Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-07-09

buildings ii was dark, so that he easily
found chance to creep into the grea,
hay-barn and hide himself there.
Meantime his poor mother at home was
getting more and more anxious, especially
as she had an errand at the squire's that
could not be put off until morning, and
there was no one with whom she could
leave Nan until Jacob came home At
last, just before il got quite dark, she put
Nan in her little basket carriage, made up
the bundle OF work she had promised 10
send home before night and set off for the
great house. When she reached the door
she took Nan out, put the bundle under
her own arm, and SO tried 10 carry both
child aud bundle up the steps; but half
way up she trippcd and fell. bruising her
SELF considerably and hurting poor little
Nan so badly that she tainted away, and
Mrs. Vale, who had been looking out of
the window, came running down to the
door, calling the servants 10 follow her,
and taking up Nan in her own arms car
ried her in and laid her upon a bed,
With care and patience they presently
revived her, but she was SO feveriSh and
excited with the fright and pain that Mrs.,
Vale would not hear Of her being carried
home that night, but kept both her and
Mrs. Billings, and sent a boy down 10 the
little cottage 10 wait till Jacobs return
and tell him that his mother would not be
home that night The boy went, and as
Jacob did not appear, and as he was pref
ty tired, he lay down upon the seat in the
little porch, and slept very comfortable
there until morning,
Ten o'clock struck, and at the sound,
out went the last light in Squire Wales
orderly house, and the Squire himself
went last TO bed Ten minutes later, a
great cloud of smoke, and then, flashing,
Pickering flame, and then a steady stream
of fire, rose all at once from the great hay
barn, and then from the straw-shcd. and
finally from beneath the wooden steps az
the front and back of the house, and from
pile Of brush-wood heaped against the
end of the house. BY the time the sleepy
household were aroused to the full sense
OK the danger that was upon them, every.
thing was in blaze, and burning in the
hot dry air Of the summer night with
frightful rapidity.
Hardly anything was saved beyond the
lives of the inmates and few boxes Of
paper and valuables in the squire's study.
After little while they gave over the
attempt to do anything, and stood out in
the yard in front of the house looking on
at the destruction, dismally enough OF
course. But while they looked, window
in the upper part of the house was thrown
open and woman's white CHASTITY face
looked out, while Mrs. Vale shrickcd
GOOD heavens That woman and
child They have been forgotten, and
now it is too late
Too late Little Nan ?" shouted, al
most screamed Eugene. who stood close
/ beside her. and without another word he
darted in at the open door and up the
burning stairs, and disappeared in what
seemed nothing less than sea of roaring
flame. One great cry went up from all
who saw him, but high above it was his
poor mothers as she fell fainting to the
ground.
The next sound was the squire'S voice
calling upon the men to aid him in saving
not only his sons life, but that OF the
woman and child he had wished himself
to save, and offering great rewards 10
those who should succeed in rescuIng
them. Not that | believe the reward
made any difference, for all were ready to
do their best without it, and no one,
whether man or chimney-elf can do more.
But before any one could find time or wit,
to do anything more than talk, a brave
voice from the window called out:
All right Stand by to catch her
some OF you
Then Eugene appeared at the window
/ conveying a great bundle bound around
with strips of sheets and towels tied To-
4 gether until they made a rope nearly lon,
enough to reach the ground
Quick now Cut off the rope and let
me have it for the woman. Mother. see
to little Nan there in the bundle
So little Nan, safe and sound, va,
taken out Of the comforter she had been
paced in. and Mrs. Vale sat down on the
Grass and took her in her arms and cried
over her as if she had been her own, all
the the time keeping her eyes fixed on
the window where Eugene, now stood
with poor Mrs. Billings, who, white and
trembling and scared, could hardly be
persuaded to even let him tie the rope
around her waist. At last, however
partly by coaxing and partly by main
/, strength. he succeeded in getting her ont.
side of the window, and then putting
forth his whole strength, he lowered her
gently and safely to the ground.
) "She's safe, and the ropes clear. Now
fasten it and come down yourself shout.
t ed the squire in trembling voice, for the
, boy was the apple of his fathers eye and
proud as he was of his courage, be could
hardly wait to let him finish his work
before he summoned him out OF his dan.
ger.
, "All right, father. rve"-began til,
boy, and at that moment the floor gay,
( way under his feet, and he disappeared
4 from the window where the flames came
5 rushing out instead.
With an awful groan the father rushe(
forward, but was passed half way by
1 light boyish figure, who flew rather than
$ ran from behind great tree whore ht
! had been hiding. plunged through tho
chasm left by the door now burned away
Z and disappeared in that roaring, frightfu
t furnace where deadly jaws seemed gapin+
for more food, more lives.
t But the next moment that light actiy,
inquire appeared sl"SSCIll lE Ntt az ~
1 this time with the senseless form of Flu
1 gene Vale in its arms his face and arm
t wrapped in the coat his prcscryer haC
hastily stripped off his own back to pu
1 around him.
Just outside the house recuer and res
:, cued came down in heap together, ant
$ when they were raised and cared for by
$ the busy hands and kind hearts all abou
Q them, it was discovered that it was Jacol
r Billings who had saved Eugene Vale
$ life, and that both lads were seriousl,
6 burned and injured-Jacob by far tn
a most so, from having exposed his hea'
5 and face to the flames while protecting
Eugene with his own coat.