The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-21
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY, MARCH q. 1862.

ance Of city gentleman whom rumor had
reported immensely rich, and whose intense
selishness was yelled beneath manner o.
the utmost suavity. His attentions to me
were marked and not to be mistaken-aDd
though he had not spoken of love, he acted
and looked like it, and believed him.
AT this time lived with my mother
in our beautiful cottage at North Bend !;
the place WAS very gay, and social parties
large aud frequent mingled with them
all, and Barton was my escort. Sometimes
l saw WinslOw. but be seldom approached
me.
&" Ii was in October, think, the afmos
phere dry and cool, with nigh; winds, when
as we were returning from party: late at
night, | was surprised and shocked at the
appearance, in the distance, of deep red
light, that seemed to chino the sky and
quench The very stars. A wild and awful
presentiment OF approaching evil at the
same instant crossed my mind.
"' If that should be our house, almost
shrieked.
&c" Nonsense-it is much further off, said
Barton.
But [ was not satisfied, and hurried on
eagerly, dragging him with me.
| 1--WE came nearer, nearer. My fears
were all too true. 1t was indeed our beau
tiful home, wrapped in one broad sheet OF
smoke and fame And forked tongues
were tapping the pillars, and shooting from
the windows, while up at one of the sky
lights stood my mother in her night dress.
"Witb one wild shrek l called the ats
tention of the crowd to her situation. Hur-
, dreds of people had by this time collected,
though chiefly, as it seemed, for the gratii
cation OF curiosity. Some were running
with ropes and ladders, Others shouting and
giving orders, which no one seemed ibclin-
ed to obey.
"' My mother my mother! l cried /;
will no one go TO the assistance OF my
mother Z?
Every moment the flames increased
with astonishing rapidity, surging and roar
ing like the sea in a storm. still my moth
er stood there surveying the scene with the
resignation of martyr.
Barton! Barton | shrieked, 'for
Gods sake help my mother
He stood still. l implored and urged
him. At length he turned toward me with
frown saying:
e. cannot risk my own life to save even
your mother
"'Great Heavens and l have loved the
man! The thought rushed seething and
seethng through my brain.
"ihere was "a shout, an exclamation and
utterance of brave, strong words. Some
nervous arm had placed ladder and man
was rapidly mounting Onion through
the dense smoke wreaths-thrCugh singing
flames, scOrched by the intense heat ; On he
went. 1t was moment of intense suspense
the crowd swayed and murmured like
wind-swept wave. He appeared again
saw my mother in his arms; l knew that
she was saved. Then there was the crash
of the falling root, mingled with wild excla.
nations; and great mist swan before my
eyes-a noise, not unlike that of the roar.
ing flame, was in my ears, and l lost the
consciousness of surrounding objects,
Is it necessary to tell who it was that
thus rescued my mother? or what emotions
| experienced upon hearing how deeply l
was indebted to the man had despised? 1t
is unnecessary, however, for me to tell you
that he thea and there lost the good looks
which you admire i'll that portrait. The
cloths were burned from his body, and the
flesh OF his face and neck SCARED and
acorched till the skin seemed of the consis-
tency of leather"
"There, there, my DEAR" said manly
voice at the door, "you have told enough !;
let one finish"
l looked up; man was there, on whose
countenance were deep traces of the fiery
element, but he didn't look ugly to me at
all. Each scar seemed rather badge Of
honor, and the very soul of truth and noble.
ness beamed radiantly in his eyes. His wife
presented him, and, giving me his band, he
| said:
"One whom my dear wife esteems so much
cannot be stranger to me, and now, since
she has told you part-for have been a
sad eavesdropper-et me tell you the rest"
joyfully assented.
"Then and there" be began, 81 heard
the flame roaring around me, and l felt its
fiery breath scorching my cheeks and SEEM
ing to lap up the very springs of life, but
was conscious only of great joy at my
heart, for the mother of her priced was in
my arms. l knew when l touched the
ground with my precious charge. heard
the acclamations that rent the air, but
could only think that had made her hap
Ply, and in the bliss of that assurance forgot
for time my own aufferipgs, the world and
everything.
81 lay ill through several weeks-through
days and nights that would have been an.
guish indeed, had not known whose care
it was that provided everything essential to
my comfort +; had not such pleasant face
bent over me, such soft hand ministered
to my wants. Never, in the proudest days
of my health, had l experienced such ex.
quisite felicity as in my weakness now,
when she sat beside me, when she read to