The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-07-08
cuffs on his wrists. He could see the

Seice oi tue Judge pronounce sentence uh
the fhief. lie dared not meet the con-
sequence of his sin and in his mad de-
spair, fearing to face the offended man,
he had resolved to rush. By suicide, into
the presence of an offended God. He
was now hurrying hume to drink his last
draugbt upon earth, the draughs that
brings sleep, whose waking is eternity.
With his hands clenched and 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.
He elbowed his way right and left at the
pressure of his muscular arms. The
dwellers in the burning house had been
somehow got out, and now stood halt
naked and shiveIing in the street. All,
II was thought, were safe but just as he
reached the group there was a fearful
shrek, for it was found that there was
one, the youngest, missing. The poor
mother sobbed aud screamed, aud was
only held back by force from re-entering
the burning building, and perishing with
her little one. The father, wringing his
hands like one distracted, offered thous-
and pounds to the fremen, if they would
but rescue his child
at can't be done SIR" said one Of
them If you said hundred thousand,
it couldn't be done. The floors will fall
/ in, in Ave minutes, and it's certain death
to enter that house again"
/ The red fame was already shinin.,
through the first floor windows, aud
through the open door could be heard the
roaring Of the fire, which was fast gain
ing hold upon the staircase. A thought
flashed across the young man's mind his
| minutes were numbered, his life was
worthless IT'S last act should be wor-
| thy one, and if he perished in the at
tempt, he would be guilty of one sin the
less. With quick eager questions he
ascertained where the child was. The
frenen 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 aud 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 al
ready in flames, but the young man, with
d fierce leap, sprang past the burning
spot, in another second was in the room
/ where the child lay. The room was filed
with smoke, and here and there the flames
were darting through the crcvices of the
flooring ilecould not see the be1stead
but the little frightened voice, sobbns
Papa. dear; do come papa y guiding
him to the spot where the child lay
Il will take You tn your papa. dear, y
lie said don't be frightened Then
quick as thought he wrapped the little
one in the blanket and began to retrace
his perilous route. Quick, however, as
he had been, the flames had gained
ground, and scorched his feet as he step.
ped over the burning floor He rushed
to the window, thinking that by means
of ladder he could escape that way but
| tue WiDubWS UclUV H:til
was a sheet of fame. The burning stair
case was the only road Tying his hand
kerchief round his mouth aud nose, tc
keep out the suffocating smoke, he groped
his way to the door. To his horror he
heard crash-one 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, and the tongue of the flame
was leaping up around him seeking to
dcvour him. With awful distinctness
all the evil Of his life crowded into hat
one fearful moment, shone out as clear as
MONDAY before his eyes. Instruction
wasted, good advice spurned, good reso-
lutions, etc., rose up before him !; and
| one and all seemed 10 drag him down
| lost, lost, LOST for ever and Tor ever a
moment siuce he dared to live, now he
dared not to die. That awful horro, lent
him superhuman strength. Threading
his way through the flames, which were
now rising all round him, he crept down
as far as he could. and then grasping the
broken handrail, swung himself over, and
dropped as best he might, depth OF
some fifteen feet into the hall below
Fearfully burnt, he had just strength
still holding his burden IN his arms-to
stagger into the street, and fell senseless
| into the 6remen's arms
For many weeks he horered between
life and death, in the inteusest physical
and mental agony. For most OF the
time be was delirious, and haunted by
the ncnory of that awful moment when
standing on tie brink of death. be had
looked over into the abyss of eternity As
he regained his reason a new terror came
over him, the dread of the con eqnences
of bis crime. He lever woke without
L c i. :.