The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-23

Ashton looked up tovafd, ths bouss
through the lower windows Of which the
flames wars pouring forth; and scros the
easement which seemed next 70 TIE very
room he himsslf had occupied hs aw the
figure ofs woman, in her night dress, psss
rapidly.
"a ladder! he cried, 80 ladder, for Gods
sake? There Is some one there, whoever 1t
boz"
No ladder could be got, and Henry Ash.
ton looked round in vain.
"Ths back staircase Is Of stone, )" he cried,
she may be saved that way"
"Ay, but the corridor Is on hrc," said
ono Of the waiters; '.you'd better not try.
sir /; Il cannot be DONE"
Henry Ashton dartcd sway-into the inn,
up the staircase; but the corridor Was on
ere, as the man had aid and the flames rush.
ing up the very door Of the very rooms he
had just tenanted. He darted on however
rscollecting 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 fast
ened.
"l will open IT," cried q voice from with.
in, that sounded strangely familiar to his
car.
The lock turned-the door opcned-and
Henry Ashton and Alice Herbert stood face
to face.
"Good heavens :" he exclaimed, catching
her in his arms. But he gave no time for
explanation, and hurried back with her to-
wards tho door of his room. Tho corridor,
however. was impasibls.
"You will bs lost you will be LOST" he
exclaimed, holding her to his heart.
"And you have thrown away your own
life to save mine !" said Alice"
81 will die with you, at least :" replied
Henry Ashton; "that Is one consolation
But no ! thank God, they have got q ladder
they are raising it up-dear girl you are
sayed!'
lie felt Alice lie heavy on his bosom. and
when he looked down, whether II was fear,
or the effect Of the sitting, or hearing such
words from his lips, he found that she had
tainted.
at Is us we'll :" and as soon as the ladder
was raised, he bore her out, holding her
firmly, yet tenderly to his bosom. There
was a death like stiffness below. The lad
der sho Jk 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 bis way.
no bore all that he valued on earth In his
arms, and It was no moment to give one
thought to fear.
When his last foostep touched the ground
universal shout burst forth from tho
crowd, and even reached the ear Of Alice
herself; but, ere she could recover complete.
ly, she was in tho comfortable drawing room
of good merchants house, some way far.
ther down the same street.
The St. Lawrence sailed on tho following
day for Quebec, and as you well know, went
down in terrible hurricane which swept
the Atlantic in the summer Of that year,
bearing with her to the depths Of ocean ev.
cry living thing that she had carried out Of
England. But on the day that she weighed
anchor, Alice sat in the drawing room Of the
merchants house, with her hand clasped in
that of Henry Ashton; and ere many
months were over, the tears for those dear
beings she had lost were chased by happier
drops, as she gave her hand to the man she
loved with all the depths of first affection,
but whom she would never have seen again,
had it not boen for tho strange incidents
which preceded and attended tho occurrences
Of that fearful night.
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