Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-06
} TH7EKyo AZ 6lH|Z FIRE I q e !,
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
BY JASPER CLEVELAND.

without awaking me, cannot tell. l heard il
shouted, and the shout echoed and rang (; .yc1
I still lay in delicious stupor. FireF
turned upon my soft pillow. Why must my
sweet dreams be disturbed : Dreams oi
home aid love. T'~a III ~
2 Once awake, I discovered my peril. My
room was filled with binding glare, and the
air was hot and thick. Springing from my
couch, hastened to the window. Below, |
saw the upturned faces of the swaying, busy
crowd. Did my own look more ghastly IN
the lurid light? Surveying my dangerous
position, I saw no chance of escape. The
Hotel Grande was on fire. My apartment
was in the eastern wing, adjoining that OF
nv parents. The main building was one vast
sheet of flame, shrouded in a pail of smoke,
thick and black. Below me, could hear the
Kissing of the fire-fend as it crept slowly, but
surely to cool its feyered tongue with my
blood. grew cold and faint, and tottering
out upon the balcony, shriekcd for aid. Sud
denly remembered my parents. In the first
agony of impending death, + had forgotten,
IsaR sass self. aiming nsg strength, / turned
to a. Y to their room. As did so, heard
hoarse cry:
"My God she has gone from the window.
She will Try to escape by the staircase, and
be lost Agnes, come, back I.wilL save yoaEH
I knewsthe voice. Itwassthat of Che pale
student whoHsss alwaysin the strdio:of Res.
setti, the famous Italian painter, who vas
now engaged in painting the portraits OF our
family. Ny mother and father had finished
their sittings, and my own portrait was half
finished. Although he had never spoken OF
love, vet knew that he loved me; and l.
we'll, I dreamed Of him every night, and tried
to forget him every day. was overjoyed to
hear his voice, for knew that ne would save
me, or die with me. Either would be Joy
vet / could not forsake my only living rela-
t,Yes-my father and mother. Rushing across
my room, Threw open tho door leading 10
the one occupied by them. dt was filled with
smoke. Cropping my way through the blind
ing cloud, l reached their bed. They were
there but so still and SILENT that with horror
in every nerve, I shouted for them to awake
and save themselves. pulled at their life
less hands, and as tongue Of fame thrust
its unwelconne presence through the WALL
sawsthat they were both dead. With q wild
shrek, / would have thrown myself IN my
abandonment Of agony upon their bodies and
perished with them, had not strong arm
been thrown around me, and by the glare CT
the fire, now filling the room. saw the well
remembered fo.m of my silent woishipper
the pale student of Rossetti, the Italian. He
bore me swiftly cut in his arms, and throwing
a shawl about me, murmured, in quick, pas
sionate tones,
"My darling trust TO me; Twill save you,
or die with you, my idol my loye II we
live. will you love me, and be my own ?"
We were near tho ":..>'~----, --a -i~-e
to him and whispered:
~ love you, now, even though know net
vourname. | shall loye yor always. Save me p
Clasping me closer to MS breast, he plunged
into the smoke, wreathing the balcony, and
heard cry from below: So.
"They are lost! The fire has cut of the
only way Of escape."l 80
awe can die together !" my preseryer cried.
6 Kiss me- even though it bYthe last time,
it will give me joy"
I returned tn. passionate kiss he pre- :sed
upon my lips, and prayed for life. How
sweet it seemed, now that love had made II
so bright. go :.
IS WORTH the attempt. Cling close to me; put
vour arms about my neck and hold fast"
| obeyed, and he sprang from the balcony,
tbroucb mol DANES and smoke. Itrembled as we
bounded through the sitting atmosphere: tie
had thrown the shawl over my head and lace,
and gasping with terror, / must have tainted,
for | knew no more until / awoke in fairy
ike chamber. I was utterly alone. The
windows of the apartment were shaded by
thick curtains. Softly slipping fromthc downy
couch, groped my way to the window, and
drawing aside the curtain, looked out What
mystery Of beauties The garden beneath
was wilderness of perfume. heard voice.
and listening for s familiar tone, heard, in
Italian:
"She is very beautiful! The most perfect
of American faces, ard'her form isswftIiou'
its mate. There is something so ineXpressi,,
bly bewitcling about an American beauty
INo American coull ever compare with
nv peerless beauty, Italenne. There is nc
beauty like your own, sparkling, brilliant one
my love, my peerless Athenc."
=" Fatterer 7, returned the, SOFT musslca
70 Truth, IS not Hftery, ,'she laughingly re
turned.
"It is strange she was not burned J" sal
the other, soliloquizing.
"Strange, indeed l pine for another
glimpse of her sweet face, since you have de
scribed her SO eloquently. You know / am
passionate admirer Of beauty"
1 fanciod that there was.a touch OF dis
pleasure in tie voice which answered. L hat
listened thus far; hoping to learn-somethln'
of nv 2reserYer, but their conversation nov
turned from me, into the rapture of lover:
talk, and feeling no inclination to listen'
tnrned TO retrace my steps to the couch, ant
await the entrance of some attendant. WraE
1 ning.a 5laFgessoIe blanketabcut me- Fsanl
7 into deep chair, and was thinking over n.
lonely state, when the door opened and
beautiful womalfentercd. Smi!iDgly she az
|proaehed me, end taking my hand, said;
"Poor child you have awakened from
long sleep. feared you would never wake
Are you very weak ?"
4 aNot very weak" answered. But anA
ious to learn how long ! have been here, an
4 he was saved -: s; - tse fy::sS4 T=
aTbe man who rescued me from the burr
ing building"
aWhat was his name2'' she asked.
81 do not know his namc," I answered.
aThcn he was not your lover" -,
No!-yes1 do not know" | answered
blushing, then added, "yes, he was my lover
81 do not-understand !; you SAP you are il
norant of his name, even, and say no-yes-
1 and that you do not know, then claim HIM
your lover" and}shs smiled at my CONFUSION
while answered: .4 f,.7 ;...y:,
III have seen him every day for long tim
He is a .student-in the studio Of Rosset'
We have l,ef,en exchanged gglances, aud OF
day he gave me bunch oil vlolets. Io-nighI
he came sto the hotel, after every one ei'
seemed to nave been rescued, and took n
out Of the fire in his arms. If he had NJ
4