The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-12-24

laughter and conversation struck my ear as
I ran up the stairs and and into the hall
Lucia heard the closing Of the door, and
cane out to me with a smile.
$50 right up stairs and change your coat,
Fred" she said, land then come down.
Here's the gayest company we've had for
month young Thayer and his sisters. Mat
tie Swift, Ned Gray, Cora Freer, and two
more whose names [ don't really know
Your supper will be ready in few minutes.
Little Harry is full of his nonsense, and they
all admire him 50. But, mercy or me, what's
the matter? You don't kiss me, and you're
trembling all over! Fred. what is it %
'T'hat ba,reZ Of t1our % gasped. unable
to say another word.
why, it came at last but you needn't
trouble yourself any more about it. Bridget's
beau was calling on her in the kitchen when
it came. and he went down cellar with her,
minute ago, to open 1t for her. They are
! there now"
| Poor Lucia she didn't understand me at
! all Just then. She didn't know why turned
/ SO white and trembled so, or why l broke
/ away from her and ran like mad for the Gel
/ lar l reached the door and plunged down
/ the stairs andTf hadn't been already strained
no to the highest pitch of excitement, | think
/ | should have gone mad with the sight | saw
/ when l relched the bottom af tie stairs.
/ The cellar was just the size Of the two
! front rooms, of which the parlor was the one
nearer the street. The barrel had been rolled
TO the farthest extremity Of the cellar, which
. was thought dry enough for it, and stood ex-
| actly under the stringcrS which supported
! the parlOr floor. Bridget was holding long
, taiIow candle close by it. while her lover
piled rhs hammer. and had already removed
the topmost hoop. The wind blew across
the cellar through two little wired windows
ard the candle was within the influence 81
the draft 1t hared the fame into g lona
. feather, and rapidly consumed the taHow
An As the lex heightened and burned red
great sparks and fiery particles of the burn.
+ ing wick detached themselves and fOated of
( some failing upon the very head Of the barrel
And over it the boy and girl were chatting
and laughing IN unconscious peril; ovel
their heads the sound Of the piano and the
chorus Of song and laughter, IN which I CoulC
plainly distinguish the voice Of my darling
child, were heard, and the next blow of toe
hammer might uncover the powder aud senC
every soul of US to destruction.
If | hesitated. It was for less than three
seconds. [ dashed forward, swiftly and 81
leutIy, aud struck the candle with a blow
from Brdget's hand and as ii rolled away
on the floor aud was extirguished in tht
darkness. my overstrained powers gave way
and l fell lfeless.
knew nothing more until I found my
self on the sofa in the parlor, with my wife
arm about my neck. wiile her other hanS
pressed vial Of hartshorn to my nOstrils
and the alarmed aud troubled guests gath
cred about Us. Even then they did not
comprehend what was the cause Of the mp
roar in the cellar that had frightened them
until l explained it i'll a few words; auc
then there was such a set Of white face
about me as | have ever seen since. l hal
saved them all, and suppose ] should have
the strength upon another such occasion tC
act as l did then but God forbit that tht
chance should ever be given mel