Year: 1879

Continued from yesterday.)


Violet had scarcely spoken since the
first alarm, and CHANGING to touch her arm
Mary found that she was trembling viO-
lently. Such had been her anxiety about
Will for a few days past that her heart
sunk with underlined apprehensions at
every sudden noise. This midnight fire
alarm had filed her with agitation, as if
it threatened some terrible solution to her
nameless fears. A buggy with fast
trotting horse whizzed BY, going the other
way.


They've sent after the Blandville en-
gine, !" said some one 1T must be big


As the painting party turned corner the
blaze came under plain view 1t was in
deed the paper mill. The dingling of the
engine bell, the hubbub of mems voices,
the hoarse orders of the foreman, and now
the sound of the hand-brakes as they went
"ehug, chug," under the arms of sturdy
crew, which was lit up by fitful flashes
from the burning mill At one end of it
the flames poured forth from every win
dow, and the roof smoked, but its greater
length was still in darkness save for the
gleam of lanterns from within, as men
hurried to and fro to rescue property or
oppose checks to the flames. But even as
they stood and gazed. baleful glimmer
shone from several windows \ moment
before quite dark.


For half an hour the men fought the fire
inch by incho Then the mill pumps broke
down and there was no langer any chance
OF saving the mill. Soon the flames poured
out ut all the windows and burst through
the root in many places. The fire roared
like huge mill-wheel, and the sheet of
fame cracked and snapped as if great
blankets were being shaken. The bells had
long since ceased ringing. Everybody was
aroused, and the fire had become its own
beacon, holding every waking eye for miles
around, and irradiating the chambers of
distant hillside farm-hOuses with . ruddy
light, till the sleepers awOke in conster-
nation and chanticleer crowed to the false
dawn.


So long rs there was chance Of saving
the mill there was feeling of strain and
excitement among the people. The con-
viction that nothing more could be done
produced sense Of positive relief, which
was apparent in general unbending and
disposition to look around, find acquaint-
ances and compare notes. The young
men who had worked at the engine and
hose took the opportunity to join the group
Of girls, and receive congratulations on
the drenched clothes and blackened faces
that testified to their public spirit


But beyond smiling absently when adj
dressed. Violet took no part in the chat
going on around her. Her eyes were row.
ing everywhere among the crowd, looking
for Will.


The magnificence Of the confagration
was at its height The roof of the mill
had fallen in and from the Jagged tops of
the brick walls, rs from gigantic brasier.
the flames leaped fifty feet in the air, like
genii harnessd to the earth and striving
with frantic bounds to carry it up with
them into the empyrean. The low clouds
were rosy with the lurid glow and reflect
ed it back upon the houses and streets, so
that the. whole village was illuminated
with a theatrical red light. The effect re-
minded one of grand spectacular scene
on the stage. The very attitudes and
groupings OF the crowd betrayed his
trionic consciousness. The entire popuia-
ton had turned out as spectators. Thieves
might have piled their trade undisturbed
among the deserted houses. Some had
even brought chairs. Husbands stood
with their wives, and the young men with
the msidens in groups beneath the trees
encircing the mill the foliage above them
shriveling in the heat. Small boys play
ing tag, and clusters of men around the
engine and hose, occupied the foreground.


A sudden indescrbable stir and in
drawing of the breath among the crowds
CONSTRUCTED every heart with terror. even
before the cause of it was seen. A young
fellow, a village ne'er-do-well, with per-
haps too much Of the whiskey aboard
which had been circulated among the fire.
men. had in 4 fit of bravad0 gone too
near the topping walls and a mass of fall
ing brick had struck him down. He lay
helpless and wrthing, apparently with
broken leg The wall thirty feet high or
that side, was evidently on the point Of
falling outward. and All attept to reach the
unfortunate would expose the rescuer to
the risk of a horrible death, with all the
chances against his escape. The people
looked on terrified. There were brave
men there but no one stirred.


Perhaps two seconds had passed, though
they seemed like five minutes, when a
quick gasp from Violet made Mary look
around. and following the direction of her
eyes sie saw man who had started from
the shadow OF tree. moving swiftly
toward the mill.


"Come back. Come bsck"' cried some
but he kept OH.


He reached the fallen man, and as he
turned to drag him away Mary perceived
what Violet had seen at the first glance
it was Will Ronalds.


Run Run The wall is falling" cried
= hundred sgonized voices, as the bricks
fell in a shower and the wall began per-
ceptibly to sway outwards.


viii glanced upwards rs if calculating
the danger. The spectators could see the
workings of each feature Of his face in the
strong glare Of the fire; He violently
carried the crippled man outwards about
fifteen feet. then - if recognizing that
there was no chance of escaping he knelt
by his side and turned his eyes on the peo-
pie. They met violet's and seemed to
turn her to stone AS if they had been q
Gorgons. Most Of the women and many
of the men covered their faces with their
hands to shut out the horrid sight that was


~4A