True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-04
VOLUME 3.-NUMBER 8.

gotten it, and in the low and whispering
conversation that ensued between them,
he betrayed so evidently his admiration
of the animated and graceful woman by
him, and she received his homage so gra-
ciously, that the curious observers around
began TO look upon the engagement be-
tween them as a settled affair.
Soon after the meal was ended, Mrs.
Denman repaired TO her own room to ar
ray herself for the evening, and, after lin
gering for little while in the drawing
room, Mr.. Porter followed her example.
He was alarmed. on opening the door
of his room, to find thatit was filled with
smoke, while a light flame was curling
around that part Of the floor near the
stove, and fire lay scattered about
Neither he nor the servant knew the neces-
sity of having the stove partly filled with
ashes. In consequence Of this omission,
the heat of the fire had caused the lower
partition Of the stove to fall apart from
the rest, and the result was the disaster
that met Mr.. Porier's first glance.
He rushed towards the fire to see wha
he could do to arrest it but it had ad'
vanced farther in the wolk Of destruction
than appearances seemed 10 denote. The
floor gave way beneath his rapid step,
and he was precpitated into the room
beneath. This was the one occupied by
Mrs. Denman, and was filed with pic
lures and statutes, while her dressing
table was covered with jewelry and trink
els of all kinds. She had great pleasure
in accumulaling articles Of this descrip
ton around her, aud under the impression
that they were equally priced by others
She lived in constant dread Of robbers
Not stopping 10 consider that such peopl
seldom entered rooms in the way that hat
happened so Unexpectedly to Mr., Porter
Mrs. Denman turned at the noise b
made, and seeing man, with q fac
J marked and blackened by the charre
wood through which he had forced hi
way, struggling'slowly and with difficult.
to his feet, with a cry of "Thieves
thieves!" she threw an open Cologne bot
tie at him; Mr.. Porter had just recovere
his breath sufficiently to allow him 4
speak, when his mouth and throat wer
suddenly filled with the fiery liquid. BE
r fore he had time to recover from tn
5 slrangling sensation this caused him, a
inkstand thrown at his head emptied il
contents over his face and person, a bot
! lie filled with some red liquid followed
and breaking against his temple cut
slightly, and the sanguine colored strear
t mingling with his blood flowed over hin
, giving him truly frightful aspect. Thes
attacks had followed each other with tn
utmost rapidity, and it was not until MR.
Denman, seizing the poker, advanced tc
5 wards him, that Mr.. Porter found breat
or time to cry "Fire !! Fire"
5 AT the same moment, Gertrude Mul
r ray, who occupied the COON next Mr.
e Denman's, hearing that lady's cries, cam
to her assistance. In a moE.ent she PEI
ceived the true state of affairs, and arres
:. ing Mrs. Denman in her acts OF angr
r and frantic terror, she exclaimed
: "Thal is Mr.. Porter-his room is Q
n fire. Look up thete!"
ooh. hell me to save my things hel
: me heap me! implored Mrs. Denmal
s but those to whom she appealed had lie
/ her, as suddenly as they had entered
Mr.. Porter to alarm the rest Of her hous
e and Gertrude 10 attend 10 her mother, wi
G was an invalid, and easily overcome
Is any sudden shock.
l. BY the prompt and efficient measur
,f that were taken, the fire was subdued b
fore il had done much damage. It
n deluge of water the fremen poured up
+" it caused almost as much injury as t
l fire itself; the rooms beneath were p'
al fectly drenched. But Mrs. Denman b
managed TO escape with a trifing lo'
is Nine large trunks, packed and s;andi
4. in the outer hall, with four immense bu
s, dies tied up in sheets, bore witness to /
m energy and industry; while Gerlru
ldeaould hardly find an uninjured article
If her wardrobe, SO thoroughly wet W.
m they, and many Of them had been thro'
ID down, and trampled in the cinders a
ed water on the floor.
r. "Now, ] appreciate the wisdom
ly your choice" said Mr., Fosgate TO Her
s. Porter, as they stood by Mrs. Denma
70, collection of valuables, after the hui
n. and excitement Of the fire were over,
as woman that can take such good care
,r- herself will save husband a good d
ke of anxiety. Now, Miss Murray few
he to her mother, who, have no doubt,
Or, not need her in the least, as Mr. MUIR
IS, was at home, when, if she had only
en- her wits about her, she could have sa,
asi Il can't tell how many trunks full"
ith +" Miss Gertrude seemed perfectly 8,
lie possessed when ! saw her." said
III Porter; "but cannot say the same
tu- Mrs. Denman.''
ng Do lell me what you have been
er, ing to yourselfl" asked the inquisit
Mr.. Fosga,e. g You look like apaiu
nal savage"
i'm 81 have been engaged in despel
md affair" was the replyi "bu. | though