? I only wish I had
suitable mate for you, Sib, dear. Roy
Buell. was my choice, but the old gen
eral has hurried him back to Atlanta"
Siby1 only smiled wistfu1ly and pick
ed up her gloves
tim not a bit interested, Rose, in
any of the masculine persuasion"
mo ~ Rose dimpIed mischievously.
sPerhaps you may change"
Not half an hour later. as Sibyl
stood on the great stone terrace that
led off the ballroom with an Annap-
oils boy, Rose came up with stranger.
AS in a dream Sibyl caught the muir
INJURED name, ROY Buell." But she
was looking again into the eyes of her
fire hero, hearing again his deep, sure
voice.
but I don't understand one bit. =
size exclaimed, as ne took the cadets
place. IT feel-oh, just embarrassed
and confused you know
Don't I known he laughed. For
three weeks I have been fighting with
myself to try to keep away from you,
and here I am
'tBut you're not fireman %
ssOh. but am. We have no profec-
ton here at the beach at all, SO last
summer a crowd of us formed our
selves into volunteer fire company
Rather fortunate, wasn't it, when the
hotel burned? I never saw myself