The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-03

flap OF their wings. Well, sir, with silent
whifhings IS he swept above and around me,
and charmed me TO follow him. was com
PEELED to, as steel by the loadstone, He
went slowly before and passed your door.
To escape, l entered your room to beg for
help. But could not utter a sound, and
turning followed him down stairs, up to the
hearth. There was the red hAhd again, and
into it the bird swooped exactly az you saw
him, bus with this fearful cry, "Thus thou in
. year and day I" fell fiat upon back,
doomed man. believe it. shall perish
like that owl-as certainly, ashopelessly and
rs horribly"
"Why, Stuart, you amaze me! A man of |
your education aud years TO believe in
dream 1t will pass of with the first bright
day"
Never never This is more than q |
prssentiment. I have known dreams full |
filed. No, sir-it is fate it is certain.
May the Lord give me strength to meet
nr
"a year and day" Well, time flies, for
everybody says so.
Stuart lived in the city of c., some
seventy miles from our village. 1t 80 hap.
pened that business Of importance, about
which intended to consult him profession
ally, carried me to C, | entered his
othce without his having known of my arriv-
al. Though evidently glad to see me, he
was nervous and startled. The red hand
Was secret between US. The scene ct the
"old house" flashed through my mind, as il
doubtless did through his. The subject was
cautiously avoided, however, and after q few
commonplace remarks We became absorbed
IN business. After some hours of close I'D.
plicAhon, matters were satisfac torily
arranged, and on nv rising to leave, he
insisted on nay going to his residence and
remaining with him during my stay in the
city. 1t was not until | entered his house
that | remembered that il was the 23d of
March.
The coincidence had not, believe EN-.
tered the mind of either of US in arranging
my papers, notwithstanding the date was
there recorded.
1t was a clear starliRh; evening, but with
cold March wind blowing great euns
breech foremost from the north west. We
sat before ire of Liverpool coal, laughing
and talking about city news and gossip OF
al kinds, when there was a sharp, loud rap
at the street door. We paused as q servan,
entered:
"a woman at the door, sir. Says she
must see you on very pressing business
"Ill be back in q monent, John"
swell, said to myself, professional
men must have visitors at all times and of
both se1ss-nothiDg strange in that
Still was uneasy and anxious.
Stuart soon returned "John I am sorry
to leave you. l An called to = dying man 10
ssorehouse on South Wharf, who wants
will drawn"
VERY we'll, but rs | should like to brace
this wind for an hour or 90, will accom-
pAny you"
"PshaW, man no more of that. am
not the ash you think me-"
81 an not certain Of that, old fellow; any
how, 20 with you, Not word, am deter
mined
After 9 walk Of twenty or thirty minute,
we reached the wharf. The wind whistled
howled, screamed a. it swept through the
tAut OordAge Of the ships, which creAkeC
and groAnrd as they rose and fell in tbs
roughened water, chafng the wharf side,
and each others gunwales.
The storehouse was on the left side of tn,
wharf. 1t was @ frame building Of tire,
stories, the upper end on firm ground, tn,
lower on piles, the sills about seven fee
above the water, which was eight or NOR
feet deep. On each floor there was hatch
way for hosting cotton from hAtboats wher
moored under the building, which was nos
stored with cotton. At each end was
riokety stairway leading up outside to
door in the third story.
On reaching the frat stairway we fount
the woman at the bottom waiting for us
up here, gentlemen, but one at q time, q
the stair is not safe"
We could feel it tremble with each bias
of wind, and one felt as if it would give wa
any moment. We reach cd the top in safe
~, and entered o narrow entry on each sid
of which was Q room, that on the left occu
pied by the sick man.
remained in the entry while Stuart wa
within writing the poor fellows will Their
was not much to bequeath. judging fror
the surroundings. Stuart remained longe
than expected. The wind increased, tn
building shook fearfully as the blast struc
the water side. A, last came q tremendou
gust shaking the house to its founnation
then crash went the stairway, blown an
scattered across the wharf. Almost ct th
same instant the cry of "fre" issued fror
the hoarse throat of some sold salt" in
windward vessel, and was repeated from
one ship to another, while the bells bega
tollIng the alarm. All was confusion an
huboub ahoat and ashore. The cry Of ire
startling at all times, is especially so in III
neighborhood of cotton wharves and shin
ping.
The woman rushed out followed by Ssuar
end by fearful wall from the sick man.
40 God ~ cried the woman, "the stair
are gone 1t is this house which is on FIRE
and my husband is dyiugl" Whereupo
Ahe swooned away upon the floor.
Stuart lifted her in his arms, and exclAiu
ing, This way, john" ran toward the entr
door, which led into the upper store roou
As ne crossed the trap with heavy tread
gave way, and with his burden locked i
his arms he dropped through giving g
agonized cry that filed the eehoing loft.
mass of smoke, tinged with sparks and TOT
CUES OF flame, rolled up from the now yswI
nit I -