The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-06-20
Through
Fire
Copyright 1919. By Western Newspaper Union.
BY v JORDAN GARTH

uSibIt ttcJy OIlt III NlIItH cfIlSli-
cred that Miss Esther March and Roger
Brill were entitled to the distinction.
In a modest way they lived amid the
retirement of a quiet street, they were
courteous toward their neighbors,
their comings and goings were well or
dered, and altogether they were es-
teemed and respected as helpful and
welcome residents Of Walden.
Miss March was just past thirty.
She was a reserved being, but not
to any extreme Of primness. Roger
Brill, bachelor, was shy and retiring,
but always came forward In any move
ment for general good and did not
shrink neighborly or community re-
sponsibilities.
"She's better looking than she was
ten years ago." declared Judge Adams,
tie wiseacre OF the village. but some
how she's let her chances Of marriage
slip by and 10Y fancies she's old
enough to be laid on the shelf"
Roger Brill had lived in Walden for
a few months only. A relative had
left him q coal and feed business, and
the cottage half a square down the
street from the March home. There
he had installed himself, the place
all ready for housekeeping when he
inherited 1t. Without wife. chick or
child, however, he got most his own
c.eals and existed quite by himself.
Brill was a great lover of flowers,
and after he had settled down in the
village he sent to a friend In his old
home town to ship him some rose
bushes Of a bewilderingly beautiful
species, always favorites with him.
The order was oiled In a profuse mar
ner and Brill wos prodigal in distribut-
Ing the surplus. Everybody in the
block received a donation. Brill had
placed a bundle Of the bushes on the
porch Of the March place. and vas
apxious to get away without being
discovered. bashful man that he was.
when Miss March came around the
corner Of the house. Brill flushed
red as a peony and fairly stammered
amid his embarrassment.
"A few s Slips" he lamely ex-
planned: Friend sent me a great
overplus. Was glad to pass them
along"
"yvhy, thank you" responded Miss
March brightly. I love roses and I
shall value your kind gift very much.
! presume you are going to- keep up
the garden at the old Wilder Mace"
IL think l SHALL" answered Brill.
Wherever I have lived / have al
ways had a lot Of flowers" and he was
backing away In culpritlike fashion
when q remark Of his neat appearing.
pleasant faced hostess halted him:
II wonder IL you would have time
and patience to make a bed Of petu-
she submitted. mine are quite
too plentiful. and I shall have to thin
them out. don't like to throw the
extra growth away"
Brill expressed positive delight at
he offering and fluttered like some
modest schoolboy at the graciousness
pf this charming neighbor. After that
never met Miss March that he did
rot receive a smiling. friendly greet
and It came to be not unusual for
her to be In the garden when he pass 4
ed to and fro from his business
place In the town.
Late one afternoon Miss March,
half doing In a hammock. reused up
at q sudden commotion. Confused
q taint Of smoke In the air
caused her to look across lots to
observe that the third house down
the block from her own had flames
shooting through Its roof. Then a new
variation OF the usual dullness of the
neighborhood attracted her. Leaping
the fence OF back yards and just then
crossing her own was Mr.. Brill. APP
parently he had been called into ac-
ton by the blaze. He recklessly tram
pied a flower bed. intent only on reach
Ing the direct scene of the fire.
He did not notice Miss Brill. She hur-
ried from the garden down the street.
Outside of the burning house a crowd
was gathering. In their midst was an
agonized woman who they had to hold
back by sheer force.
my chtld-my Dorothy" sne was
screaming. "She is asleep In thu. up
per back room!"
One or two Of the bravest among
the crowd ventured to approach the
open lower door, but they were In.
stantly driven back by smoke and GIN
dcrs. The entire front Of the house
was a roaring mass Of flames.
Miss March shuddered as she made
out Roger Brill. He had not waited
to ask questions. 0 for a ladder ut
q distance some one had gone for.
He was up a post Of the veranda, agile
as i young college athlete. A quick
pallor o~verspread the face Of Miss
March and she shuddered and gasped
as, reaching the roof above. Brill dis
appeared past q blazing curtain into
a ~hame-deluged room. Then there
was a commanding cry at the rear,
and thither half a dozen arms reach
ed out to catch the little child drop
per from the window by her he