Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-03-14

them, he betrayed so evidently his admiration
Of the animated and graceful woman by him,
and she received his homage so graciously, that
curious observers around began to look upon
the engagement between them as a settled af-
fair.
Soon the meal was ended, Mrs. Denman re-
paired TO her own room to array herself for the
evening, and aner lingering for a while in the
drawing room, Mr.. Porter followed her exam
pie.
He was alarmed, on opening the door of his
room, to find that ii was filled with smoke,
while light flame was cnring around that
part Of the floor near the stove, and FIRE lay
scattered about. Neither ne or the servant knew
the necessity of having the stove partly filled
with ashes. In consequence of this omission,
the heat of the fire had caused the lower par
tition of the Stove TO fall apart from the rest.
and the result was the disaster that met Mr..
Porter's first glance.
He rushed towards the fire 10 see what he
could do 10 arrest it but il had advanced faith
er in The work Of destruction than appearances
seemed to denote. The floor gave way be-
meath his rapid step, and he was precipitaed
into the room beneath. This was the one oc-
cupied by Mrs. Denman and was filled with
pictures and statuettes, while her dressing.ta-
bic was covered with jewery and irinkeis of all
kinds. She had great pleasure in accumulal-
ing articles of this description around her, and
under the impression that they were equally
priced by others, she lived in constant dread Of
robbers.
MT sfnppinu "a iIor hat al, roo,la ol
dom entered rooms in the way that had happen
ed so unexpectedly to Mr.. Porter, Mrs. Den
man turned at the noise he made, and seeing
man, with face marked and backeued BY the
charred wood through which he had forced his
way, struggling slowly and with difficulty to
his feet, with cry Of "Thieves thieves !"
she threw an open cologne bottle at him; Mr.
Porter had just recovered his breath sufficient
TO allow him TO speak, when his mouth and
throa, were suddenly filed with the fiery liquid
Before he had Time TO recover from the strang-
ling sensation this caused him, an inks,and
thrown at his head empted its contents over his
face and person, bottle filled with some red
liquid followed, and breaking aginst his temple
cut II slightly, and the sangune celorcd stream,
minglng with his blood, flowed over him, Civ
ing him truly friehtful aspect. These at
tacks had followed each other with the utmost
rapidity, and il was not until Mrs. Depman,
seizing the poker, advanced towards him, that
Mr.. Porter found breath or time 10 cry "Fire
Fire !"
AT the same moment, Gertrude Murray, who
occupied the room next Mrs. Denman's, hear.
ing that ladys cries, came TO her assistance.
THAT is Mr.. Porter-his room is on fire.
Look up there -
49,, lb. haln D2e Ia saye Jny. thinos beln.maJ
to whom she appealed had left her, as sudden
! ly as they eniered-Mr. Porter to alarm the
rest Of the house, and Gertrude to attend to her
mother, who was an invalid and esily over
come by any sudden shock
BY the prompt and efficient measures that
were taken, the fire was subdued before il had
done much damage. The delnge of water the
fremen poured upon it caused almost as much
injury as the fire itself; the rooms beneath
were perfectly drenched. But Mrs. Denman
had managed to escape with a tri6ng loss
Nine large trunks, packed and standing in the
outer hall, with four immense bundles tied uE
in sheets, bore witness 10 her energy and in
dustry while Gertrude could hardly find az
uninjured article in her wardrobe so thorough
ly wet were they, and many Of them had beer
thrown down, and trampled in the cinders and
water on the floor
"Now | appreciate the wisdom Of your
choice" said Mr. Fosgate TO Henry Porter, a.
they stood by Mrs. Denman's collection of val
uables, after the hurry and excitement of ,h,
[ e. IA. L.. II
good care of herself will save husband grea
deal OF anxiety. Now, Miss Murray flew Of
to her mother, who. have no doubt, did no
need her in the least. as Mr.. Muarry was a
home, when, if she had only had her wit
about her, she could have saved-I cant tel
how many trunks full"
"Miss Gertr1de seemed perfectly selfpos
sessed when saw her." said Mr. Porter 'bu
cannot say the same for Mrs. Denman."
"Do tell me what you have been doing t
yourself' asked The inquisitive Mr.. Fosgate
"You look like painted savage"
81 have been engaged in a-desperaie affair,
was the reply "but thought had washe
| Off all traces Of IT.
II can count at least three colors on you
5 face that ! never saw there before, and cu
on your temple besides; what have you bee
r doing I"
Mr.. Porter related, with good deal ofspiI
] it and enjoyment, his involuntary appearance
e in Mrs Denman's room, and its consequence
81 shall never forget how Mrs. Denma
a looked" he continued, "as she sprang towarC
me with the uplifted poker, shrieking all tn
t while. ! confess | saw no way Of escape b'
to run, and was trying to collect my wits I
far as to see where the door was, when it opel
r ed, and Miss Murray looked in. ! assure yo
Il | thought her then the most beautiful being
had ever seen. She perceived in moment II
d cause of the disturbance, and was able at la
n to escape from that fury of a woman and gi'
y the alarm. shall always consider Miss Mu
Il ray as my preseryer, for Mrs. Denman was pr
+ pared to 60 TO any lengths TO save her valuab
v property" And Mr.. Porter laughed as he r
called the scene.
d "Wha. do you think" he resumed, 9Th
IT pink liquid was that che wasted on my brow
\. face. Ii was the brightest and prettiest col