The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-18
THROUGH FIRE.
BY AGNES G. 5RoeAN.


toward the village where an open win
dow in a low rambling building Sig
nified David Gray's presence In his
work shop. This window was the only
way of telling his presence or absence.
When David was away upon one or
his long wandering trips, the work
sLop window was sure to be securely
closed. And 1t had been closed now,
for so long time. Fall had changed
to winter and winter almost to spring.
before the window again opened to
the hillside breeze. Margot was glad
that she was free to observe from so
high a place. For what would have
been to her the little home on the
hill without the comfort, and interest
of David's nearness.
And Margot had not spoken to David
for more than ten years. That was
the tragedy of 1t.
The pathos was that David In his
absorbed business never knew or
dreamed that the, sweetheart of his
youth thought Of him at all. They
had been betrothed in those young
happy days, and it was Margot's stern
old father who had sown the first
spirit of dissension. David was too
much of dreamer, he said, to maize
his way In the world, a man of visions,
would be poor husband for any
woman. Margot, loving David. still
could not dispute the justice of her
fathers reasoning. Had not David
broken engagements with her--forgot-
ten all about them in fact, In the en-
thusiastic working out Of some me-
chanical problem? And with his first
hard earned money, for which Margot
had secretly anticipated the buying OF
her engagement ring-David had
bought instead high-priced motor
which he triumphantly displayed to
her, in his work shop.
Away from his experiments and
motors, David was faithfully devoted
to the girl who had won his entire af-
fection; but back again in the ram
bling cluttered building, Margot was
banished persistently from his busy
thought. And Margot at last rebelled.
1t was after stormy evening OF
disappointment that she gave back to
David the little turquoise ring which
had been his mothers, and determined
" began q life of single blessedness.
And though the stern father had since
passed away, leaving Margot alone In
the empty house on the hill, David
had been too deeply grieved by he
desertion, to make any advance toward
reconciliation.
He had Travelled far and famously
from Margot's life since those youth
full passionate days, for the dreamer
had become successful mechanical
inventor and the visionary man one OF
power; so Margot lived her single life
while years lightly touched her, and
Davlds comings and goings were made
known only through the signal OF the
workshop window.
Today, as she paused on the door
step, Margot's heart suddenly con
tracted with fear, in the window be
low giowed a red, threatening light
AS she watched tongue of flame sho'
out. What If David were so absorbed
that he should not notice the fire un
til But David's tall figure passed
the window. Margot saw the loved
thickness of his hair as he bent t.
extingulsh what was after all, but th'
light Of some working engine.
Flushed and breathless, she slipped
into the house. In her heart she real
| lied that had her fears been true, She
would have rushed to save David a
any peril, and with sense of gred
desolation she realized also, the deptl
of her own enduring love.
| David, closing his work shop win
dow for the night, looked up, as III
hnd looked so many times during thu
years that were past, for glimpse o.
wOman's figure In the lamp light
but instead of the vision for which hi'
heart hungered, showed dull rec
glare. Keenly David looked again
Through aNrear window he saw flames
apparently shooting up the opposite
wall of Mnrgot's kitchen. Again th'
scarlet glare famed higher. If sh'
should be there alone, asleep, maybe
and never know. Great drops stoot
out on David's brow, his mouth Sc
firmly-,hen, he was running-leaping
as he ha6 not run since boy, straight
up the hillside.
When he reached the rear of Mar
gots house, dense smoke was comint
through the kitchen window. Davit
did not wait to open the door, III
stepped over the sill Of the window
And through the smoke he saw Mar
j got--Margot with all her old smiling
witchery-standing near the stove, en-
veloped In white apron.
| "Why, David" she snid--just tina
but he; voice seemed to sing.
David all at once breathless, con
fused, tried to explain.
"T saw the fire." he said, "the smoke