Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-10-12

til she came among us. With my own
hands had planted vines around the
bare walls of an ancient summer-house
in the garden, and fitted up with cushion
ed seats and tiny tables for express de-
light and here, on hot midsummer days,
she loved to read and sew, and sometimes
would fall asleep among the cushions,
curtained by the floating branches.
One afternoon had left her thus, and
gone to fish by the water side. There
was no one in the house but a stupid
black servant. and partly that she might
not be disturbed, l locked the door of
the summer-house, and placed the key
in my pocket before / started. l had
not idled away half an hour when casting
my eyes upward in the direction of our
house, saw faint blue wreath of smoke
curling up into the air. As / watched
it, it grew denser and / fell assured that
it came from some burning building.
Trembling with apprehension, ! flung
away my rod, and made with all the speed
| could muster, toward the spot, dreading
| scarcely knew what.
How it ever happened no one knew !;
but ere reached the garden, the truth
was too evident, the summer-house was
in flames, and Elsie was fastened within
the burning wall. l sought in my pock-
et for the key vainly. had lost it. o,
heaven what feeling of despair came
upon me as realized the fact. The
black woman stood near, wrnging her
hands and screaming helplessly. The
nearest house was mile or more away
There was no mortal aid in my COM
mand. prayed to God for help and
he strengthened me. The building was
. of strong, well seasoned wood, but /
strove with all my strength against the
: door-hGw long l knew not; it seemed
TO me an age-but at last, just as the
flames scorched my face and threatened
{ to envelope me in their embrace, the
door gave way, and staggering in, / saw
my darling lying upon rude bench, and
bore her forth unscathed, unhurt, from
out the frery furnace But in COM
: ing out, had to force my way through
: sheet of flames. ] remember that it
: scorched my forehead and dazzled my
eyes; but / became unconscious, and
S when / recovered, found myself lying,
t with bandages about my head and eyes
? upon a soft cool pillow and heard through
the darkness, which seemed deeper than
: any had ever known, some one weep
ing close behind me. Enough; there is
] no need of painful detail. 1t has been
D night to me ever since; but / have saved
E my darling. From that moment, even
e as woman loves the babe for whose
i birth she suffers, so ] loved Elsie Russel
. for whose sweet sake lost the greatest
;. blessing man possesses; and from thai
n moment, she has repaid my sacrifice by
e care and kindness the most devoted
The only pleasure of my life had been
r in her presence. Since the hour knew
e the sun would never rise again to me-
e her little hand has led me tenderly and
e cheerfully, as though it had been sis
e ter's.
t And now-now,' I murmered aloud
: as searched for the scorched relic of the
bench now a strangers step must come
d between us The sound of my own
o voice, the cool air, the quiet, brought
, back my reason. I weighed my OWE
s actions in the balance of my conscience
}, Paul Blairp said to myself, you have
not dared TO hope that one SO young, Sc
n fair as Elsie Russell would be wasted fol-
'' your sake; that no strange eye would
d spy out the jewel which you, blind, help
: less as you are, could ever hope to claim
II that that love which comes sooner or la
ID ter to every woman's soul, would never
Il come to hers? Paul Blair, you have
: not dared to think thusP And even a
| bowed in shame at the conviction o
my own heart, almost prayed. No
= yet-not yet; let her be ours little long
" er r-and l laid down upon the rudt
bench and wept as had not wept fo
years, for from the inmost core of mi
. sad heart, worshipped Elsie Russell.
A low trembling voice aroused me.
Paul I it said, dear Paul why d.
you stay in this sad place alone Com
. in, we miss you
1t was my mother. / wiped ava.
1t my tears, laid my hand within her arm
Ie and thus went back into the house.
had nerved myself to bear the sound G
lr the strange footstep. before ! reached th
ID parlor. | was right when / thought