The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-12

part of the house was burning rapidly. On
| rushed Brandon through smoke and through
fame, still madly calling upon the beloved
name. Coming at length to door in re-.
mote wing which was fastened on the inside,
with desperate thurst of the foot be burst it
open. Through the smoke which now poured
in at the open door he perceived kneeling fig.
ure whose upward eyes and clasped hands
seemed imploring mercy from above. And
| mercy was sent in form the most beloved on
earth. With bound towards her he exclaim-
ed Emma there is not moment to be lost
The roof is about to fall in.' She gave one
piercing shrek then cried Brandon you here
oh you cannot rescue me, fly and save your
self-Leave me to perish but save yourself
| quick-quick, am prepared to de-
Emma he returned with hurried accents
/ came to save or die with you; delay no Ion
ger Hark head you that dreadful crash-the
roof has given way Emma with sternness and
look bordering on insanity cried out, Leave
me say-I will not go--l will die here
Edward scarcely noticing this, quickly en-
veloped her in a cloak and taking her forcibly
in his arms rushed through each burning apart
ment till he reached the window where he had
left the ladder. Alas, the window was sheet
of flame and the ladder not to be seen! He saw
at glance there was no egress in that quarter.
Distactedly, he rushed back from room to
room over burning rafters and through suffoca-
ting smoke, the danger becoming every mo-
ment more imminent till he found himself in the
room he had taken his now unconscious burden
FROM He was himself iusensible to pain. The
fire had not as yet reached this room, though
dense volume Of smoke swept through it, and
bright fame licked the windows on the outside.
"A bed caught his eye, with frantic haste he tore
off the bedclothes, and knotting them together
tied one end around the waist of Emma, who
was still insensible, thrustng her with desper-
ate haste through the window. Cautiously he
lowered her, shouting to those beneath to re.
ceive her and soon had the felicity of seeing her
reach the ground in safetr His own situation
was perilous in the extreme. The fire had rea.
ched the door; with insatiate rage it had seized
on both windows. The roof had fallen in. He
was suffocating and the floor beneath him was
like hot iron. The flames were above, below,
around him. He was severely burnt, and felt
that in such a situation it was impossible to
survive many minutes. He was about giving
himself up to his fate when at this critical mo.
ment he observed what had before escaped his
notice that small part of one of the window
sills was not burning though hot aud smoking.
With desperation he got on the outside of the
window and hung by his hands. He was ex.
pecting every minute TO have to let 90 his hold !
when he heard the loud voices ofthe people be.
low saying something to him. The roaring of
the flames drowned all other sounds something
touched his feet; looking down he saw ladder
which had that moment been placed against the
wall. Instinctively he lowered himself Elk.
hausted by his wonderful exertions, badly burn
ed andhis clothes on fire, he REACHED the ground.
The house at that moment presented magnif.
cent spectacle, but soon became a heap of smo.
king ruins.
Mrs. SewelPs family with Mr.. Brandon in
dying state were conveyed to Harry Morris
cottage which was soon comfortably furnish.
ed. And here for several weeks lay Edward |
Brandon lingering on the confines of the grave,
in his delirium continually calling upon the
name of Emma Sewel. And who was it that
fitted like bright vision around that couch of
pain; who was it that wearied Heaven with
prayers night and day, vowing that should
life so dear be spared to devote herself to hint
1t was Emma. "Yes," she exclaimed with en-.
thusiasm, "in life or in death | am yours alone"
About three weeks after the accident, Bran.
don partly recovering his consciousness, look
ed around the apartment and fixed his curious
gaze upon the pale face Of the figure kneeling
beside him enquiring "who are you?"
"Hush beloved one, do you not know your
Emma, she whom you perilled your life to
save9" A smile of happiest radiance played for
an instant over Brandon's still handsome fea.
lures as he said 81 recollect all now; and you
were saved!"
eyes, saved to devote my life to you," she
replied, "even though you should spurn me
hereafter In the deep gratitude of my heart
will bear it all without murmur. Through
veal and through woe, will cling to you
through life even unto death. And now love
compose yourself to sleep, secure in the knowl-
edge that Emma Sewell is yours forever. And
she imprinted kiss upon his white manly fore.
head, and pressing with chldlike grace the eye
lids down with her soft hands, would not suffer
him to utter another word. But what need was
there of words, his countenance plainly told
that he would undergo all again for the same
results. Mrs. Sewell who from another part of
the room had witnessed the scene now came
forward and said, Mr.. Brandon you are to be
kept strictly quiet, yet allow me to say you are
not entirely stranger, your mother was an es.
tooroad friond Emma hoe +old mn ou ,,J ;r