The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-08-23
PAGE THREE

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three o'clock. All Of her room was
filed with the red glare Of the burn
ing parish house. Old Henriette
knocked at her door.
1.-THE church Is burning down in the
valley" she called. TITS a grand
sight"
Elinor was throwing on her clothing.
She must see Ward. She would sell
her pearls. She would build n new
parish house. She said this over and
over to herself as she struggled down
the hill.
A new parish house, better than the
old, with plenty Of roo FOR the chill
dren to play in! At least it was night,
and the children safe in their beds :
thank God for thatl She was too din
turbed to notice that she had thanked
the God in whom she did not believe.
The fire had gained too much head
way to be checked. All the efforts Of
the volunteer department and the small
engine were directed toward saving
the church. For a time it seemed as IL
Saint Jude's must go.
Elinor watched the destruction. It
seemed as though q band had fastened
itself around her chest. Then she saw
Ward. He was on the ridge-pole of the
church roof with a Ratchet. The ridge
pole was burning slowly. She could
see him chopping.
From that time she never took her
eyes away from him. Other men were
there. She did not see them. She saw
only Ward battling on the ridge-pole,
and high above on the steeple the
sturdy cross of his faith.
Once the men on the street below
turned the full force Of the hose on
him. She saw him reel, saw him re-
cover himself by q miracle.
The fire glare died into the dawn.
Saint Jude's was saved. Behind 1t in
Its park the charred skeleton of the
parish house showed how thoroughly
young Huff had done his work. Not
until Ward had descended safely to the
street did Elinor relax.
Ward found her sitting in one Of the
chairs along the pavement, her hair
still in its long braid, her feet thrust
into slippers, her eyes red from long
staring.
The fire engine was being dragged
away. The crowd had dispersed.
Ward, %blackened and depressed, was
surveying the ruins with a heavy heart.
BE turned and saw the girl.
Just at first he was not sure Of her.
He was always seeing her, mentally.
Then he went toward her, his hand
out.
"You see," he said, "what an hour
may bring forth" And then, you
reckless child, here in slippers!"
II saw you on the roof" said Elinor,
barely able to articulate. "Once !
thought you had fallen"
"They nearly got me. It's rather sad,
Isn't it," He stood, bareheaded In the
cool dawn, and surveyed the ruin.
People meet great crises simply.
She tried to find some word Of SYM
pathy to say, but what was there, poor
child? She knew the true inwardness
Of that disastrous night. So, with pa
thetic eyes, she turned away.
"Ill 60 home now" she said. II saw
the glare-I-" Quite suddenly her
lips trembled. II should like to help
you with the new building"
"Fine" said Ward heartily. "Werl
get to that before long"
IF you had fallen"
He was not listening. It came to her
then how far apart they were. To her
his falling would have been an end of
all things; to him, it would have meant
the beginning Of a useful eternity.
IF you wait q little, I'll u around
and get my car and take you up"
She sat down again, obediently. She
was glad to be with him a little longer.
Until recently, the work of the band
had always seemed a vague abstrac-
ton. Now n of rs results lay before
her. And there were other things fresh
in her mind-old Hilary, dead of his
revolt against law, and lying in state
before an altar erected to a God he had
not recognized. And Ward. watching
her windows and thinking her the en-
bodiment Of what a woman should be.
Over her bitterness rose a hot wav
of anger against Walter HUFF. She had
forbidden this thing and he had done
It. uzsas4zsytj zssfsst, @fG:.4.
Continued next weekly