Year: 1879

God!'' why haven't some of you been up
the ladder? Here stand aside!"


And he would have gone up himself;
but nimbler and younger man was be-
fore him. Yet what use could there be
in that? The man reached the window OF
the room next the lumber room, and
broke in the sash; but the smoke came
rushing out, and nearly overpowered him.
There he was, within a few feet of the
child, and yet powerless to reach OF help
him. He came slowly down the ladder
again, and the poor father groaned aloud.
He looked up, and called out to the boy:
but BERTHE did not hear him.


The smoke was all about him now, and
it was plain that he would soon be smoth-
cred where he was if he did not jump.
The old man turned to the crowd about
him.


You all know me-" he said: II do as
| say, DO not? I will give you, any of
you, everything,-yes, all I have, if you
will bring me down my boy"
But they looked at him, and said not a
word. They loved him in their way, and
pitied him as ey had never pitied them
selves in their hardest trials,-but they
could not do what was impossible. Only
God could give back the boy"
Suddenly the crowd parted again to let
| new conner pass through.


He was a young man in military cap
and he walked swiftly and straight. He
| saw it all at glance too,---saw the boy
get out OF the window silently, at last
and hang by his two weak arms. There
was fire as we'll as smoke behind him
| now.


Elsie Mortimer recognized the young
man at once; and something in his stern
resolute look gave her hope.


80 Mr.. Smith! can't you do something
for HING" she asked eagerly and beseech
ingly.


| He looked down into her face--a face
which, even at that moment, he declared
to himself to be wonderfully beautiful
Do anything? ay every thing for her.


lie made her no answer whatever, bn1
called out for a light strong rope. Some
how as if even inanimate things came a
his determined call, lit was in his hand
at once, piable and soft and strong; jus
what he wanted tor his purpose. He gave
it a dextrous twist, and formed the enc
into a loop like lasso. His life on th;
plains--half military, half Indian hat
we'll fitted him for an occasion like this
Then he coiled the rope over his left arm
and went rapidly up the ladder.


There was great hush now upon tht
crowd below. Every eye was fixed or
the brave young fellow who was far ul
the ladder every heart was beating fol
MIN.


| He was atthe upper story at last, paus
ing just below the window where The
flames were bursting angrily forth. The,
saw that he was saying something to tn,
child, and then they beheld Rertie sud
denl y change his position. They hat
thought for an instant that he was fall
ing.


| The young stranger siezed firmly hole
OF the ladder with his left arm, and swung
himself far out, with the rope in his 9th
er hand Then suddenly, with swif
skillful motion he flung it. It spun
through the air. and, true to it's aim, set
tied over Bert's shoulder. Then, one af
ter another, the brave little FELLOW put hi
arms through it, it was drawn tightl,
about his body, and all in an instant b,
was seen to drop almost straight dow1
for a little way, then in curling linz
through nearly dozen feet of air, ant
then,--then he was swinging close to th'
ladder by the rope and by the arm of tn,
young soldier. Before this, men hat
gone up the ladder to render what assis
tance they might; and with the help O
these the two were now coming dowl
again. Presently the boy was in his ia
theirs arms.


As for the hero of the occasion, he hat
obstinately refused all assistance in com
ing down the ladder; and no sooner dit
ne reach the bottom than he sank dow,
TO the ground and tainted dead away.


Poor fellow his left arm hardly soune
again after its frac :ure, two months be
fore, had not been able to sustain the ter
| rible strain; it was broken again in til,
old place.


| And so l am obliged to end this sto-,
here, where, by good rights, perhaps; i
ought to begin. Lieutenant Smith dil
not steal off before breakfast the mex
morning. At that time, indeed, he die
not know whether he was Lieutenan
Smith or somebody else. He was in s
raging fever; and Miss Elise Mortimer
sitting beside him, heard him, again an6
again, in his delirium, imp]ore her for
glveness for some great wrong he seemed
to fancy he had done her. She did no
exactly understand wnat this wrong was
until at ten o'clock Fred came, and will
him the other Lieutenant Smith, a gay
handsome young fellow whom her broth
er brought down with q special intention
or having him and Elsie fall in love with
each other. Elsie had fallen in love will
another man; and she never got over it
Of course she forgave Lieutenant Smitl
sumber one his base imposture when i
came to be -onestly explained; and OF
course, when be asked her, a month later
to marry him, she consented out and out
indeed, all this is so much matter, 0
course, that l forbear to say anything
more q hO,1t #