The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-19

stand. Ned thrilled as an impressive
picture 10 1ays dtsclosed.
Rniltng over the dtsturhed coFess
OF trundlel bed near#tos larger one.
was little tntghtgoWnedghgn Ruth
was crying. her eyes half blinded 81
the smartlng smoke.
why, Ruth!s spoke Ned; what
are you doing here?r
I'm looking for Betty. my pretty
dolly" sobbed the little one. and y
can't find her. Maybe she'J burned
UP! AndIi 1t loses me TO be In all this
smoke-oh. my! oh, my!"
You sit right there for an instant,
Ruth" directed Ned. lifting her to .
chair. "lll ind dolly for you"
In a minute or two he discovered
the coveted doll on the door under
the trundle bed. He restored Betty
to Ruth. A glowing radiance In the
hallway warned Ned that he had no
time to lose II he would not be over.
taken by the flames. and the stairway
route OF escape cut OF. A CLINT Of
tewelry lying on a bureau. however,
had caught his eye. Ned ran towards
it.
There was a pin he had seen Nellie
wear, and there lay her watch and
chain. He slipped these articles hast
lily into his pocket. Some laces, pre-
cious to his heart because they be
longed to Nellie, followed.
Upon the stand where the lamp
stood, Nellie had apparently been writ
ing a letter when the FIRE started. She
had abandoned a little keepsake mem
orandum book. a ring and a gold
mounted penholder. Ned thrust these
also into a pocket OF his coat. Then
he ran towards Ruth and snatched her
up in his arms. A hot blast swept his
face as no reached the corridor, but
he shielded the child as best he could.
Some way, although half sufocated.
he managed to get down the stairR
and into the open air.
"oh. W thank you! We thank
you!" sobbed Nellie, as the little one
was brought to her.
Her hand clutched at that Of the
rescuer with fervor. Her warm glance
thrilled Ned. He hurrIedly handed
to her some of the articles from his
pockets-all of them, he thought
Neighbors cared for tho family now
and the FIRE wagon finally saved about
half OF the building.
A telegram was received by Boyd
next morning, calling him back to the
city. Ned did not 90 with him. He
promised to go on tho evening train.
but he must see Nellie at least once
again. An hour later, to his surprise.
he found in a pocket OF his coat a
ring and the memorandum book he
had saved from the fire.
1t gould serve as a good excuse for
calling on Nellie to return these. The
book fell open in his clasp. Ned could
not help but read the only page writ.
ten on. It was headed: People
whom 1 like" A long list of names
followed. That of Randolph Boyd was
among them. His own. too, but
scratched out!
Then he had never held her com
plete favor? He was grim, but re-
signed, as he restored the book to Mel
lie. It was on the porch Of the house
where she staying.
II am sorry you are going away,
Mr. Alton" she said.
II regret it, too" replied Ned. seri.
ously, "for my brief stay here has
been most pleasant. hope you will
remember me-as a friend"
Nellie started. She fumbled the
book In her hand. Then, aroused, she
glanced at the written list.
"Mr. Alton" she spoke, a str lge
CULVER in her voice, "you-you saw
thts?"
II could not help It,"
ooh, do not misunderstood" she
pleaded. 81 that is, your name-oh,
cannot you understand"
Understand what? His heart gave
one wild throb. Her dropping eyes
told the story. His name had been
erased from the list she liked" be-
cause he was one OF those-the only
one-she loved!
Copyright, 1914. by W. G. chapman.)