The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-26

membered the expression OF his eye, and
the pleasing tone ofhis voice, she felt an ex-
hilerating and indescribable sensation, such
as youth loves to experience, and~old age
to recollect. She would not admit evento
her pure bosom that he was more to her
than any handsome young man would be
but some how or other, when he entered the
room in which she was, her cheek assumed
a more rosy hue, and the fine flashing
spirit that shonc in her eye, grew more
sparkling and more beautiful still. The
very attempts she made to conceal it, be-
trayed her secret; and it was easy TOR any
observer to perceive that Edward was very
often the subject OF her thoughts-that her
young affections were already beginning to
cling to his manly form, and that her cnthu-
siastic spirit was 1T last bound in those
chains which give slavery greater pleas !
ure than freedom can boast.
1t was a stormy winter night: the wind
was heard whistling around the house.
the hail often beat furiously against the
windows, and the tempest without was Ia-
ging with all those tumultuous sounds that
give such pleasing value to the warm shell
ter of a happy home. Caroline had retired
to rest late in the evening, and the "balmy
Sleep that lights only on lids unsullied with
a tear soon found resting place on hers
Her fancy, freed from every care, soon be-
gan to soar through the gay regions OF I'M
aginaton, and we must not be surprised to
hear, that it flew with instructive affection
to hover around the form of Edward. 1t
had not long, however, ranged in the novel
tv of its liberty, when her dreams became
troubled Confused ideas of storm and
death pressed through her bran-a heavy
hand seem to press on her breast. She
thought she was standing upon high emf
nence, amidst rocks and craggy mountains,
) when the whole great mass tumbied with a
tremendous crash into ruins, and In the CT
fort to save herself she awoke.
For an instant She thought her dream
continued. A strange tumult roared around
the house. The room was filled with
smoke and light gleam shone under the
door 1t was not till she distinctly heard
the cracking of burning timber, and the roar
of flames, that the dreadful truth burst upon
her mind. She sprang from her bed-hasti-
ly and tremblingly put on few clothes
and with determination to rush out,opened
{ the door. The light and heat that now
burst upon her was so great that she WAS
compelled to retreat to the farther cor
+ ner of the room; and the sight that met her
view almost distracted her. The beautiful
n arched ceilings and carved walls reclining
i. and cracking in the furious blaZc-the floor
was burnt through-the whole room seem
ed entirely surrounded with flames, timbers
4 fell crashing into the rooms below; and
! sometimes gust of wind would bear to-
:, wards her thick volumes of smoke, that
. rolled like hu.,= waves wrapping every
>. thing---the very hames--in their dark
folds.
The frantic girl found it necessary t.
: close the door to preserve her from being
, scorchcd to death. With some difficult!
:, she accomplished this ]; aad her next stel
= was to open the window. Here she pauset
e in mute establishment at the sublime sight
= Thousands of people were standing below
!. on whose forms the light OF the burnin!
house fell so distinctly, that she could per
=, ceive the men engaged with their engines
- SOME with trumpets, shouting commands t.
~ their companions-others busily employees
= in carrying out the furniture; and man
. standing in inactive silence, watching tn
:, progress of the famss,-S shrieked wit
~ all her might; but what is woman's shriel
~ amidst the mingled tumult of shouting mer
IL crashing timbers roaring fire. She coul
$ hardly hear herself. The room was heate
~ the door seemed fast burning away. Sh
:, screamed until hervoice was half choaked l
- -, convulsive efforts, and yet she was unhears
y ~ The engines played b,iskly below, and the
alone WOulu nave QfOWUGu NeI lCCDlC WIZ
4, She almost sckencd with anxiety. Sh
~ looked upon the multitude who stood bt
= neath Immediately around the house the
=. =. we're in bright light. The fire flung its IL
- cid ray over the collected crowd, until ia
% away the end was indistinct in the shadow
~ ~ of night, and nothing was observable but
~. -. dark mass, that heaved like the pillows OF
stormy ocean.
~ Her voice had now become so hoarse, tn;
=. ~ she could scarcely speak, but one ide
. glanced through her mind by which sh
Z. Z, might catch the attention of those beneath
~ ~ She ran to her bed-with the strength {
"a despair she dragged it to the window, an
~ ~ pressed it through the unyielding apertur
~ A cry arose as it elarkened the light. Man
81 D. thought it was a part of the wall tumblin
80 80 from its height but it fell harmless, and :
~ ~ it reached the ground, every eye was turne
~ to the spot whence it came-the door of I'll
~ vi room burst through at the instant-an
= Caroline stood lifted high among the desol'
* tions. The blaze shone brightly upon III
w. w. white garments, and many imagined TIL
~ he was actually in the midst of the flame:
- - buz of horror murmured bcneath-a bu
~. M tie ran through the mighty mass-exclam
-. -. tions of dismay broke from every lip-aI
~ every one was anxious to preserve her.
a ,na Ladders were instantly raised-one seem'
H.. ready to rescue her, and she prepared to d
ne scend, when. with cry of anguish, she pc
'"' ceived it was too short. The heat of tt