He spoke in a tone of authority required by the emergency, and Rose obeyed without question. Her terror gave place to confidence in Fred. Her prompt obedience saved her life. A minute's delay, and it would have been too late.

 

There was a wild rush to the stage. First among those to reach Fred and the little girl was Mr. Wainwright. He had seen his daughter's peril, and for a moment he had been spellbound, his limbs refusing to act. Had Fred been affected in the same way, the life of Rose would have been sacrificed.

 

"Are you much hurt, my darling?" he asked, sick with apprehension.

 

"Just a little, papa," answered Rose, cheerfully. "If it hadn't been for Fred, I don't know what would have happened."

 

The coat was carefully removed, and it was found that the chief damage had been to the white dress. The little girl's injuries were of small account.

 

Fortunately there was a physician present, who took Rose in hand, and did what was needed to relieve her.

 

"It is a miracle that she was saved, Mr. Wainwright," he said. "But for this brave boy----"

 

"Hush, doctor, I cannot bear to think of it," said Mr. Wainwright with a shudder. "I can never forget what you have done for me and mine," he added, turning to Fred, and wringing his hand. "I won't speak of it now, but I shall always remember it."

 

Fred blushed and tried to escape notice, but the guests surrounded him and overwhelmed him with congratulations. One little girl, the intimate friend of Rose, even threw her arms round his neck and kissed him, which caused Fred to blush more furiously then ever. But upon the whole he bore himself so modestly that he won golden opinions from all.

 

The incident put an end to the party. As soon as it was understood that Rose was in no danger, the guests began to take their leave.

 

George Swain and Fred went out together.

 

"Fred, you have shown yourself a hero," said his friend warmly.

 

"You would have done the same thing," said Fred.

 

"Perhaps I should, but I should not have acted so promptly. That was the important point. You had your wits about you. I was sitting beside you, but before I had time to collect my thoughts you had saved Rose."

 

"I acted on the impulse of the moment."

 

"How did you know just what to do--making her lie down, you know?"

 

"I read an account of a similar case some months since. It came to me in a moment, and I acted upon it."

 

"If I ever catch fire, I hope you'll be on hand to put me out."

 

"Oh, yes," laughed Fred. "I'll stand you on your head directly."

 

"Thank you! It's a good thing to have a considerate friend."

 

"Did you have a pleasant evening, Fred?" asked Mrs. Fenton. "Are you not home earlier than you expected?"

 

"Yes, mother. There was as an accident that broke up the party."

 

He described the affair, but said nothing of his own part in it.

 

The next morning, after Fred had taken breakfast and gone to business, a neighbor came in.

 

"I congratulate you, Mrs. Fenton," she said. "You have a right to be proud of Fred."

 

"Thank you," said the widow, puzzled. "I'm glad you think well of him."

 

"There's few boys that would have done what he did."

 

"What has he done?" asked Mrs. Fenton, stopping short on her way to the pantry.

 

"You don't mean to say you don't know? Why, it's in all the papers."

 

"I am sure I don't know what you are talking about."

 

"Didn't I tell you how he saved the little girl from burning to death?"

 

"Was it Fred who saved her? He didn't tell me that."

 

"Of course it was. Read that, now!"

 

She put in the hand of the widow a copy of the _Sun_ in which the whole scene was vividly described.