The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-07 00:00:00

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDAED. ; she had fitted it up with book-shelves, a guitar, and painting materials, and they passed much of their time there. It afterwards appeared that, unable to sleep, the idea had struck Lady Falkland that she would take a last farewell of this room, endeared by so many early and tender remembrances ; she sat down on a low ottoman there, her own peculiar seat, rested her head on the chair usually occupied by Sir Edgar, and gave vent to her grief and passionate sobs, till at length she fell into that dull and heavy sleep so often the result of continued weeping. She awoke to a scene of awful danger ; she attempted to open the door, but the flames and smoke that assailed her immediately drove her to the window ; ' it was two stories from the ground—death would be the result of an endeavour to leap from it. One of the servants immediately ran to a neighbouring farm, where, he said, was a ladder of sufficient length to reach the window ; but how poor appeared this pros pect of relief, when the danger was so impiediate and imminent! The staircase was in flames—who could venture to ascend it ? I offered large pecuniary rewards to the person who should save her life. One of the under-gardeners, tempted by my munificence, advanced a few steps into the house and then returned. " I shall be suffocated in the attempt," he said, "and what will become of my widow and fatherless children ?" " At that moment, Sir Edgar, who had been giving directions in a different part of the premises, made his appearance, and, more by gestures than by words, we pointed out to him the situation of his wife. I shall never forget his agonised cry of distress ; but he did not waste a moment in deliberation. He snatched from me my military cloak, and rushed into the house. The old steward, who had been in the family at the time of his birth, endeavoured to hold him back. " You are rushing to certain death, dear Sir Ed gar,' he cried ; pray return.' But Sir Edgar shook him off. " I will save her life,' he exclaimed, or lose my own in the attempt ;' and in another moment he dis appeared up the blazing staircase. I had scarcely time to hope before Lady Falkland gave me fresh cause for alarm. The flames were approaching rapidly to the place where she stood : she evidently contemplated the desperate measure of a leap from the window • and I was shuddering at the idea of speedily beholding - her mangled form, when I saw her drawn tiack by a strong hand. Sir Edgar wrapped the cloak round her, and carried her from the window. Once more I ventured to breathe; as Sir Edgar had ascended the staircase without material injury, I trusted that he might descend in the same manner ; but at that moment the event so long anticipated took place, the staircase fell in with a tremendous crash, and all hopes of retreat were cut off. A dreadful and inevitable death seemed now the portion of the young people : but there was a melancholy consolation in the idea that they would die together, clasped in each others arms, and exchanging mutual assurances of forgiveness. My head began to swim, and my eyes to feel dim, and I was on the point of sinking to the ground, when loud shouting voices near me aroused me to perception ; a party of men were approaching, bearing the expected ladder ; and headed by Denms O'Flaherty, an Irish labourer at the farm. Even at this moment the thought passed through my mind of the strange manner in which we estimate the value of a person according to the existence of local circum stances. I had frequently , during my visits at the hall conversed with Dennis O'Flaherty, and amused Myself much with his brogue, his blunders, and his uncouth manners. I knew him to be an honest and good-natured fellow; but it had never entered into my head that he could be of use to me in' any other point of view than as a person to be laughed at ; but, now, when I contemplated his athletic frame, his muscular limbs and his bold bearing, I felt that the most gifted genius, or the most polished courtier of the age, would be an object of inferior consequence in my eyes to Dennis O'Flaherty, and the sweetest music would have been less delightful to my ears than the powerful brogue which made itself heard above all the uproar, in vehement commands to his companions, ' To waste no time, but set up the ladder quick and steady.' It was speedily put up under Dennis's direction ; he was at the top in a moment. Sir Edgar deposited the fainting Lady Falkland in his arms ; he speedily bore her down, and Sir Edgar followed in safety. Three loud cheers broke from the assembled spectators as he reached the ground. I could not join in their accla mations, but I silently mid fervently offered up a thanksgiving to Heaven for the preservation of my dear young friends, and a prayer that the circum stances attending it might have a beneficial effect on their future lives. Lady Falkland was not hurt by the flames, although weeping and hysterical through alarm, she was immediately borne to the farm, and medical assistance was procured for her. Sir Edgar had not escaped so well ; he was severely scorched, and in great pain, but in the midst of his sufferings he could not refrain from telling me of his happiness ; the few minutes that elapsed between his entrance into Lady Falkland's room, and the arrival of the ladder, had passed in mutual entreaties for - pardon, in the most tender interchange of protestations of affec tion, and in their lamentations over their too probable separation from each other by death, although they had both so recently desired to effect a separation'in life. At length the medical man, having left Lady Falkland, took Sir Edgar under his care, and imme diately silenced his transports by a composing draught; fire-engines arrived from the county town, and in a few hours the house had ceased to blaze ; presenting, however, a lamentable spectacle of blackened and smoking ruins. " Morning came ; the father and mother of Lady Falkland were expected, and I rode to meet them, anxious to acquaint them with the happy change in the prospects of their daughter ; they were astonished that I should greet them with a smile, still more so when I described the tremendous scene of the preced ing night, which seemed little calculated to excite such a token of pleasure ; but most grateful were they when I had finished my story, and fervently did they return thanks to the gracious Lord, who had thus wonderfully and mysteriously wrought good out of evil. " Lady Falkland attended her husband with the most unremitting tenderness and assiduity during an illness of several weeks ; on his recovery they passed some months in travelling, and neither of them made any complaints of want of attention on the part of the other. The house was rebuilt exactly in the same form, but it was more attractive to my eyes than it had ever been, for it had now become a ' Mansion of I Peace.' " _ _ _ " And do you really think it possible, uncle," said Emma, " that a couple who were once on the verge of separation, could be thoroughly happy afterwards ?" " It is not only possible, but it is true, said Major Hervey ; they are as happy, Emma, as your own dear father and mother." " Now, uncle, I cannot believe you ; I shall be only satisfied with proofs." " Then I will give you a proof, Emma, which will be quite satisfactory ; it is of your own dear father and mother I have been speaking." Emma cast a wondering, incredulous glance towards her mother. " Surely my uncle is jesting ?" said she. " No, my love," answered Lady Wilmot ; " he has given you, under imaginary names, a narrative of facts. The awful scene took place twenty years ago, on this very site, and the room in which we are now sitting answers to the one in which I stood, momentarily ex pecting a painful and violent death, and shrinking from the idea of appearing before my Creator with a spirit irritated by angry pride, and a conscience burdened with the neglect and defiance of my duties as a wife and as a christian. I trust that, by the assistance of Providence, I have been enabled to correct the faults of my temper, and most happy, my . dear Emma, am I to say that I have never observed any indications of the same imperious and exacting dis position in you ; but in case any future alteration in your situation should bring to light defects in your temper hitherto unknown, I am glad that your uncle has told you these particulars of the early wedded life of myself and your dear father. Your choice, I trust, will be cautious and prudent ; but that choice once made, consider that it is equally your duty and interest to bear patiently with the foibles of the object of it, and ever remember that the bonds you assume are not merely light and temporary ties, but are to be worn by yourself, and by the husband of your selection, in fidelity and constancy, so long as ye both shall live.' " PARIS IN SUMMER. ONE can scarcely believe, from the present aspect of Paris, that France is engaged in a great war, demand- ing thousands of men and rail, from the active industry crea Exhibition, the public impro are an extraordinary illustrat, the country. The continuati , and the magnificent buildi Tuileries, are rapidly complel bridges over the Seine. Par superb city in Europe. Wll scene the Champs Elysees pr( interesting horticultural enclo: de l'lndustrie, rich in every d, flowers, with inviting walks idler. Then the pleasure-see' perpetual fair, night and swings and round-abouts, cakes and bon-bons, curious er men who make little images be seen a solemn, middle-aged deliberate aim at a plaster im: with a toy-gun, or firing at a happen to hit, presto ! appeal tion of the battle of the Ali before him. The gambler's from boys playing at infant an old lady is turning round a of gingerbread. But if you amusement, turn into one grounds. There you will find temple of Apollo peopled b: height of fashion, who come fi of a very fair orchestra, and you hear about, les beaux amours, &c., rudely cannonade excitable drinks in which Then, again, if you want to may take a seat under the trt and observe the passing crow , sex have courage to walk al toilets, as if they could buy a • night aspect of the Champ animated scene imaginable, met with in any other capital. a wonderful city for the stral moment it is unusually attrac• THE JEWELS IN THE exhibition has recei sidered the crowning orname; compartment. The imperial, of France have been placed wonderful productions of hu arranged around the circles thus go on increasing in sum until they finally and appropr point where priceless among; selves "the Regent of Frai precious compeers. Now, the forms of crowns and di; jewels appear again in royal pyramidal case of nine divisiol is placed, alone and unset, mentioned. A narrow plat glass case, approached by a the public is admitted in si; tion of watchful guardians. have been adopted to ensurt cious deposit, valued at some; a half sterling. But ami objects can convey little id( materials or of the effect diadems of torquoises of pr& of colour ; bouquets of dia, tassels to match to tie arol mond stomachers filled with the great star of light above 1 twenty-eight diamond neckL posed in rows of light, suppE b with the same, while a di places the happy head of the wearer,' 1( 131 0 , equality with the hand. The pearls, Voi se tl e o are fifteen rows, exclusive of all other ° e el'. o e A of that brilliant lustre which gives t ° r sec a 51 " dimple, and makes them appear ratlie,oo,o, round. Numbers of them are of the' e o 0 4 ,.. 0 00; bird's egg, and of a purity and white: Yof incomparable. Another case is entitl tt he de l'lmperatriee," meant to imply"' tree" Eugenie brought her own portion to [AumTwr 7,180 k 'Eons of money. .eated by the '• '‘ )vements now CO.. ,tion of the resoli gi ion of the Rue de Bags round about ,' rs sting, as well as the "As rill will become the fit I)( hat a gay and ath' resents! There is 0, osure opposite the . 4 deSCriptiOn of frit‘ ; and fountains fur , 3ker will fincl hereo' , day.---open-air 0144 iimic theatres, sty 111 3stablishments for their game. 1161;' d, fat Frenehtitiii„ cage of the Czar Yc tji magic circle whiel', ars a painted repte. [ma in the little e'to t progress maY be 4 billiard-tables t° a painted tahle'forill all desire more joie; the of the open-air , d a brilliantly-ill nth )y ladies dressed, ,a forward at the ' wo, sing French 1111,psooP:o ax, and Pled by the bottle:id, the Parisians 111,14:. sulk with the T. •ees of the goat 50 o 1) wdwonder -- about in such ' l new one every e Ps t Elsees is and ceyrtainlY 11°0 ; 1. Paris is athe t anger ; but at P ,1,111 ctive. , vSESC V•t r THY rTiox. 13 a, be 11, ived what alg ant of its most If I'4, royal, or nation ,;( ;41 in the centreopli mman art aocl 44, 1)„,' s of the PanoraoAl:l Pry mPtuousness WA. ,4, 014) Iriately close at we ;ri 1111 ( gst princely. g,eldft Mee glitters t once more inre"4; e iadenis, these 199t,cogyYer al .state. The)" u-fori4::u ons, at the ape% °A old the large diattie7l t ,tform runs ar'Foire small staireag,l?l ttt Ingle file, under / Efts The greatest I), ;:ta, re the safety OA sktt ething like Inllol nere enunterstt'ic 0, lea of the beatt,lo4, (1 't produced. ~11010 i 4,4 t, r°digious size V; 0, ',114 Lamonds, with 0, tit nind.the waisVo L stones only Di lf; lie `iti '411) them. daces, or liveffao I°° ported by al, I -lite? W( liamend colo" - Ate e C ''tkr;