American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-25
THROUGH FIRE.
BY AGNES G. eRoeAN.

uOW I'D y low FhlHDlIuB DuiiulhB S'S
nifed 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 n OF
his long wandering trips, the work
shop window was sure TO be securely
closed. And II had been closed now,
for so long a 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 n place. For what would have
been 10 her the little home on the
hill without the comfort, and interest
OF Davidfs nearness.
And Margot had not spoken to David
for more thnn ten years. That was
the tragedy of II.
The pnthos was that David In his
AFFORDED 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 II was MargOt's stern
old father who had sOwn the first
spirit OF dlssenslon. David was too
much of a dreamer, he said, to make
his way Ia the world, n man OF visions,
would be- a poor husband for any
woman. Mnrgot, loving David, still
could not dispute the justice Of her
fathers reasoning. Had not David
broken engagements with her-forgot-
ten NIL about them In fact, In the en-
thusiastic working out OF some mo
chenicai problem7 And with his first
hard earned money, for which Mnrgot
had secretly anticipated the buying Of
her engagement ring-Dnvld had
bought instead a high-prlccd motor
which he trlumphnntly 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 eluttered building, Margot was
banished persistently from his busy
thought. And Margot Mt last rcbelled.
IL was after a stormy evening OF
disappointment that she gave back to
David the little turquoise ring which
had beer his mothers, and determined
ly began a life Of single bl~essedness,
And though the stern father Ind since
passed away, leaving Margot alone In
the empty house on the hill, David
had been too deeply grieved by he
~desertlOn. to make any advance toward
reconciliation.
He Ind Travelled far and famously
from Margot's life since those youth
full passionate days, for the dreamer
had become a successful mechanical
inventor and the visionary man one or
power; No Mnreot lived her single life,
while years lightly touched her, and
DaVld's comlngs and golngs were made
known only through the signal of the
workshop window.
Today, as she paused on the door
step, MHrgot's heart suddenly con
tncted with fear, In the window be-
low glowed a red, threatening light.
As she watched a tongue of flame shot
out. Whnt II David We're 30 absorbed
that he should not notice the fire un'
TIL But David's till figure passed
the window. Margot saw the loved
thickness Of his hair as ne bent TO
%extingulah what vas after all, but the
light OF some working engine.
Flushed md GREATNESS, she slipped
Into the house, In her heart she real
ICED that had her fears been true. she
would have rushed 10 save David at
amy peril, and with n sense OF great
desolation she realized also, the depth
OF her own enduring love.
David. closing his work shop win
dow for the night, looked up, as he
had looked 80 many times during the
years hat were past, for II glimpse OF
a woman's figure In the lamp light
but instead of the vision for which his
heart %hungered, showed n duh red
glare. Keenly David looked again.
Through a rear window he saw flames,
apparently shooting up the opposite
wall OF Margot's kitchen. Again the
scarlet glare famed higher. IL she
should he there alone. asleep, maybe
and never know. Great drops stood
out on Davld's brow, his mouth sci
hAhttN -sNths ht WINS thhhltk h'hlNhk
al he had not nj since a boy, straight
up the hillside.
when he reached the rear OF Mar
yot's house. dense smoke was coming
through the kitchen window. Davlt
did not wait TO open the door, h,
stepped over the sill OF the window
And through the smoke he saw Mar
got-Margot with all her old smiling
MISUNDERSTANDING near the stove. en-
veloped In a white apron.
"Why. David !" she said-just tina
but he; voice seemed TO sing.
David all at once GREATNESS, con
fused. tried 10 explain.
II saw the fire" he said, "the smoke
and I feared"
Margot came nearer, with well n
membered surrender she put her hand
in his.
III was frying doughnutS" she said
''and the grease kept flaming up o.
the stove. II kept on flaming, David
because-I hoped you would see |
down there-and | hoped that 20