The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-03

was punoihS, pTOsTeSS almost lmpOSSi-
Bile. The blazing structure was a
| guide, however. He was fairly worn
OFT as ne reached the scene of the con
migration. He was start 4 thrilled,
as just beyond the flaming heap he
noted fair young girl. with ashen
face and terrified eyes shrinking with
in the doorway of little shed, appar-
emily the only human denlzen of the
isolated spot.
What does it mean-you, and
alone?" he irresistibly exclaimed.
At first the'young girl shrank from
him with natural timidity Then his
open honest face seemed to reassure
her She was overcome with excite
ment, and terror. and tears In frag-
mentary scraps her story was told.
She was Elise Bradley. and this was
the home of her brother She had
come to visit him for few days He
had gone to Bartonville, where she
was a teacher of music He had not
returned on account of the storm. The
place had taken fire. She was home
less. oh. she would never see her
own home again, The storm, the
cold
Dear young lady" broke in Amos.
valiant from the true chivalry of his
earnest nature; her beauty, her for
lorn situation appealing to all that
was brave and manly within him
take cheer,"
In after years Amos could never
think of the ensuing three days with
out shudder. The loose cold shed
was spared by the fire He found
within it an old stove and soon had
its chilliness in a measure unlimited.
Then with his charge half comfort
able he fought his way to the spot
where the wrecked wagon was. From
1t he secured package of food and
some robes. These he carried to the
old shed. A second trip he made.
bringing back two loose sides of the
vehicle and some other pieces of it's
shattered timbers.
The snow let up in the morning. BY
that time Amos had constructed
rough but long and wide exigency sled
His first thought had been to convey
the refuge to his own home, but she
demurred
Il must get to the town." she in
sisted urgently ito my brother and
and to others"
1t was a terrible journey. In all
the slow difficult jaunt they did not
pass single human habitation. With
tears in her eyes the grateful Elise
regarded the strong, noble man. who
made beast of burden of himself
dragging the crude sled that she might
reach friends and comfort.
Well did Amos look to 1t that his
fair charge was well bundled up in
the warm. thick robes. When they
halted at night he found for her
safe shelter The food lasted out
They reached Bartonville.
BY that time he had learned to love
her, and she--her heart nearly broke
as she told him at the last that she
had promised her brother to marry a
friend of his, one John Grimston,
man she cared nothing for.
She chung to Amos as he placed her
safe among friends, Only his eyes,
not his lips, told her what her revela-
ton was making him suffer.
Then the very day following
strange caprice of fate-John Grim
ston, gambler and bravo, was shot
dead in street fight, and Elise was
free.
But not for long. She could never
forget the brave stranger who had
borne her safely through stress and
storm to friends and comfort
To new and safer home Amos VIII
bur took Elise year later-a home
blessed with fervor and depth Of an
undying mutual love. !