Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-07-22


The house which he had just left was a
noted gaming house. He had been tempt
ed by bad companions, and had gambled
and lost-lost far more heavily than he
could afford. One sin brings on another.
In vain hope Of recovering his losses
with the insane persuasion, common to all
gamblers, that he must win in the end if
he could but play little lonser-he had
taken without leave large sum of his en-
ployer's money, aud had staked it, aud
lost. An then, all at once, horrible re-
morse, mad despair, seized upon him.
Now that it was too late he saw the full
magnitude of his crime he knew too we'll
that tho money which, when he expected
to be able to restore it secretly, he had
thought Of as borrowed, the law would call
by very different name. He knew now
that disguise it as he might, the taking Of
that money was theft. Already had he
felt in Imagination the officers hand upon
his collar, the handouts on his wrists. He
could see the witnesses come forward to
bear testimony to his crime he. could
hear the voice of the judge pronounce SEN
tence on the Misf He dared not meet
the consequence Of his sin; and in his mad
despair, fearing to face the offended man,
he had resolved to rush, by suicide, into
the presence of an offended God. lie was
now hurrying home to drink his last
draught upon earth, the draught that
brings sleep, whose waking is eternity
With his hands clenched aud his hat
crushed down upon his forehead, he was
rushing madly on, when he heard sound
of shouting, and the tramp of galloping
horses. He looked up, and saw that the
sky above him was red with lurid glare !;
and then a runner passed him with the
terrible cry of" Fire" A house was on
fire in one of the streets through which he
had to pass and with strange feeling of
reprieve, he turned aside from the road to
his death-to see the sight. lie elbowed
his way right and left at the pressure of
his musclar arms. The dwcllers in the
burning house had been somehow got out,
and now stood half naked and shivering in
the street. All, it was thought were safe :;
but just as he reached the grouped there
was fearful shrek, for it was found that
there was one, the youngest, missing.
The poor mother sobbed and screamed, and
was only held back by force from re-cnter.
ing the burning building and perishing
with her little one. The father, wringiug
his hands like one distracted, offered "a
thousand pounds to the firemen, if they
would but rescue his child.
!" 1t can't be done sir, said one Of them !;
if you said hundrel thousand. it couldn't
be done. The floors will fall in, in five
minutes, and it's certain death to enter
that house again"
The red fame was already shining
through the first floor windows, and
through the open door could be heard the
roaring of the fire, which was fast gaining
hold upon the staircase. A thought
flashed across the young mans mind, his
minutes were numbered, his lite was worth
less its last act should be worthy one,
and if he perished in the attempt. he
would be guilty Of one sin the less. With
quick eager questions he ascertained
where the child was. The fremen guessed
his intention, and held him back.
Don't go, sir, for Gods sake it's
wasting two lives Instead of one. We're
not towards, sir, but this is certain DEATH
If you attempt it, the Lord have mercy
upon your poor soul" "
Amen" said the young man and
throwing off the hands that held him back,
he rushed into the house and up the stair
case, which creaked and cracked under his
feet
The fire was raging on the first floor
above. The first floor landing was already
in flames, but the young man, with fierce
leap. sprans past the burning spot, in
another second was in the room where the
child lay. The room was filled with smoke,
and here and there the flames were darting
through the crcvices Of the flooring. He
could not see the bedstead but the little
frightened voice, sobbiug, Papa, dear !;
do come papa" guiding him to the spot
where the child lay ~,.- ....t .... 80
Il will take you to your papa, dear, !" he
said " don't be frightened" Then quick
as thought he wrapped the little one in the
blanket aud began to retrace his perilous
route. Quick, however, as he had been,
the flames had gained ground, and scorched
his feet as he stepped over the burning
floor. He rushed to the window, thinking
that by means of ladder he could escape
that way but pouring from the windows
below him was q sheet of fame. The
burning staircase was the only road.
Tying his handkerchief round his mouth
and nose, to keep out the suffocating
smoke, he groped his way to the door. To
his horror he heard crash-oue. half Of
the staircase had gone.
A deadly terror seized upon him the
last hope of escape was lost. The life
which few minutes since had seemed a
burden too heavy to bear, suddenly grew
unutterably precious. His eyes were
blinded, his throat scorched by the thick
black smoke, aud the tongue Of the fame
was leapiug up around him seeking to do
YOUR him. With awful distinctness all