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

oessity, and after taking q passage in one OF
the cheapest vessels she could find bound tor
Qusbec-a vessel that oil tho world has
heard Of; named the st. LAwrence-she cot
out for the good city Of Bristol, where she
arrived in safety on the 10th day Of May,
l83-.
Imust now, however, turn to the history
Of Henry Ashton.
1t was just after the business in Canada
was settled that he entered room in Que
bee, where several Of the officers Of bis regi-
mont were assembled in various occupations
-one writing letter to 50 by the packet
which was just about to sail, two looking
out Of tho window at the nothing which was
doiux in the strests, and one reading the
newspaper. There were three or four other
journals on the table and Abston took one
| of them. As usual, he turned to the record
of the three great things in life, and read,
firt the marriages-then the deaths; and,
as he did 90, he aw, Suddenly, at his house
in Portland Place. William Anthony Her.
bert, Esq The papor did not drop from
his hand, although he was much moved and
surprised; but his sensations were very
mixed, and although, be 1t said truly, he
gave his first thoughts-and they were sor-
rowful-to the dead, The second were given
to Alice Herbert, and he asked himself, "ls
1t possible that she can ever bs mine? She
was certainly much agitated when left
her !"
"Here's bad business" cried the man
who was reading the OF Ter newspaper. The
Ilerberts are oil gone to smash; and l had
SIX hundred pounds there. You arc in for
It too, Ashton. Look there! They talk Of
three shillings in the pound"
Henry Ashton took the paper and read
the account Of all that had occurred in Lon
don and he then took his hat and walked to
head quarters. What he SAID or did there
is nobody's business but his own. but GER
tain it is that by the beginning Of the very
next week he was in the Gulf Of St. Iaw-
renca. Fair winds waited him soon to Eng
land but in st. Georges Channel all went
contrary, and the ship was knocked about
for three DAYS without making much way.
A fit of impatence had como upon Henry
Ashton, and when he thought Of Alice Her.
bert, and all she must have suffered, his
heart beat strangely.
One of those little incidents occurred
about this time that make or mar men 9 des-
tinies-A coasting boat from Swansea to
Weston came within hail, and Ashton, tired
OF the other vessel, put port,nanteau, n
servant, and Aimself into the little skinner
of tho seas, and was in few hours safely ut
|:be pleasant watering place of Weston super
idare. 1t wanted yet an hour or two Of
night, and therefore pOSt chaise was soon
rolling the young officer, his servant and
his portmanteau towards Bristol, on their
way to London. lie arrived at q rca-
sonable hour, but yet some Of the many
things that fiji inns had happened in Bri'-
tel that day, and Henry drove to the Bush,
the Falcon, and the Fountain, and several
Others, before he could got place of rost.-
At length he found two comfortable rooms
in small hotel near the port, and had sat
down to his supper by warm fire, when an
Irish sailor put his head into the room, and
asked II he were tho lady that was to 50
down to the St. Lawrence the next dayf
Henry Ashton informed him that he was
not going back again; upon which the man
withdrew to seek further.
Ten, eleven, twelve o'clock struck, and
Henry Ashton pulled of his boots and went
to bed. At two o'clock he awoke feeling
heated and feverish and to cool himself he
becan to think Of Alice Herbert. He found
liz by no means o good plan, for he felt
warmer than before; and soon sufocating
feeling came over him, and he thought he
anel. o strong smell Of burning wood. His
bedroom was ono Of those unfortunate inn
bsd rooms that are placed under tho imme-
dia,e care and protection Of sitting room !;
which like Spanisha Duenna, will let no.
body in who does not pass by their door
He nut ON his dressing gown therefore, and
| issued out into the sitting room, and thero
tho smell was stronger there was consid'
erublo cracking and roaring too, which had
something alarming in it, and he eonse-
quently opened the outer door.
All he could now SEQ was thick smoke
filling the corridor, through which came q
red glare from the direction Of the staircase;
but he heard those sounds Of burning wood
which are not to be mistaken; and, in q
minute after, loud knocking at doors, ring
ing Of bells, and shouts Of "Fire! fro"
showed that the calamity had become ap-
parent to the people in the street. lie saw
all the rushing forth Of half naked men and
women, which generally follows such ca.
tastrophc; and the opening all the doors OF
the house, as If for the express purpose OF
blowing the FIRE into fame. There were
ballooninS and shoutings, there were
screamings and tean; and what between
the rushing 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
seeing, by number OF people driven back
from the great staircase by flames, that there
wss no time to be lost, he made his way
down by smaller one, and in minute OF
two reached the street. The enginesby thu
time had arrived On immense crowd wa
rthering together, tho terrified tenants oi