Holly Springs gazette., 1846-03-14

corner Of the room; and the sight that met
her view almost distracted her. The beau
tiful arched ceilings and carved walls Of her
fathers house were reddening and crack
ling in the furious bIaze-the floor was
burned through-the whole room seemed
entirely surrounded with fames-timbers
fell crashing into the rooms below; AID
sometimes a gust of wind would bear to.
wards her thick volumes of smoke, that
rolled like huge waves wrapping every
thing-the very hames-in their dark
folds.
The frantic girl found it necessary to
close the door to preserve her from scorch-
ing to death. With some difficulty she
accomplished this; and her next step was
TO onen the window. Hase she paused in
mute astonishment al the sublime sight
Thousands Of people were standing below:
on whose forms the light of the burning
house fell so distinctly that she could per-
ceive the men engaged with the engines
some with trunpc.s, shouting commands to
their com2anions-others busly employed
IN carrying out the furniture -and many
standing in inactive silence. watching the
progress OF the flames. She shrieked with
all her might; but what is a woman's shrek
amidst the mingled tumult of shouting men,
crashing timbers, and roaring fire. She
could harily hear hurself. The room was
heated-lhe door seemed fist burning a.
way. She screamed until her voice was
choked in convulsive efforts, and yet she
was unheard The engines played briskIy
below. and they alone would have drown.
ed her feeble voice. She almost sickened
with anxiety. She looked upon the null
tituJe who stood beneath Immediately
around the house, they were in bright light.
The fre flung its lufid glare over the COL
lected crowd. until far away the end was
iudistinct in the shadows of night, and moth
ing was observable but dark mass that
heaved like the pillows cfa stormy o.
cean.
Hsr voice had now became so hoarse,
| that she could scarcely speak, but one idea
| glanced through her mind by which she
| might ca,cf The attention of those beneath
She ran TO her bed. with the strength of de-
spaii she dragged it to the window, and
pressed it through the unyielding aperture.
A cry arose as It darkened the light
Many thought it was part of the wall
tumbling from its height: but il fell harm
less. and as !. reached the ground. every
eye was turned TO the spot whence it came
- the door of the room burst through
at the :ns,ant-and Caroline stood lifted
high amidst d, ISOLATION, The blaze shone
brightly upon her white garments, and
many ina gined tba g1e was actually in the
midst of the fl imes buzz of horror mur-
INJURED beneath. suSile ran through the
mighty mag : = 'sSsnations of dismay
broke from 10 - Zip and every one was
anxious 10 p. her. Ladders were
instantly rafssss e.--one seemed ready to res,
cue hersshas she prepared to descend.
when. with Scsy Of anguish. she per.
ceived it wSss short. The heat of the
room-eyery abpe was banished from her
bosom--her cry grew wild--her senses be-
gan 10 forsake her-the dreadful prospect Of
burning 10 death-of being wrapped in the
fierce bosom Of the blazr! II was too much:
any thing bun that--she sprang upon the
threshold Of Me window, with the desperate i
intention Of springing from the dizzy
height. Her hands were raised--her Write
robe streamed in the wind-already an.
nounced that she was prepared to go. when
her quick ca caught the hustle. the creak-
ing as of hasty step on the burning floor
Il, was ray Of hope piercing into the
darkness of despair. and she paused to look;
the figure of man blackened and sco.ch-
ed appeared. almost enveloped in smoke and
fire. Springing across frIghfal chasm in
the floor, he seized a blanket, wrapped her
in its folds, and darted again like lightning
trough the cracking FIRE. "A loud shout
from the crowd who saw her disappear in |
his arms told their interest; the flames were
seen curling around the very spot where |
a moment ego the lovly girl had stood-a