Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-03-25
NO. So.


and there the smell stronger there was a
considerable cracking and roaring, which had
something alarming in it, and he consequently
opened the oater door. All he could now see
was thick smoke filing the corridor, through
which came a red glare from the direction of the
staircase but he heard those sounds of burning
wood which are not to be mistaken and in a
minute after, loud knocking at the doors, ring
ing Of bells, and shouts of Sire fire " showed
that the calamity had become apparent to the
people in the street. He saw all the rushing
| forth OF naked men and women, which generally
follows such a catastrophe and the opening all
the doors of the house, if for the express pur-
pose of blowing the fire into a flame There
were hailowings and shoutings, there were
SCREENINGS and tears, and what between the rush
ing sound of the devouring element, and the
voice of human suffering or fear, the noise was
enough to wake the dead.
Henry Ashton thought of his portmanteau,
and wondered where his servant was; but see
ing, by number of people driven back from the
great staircase by flames, that there was no
time to be lost, he made his way down by a
smaller one, and in minute or two reached the
street. The engines by this time had arrived;
an immense crowd was gathering together, the
terrified tenants of the inn were rushing forth,
and in the midst Henry Ashton remarked one
young woman wringing her hands, and exclam-
ing, ooh, my poor young mistress my poor
young LADY,
'Where is she, my good girl3' demanded the
young soldier.
| 'ln number eleven cried the girl, Sin number
eleven Her bedroom is withnthe sitting room,
and she will never hear the noise"
There she is cried one of the bv-standers
who overheard; 'there she is, l dare say
Ashton looked up towards the house, through
the lower window of which the flames were
pouring forth and across the easement which
: seemed next to the very room lie himself had
occupied, he saw the figure of moman, in her
nigh. dress, pass rapidly.
"A ladder, he cried, "a ladder, for Gods sake
\ There is some one there, whoever it be p
No ladder could be got, and Henry Ashton
looked round in vain.
'The back staircase is of stone, he cried; she
may be saved that way!'
'Ay, but the corridor is on fire., said one of
the walters; you'd better not try sir; it cannot
be done
Henry Ashton darted away; into the inn up
the stair case but the corridor was on fire, as
the man had SAID, and the flames rushing I'D to
the very door of the rooms he had lately tenant
ed. lie rushed on, however, recollecting that
he had seen side door out of his own sitting
room. He dashed in, caught the handle of the
lock of the side door, and shook it violently, for
it was fastened.
Il will open it., cried voice from within, that
sounded strangely familiar to his ear.
| The lock turned-the door opened--and Hen
ry Ashton and Alice Herbert stood face to face
God of Heaven he exclaimed, catching her
in his But he gave no time for explana-
ton, and hurried back with her towards the door
of his own room. The corridor, however, was
impossible.
you will be lost! you will be lost ! he ex-
claimed, holding her to his heart a s-
'And you have thrown away your own life to
save mine = said Alice.
viii die with you, at least i replied Henry
Ashton sthat is some consolation. But, no.
they have got a ladder-they are raising it up
dear girl you saved
lie felt Alice lie heavy ON his bosom; and
when he look down. whether it was fear or the
effect of the sitting heat, or hearing such words
from his lips, he found that she had tainted
ut is well, he said 'its as well!' and as
soon as the ladder was raised, he bore her out,
holding her firmly yet tenderly to his bosom.
There was death-like stiffness below The
ladder shook under his feet; the flames came
forth and licked the rounds on which his steps
were placed; but steadily, firmly, calmly, the
young soldier pursued his way. He bore all
that he valued on earth in his arms, and it was
no moment TO give one thought to fear.
When his last footstep touched the ground, a
universal shout burst forth from the crowd, and
, even reached the ear of Alice herself but, ere
she could recover completely, she was in the
comfortable drawing room of good merchant a
house, some way further down che same street,
The St. Lawrence sailed on the following day
for Quebec, and, as you well know, went down
in the terrible hurricane which swept the At
f lantic in the summer Of that year, bearing with
4 her to the depths Of ocean, every living thing
a that SIZE had carried out from England. But on
t the day Tat she weighed anchor, Alice sat in
8 the dra WING room Of the merchants house, with
!. her hand clasped in that of Henry Ashton; and
u arc many months were over, the tears for those
,..r he;ngs she had lost, were chased by happier