Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-10-10


understood with an overwhelming feel.
ing of awe, l watched the dials intently,
when the letters were again signaled, and
this time read the word "H .o-m-e.n
Then there was a cessation of all motion
for second or two, and once more the
needles resumed their inchoherent vibra.
tons. | stood pctriGed with fear aud
amazement, half believing that | was in a
dream, Cor reason refused to accept the
evidence of Fense. Could that be a mes
sage for me? And if 50, whence came
it? What hand had sent it2 Could it be
tina, some power higher than that of
nature thus warned me OF impending
danger? Should obey the mysteriou.
summons
While thus celebrated. the bell again
sounded, with a clangor still more loud,
imperative, and unearthly, and. after few
uncertain movements, the magnets repeat
ed the words, 4" Como Lonesome home!u
tie handles moving as before. | could
remain At my post no longer, Come
what might ! felt that | had no alterna-
tive but to obey. ran to the house
where the clerk lived, and On rousng the
inmates and gaining admission, told him
tina, he must take my place Immediately.
as had been suddenly called away. The
man seemed somewhat surprised AZ my
excited and startled manner, but what he
said or did | cannot recollect. On enter
ing the stable where my horse was stalled
| perceived a saddle hanging on the wall,
and knowing that could get over the
ground more swiftly by riding than driv.
ing, threw 1t on his back, and in Il minute
or two was aashing along the road in the
direction Of home. shall never forga
that ride. Although l urged my hors~
with whip and voice until he few rather
than galloped, the pace was far too slow
for my excited mind. Woods, bridges,
with the moonlit streams whipping he.
meath them, farm-houses where the deep
voiced dogs were awakened by the loud
beat of hoofs, shot by me like things in =
dream, and at last, breathless and painting,
we cla'tered up the long cause waved
street of the village where | lived. All
was dark and silent in the houses, and the
windows seemed to stare blank and
vacahtly in the white moonlight. Suddenly
a horse and rider appeared at he other
end OF the street, md hoarse voice utter
ed loud cry, "Fire - At the same
instant the church bell was rung violently,
and at once as ifby common impulse, the
whole village started INTO life. Lights
appeared in the houses, and II hundred
windows were dashed quickly up. | saw
white figures standing at them, and heard
voices crying where ~ Checking my
horse with Ii jerk which threw him on his
launches, | listened for the reply" Craig
side housew ~
Great heavens, my worst fears were
realized. 1t wasmy own home. choaked
down the agony which almost forced Il
cry, and pressing onward with redoubled
speed, soon arrived at the scene of the
fire The house was large one, and
when | reached it smoke WAS issuing in
! thick, murky volumes from the windows
of the second flat, while fierce tongues Of
flame were already leaping along the
roof, A crowd of men were hufrying
contuscdly with buckets and pals OF
water. In the centre of a group of wCrnen
found our maid, Mary, stretched on the
grass in n swoon. "My wife, | sxclaim.
ed, and rushed forward, "where is she?.
G I'd knows, SIR said one Of the men
"we have tried twice to reach the second
Hat, bat were each time driven back by
the smoke and fre.p Without uttering
word, | entered the house, and ran along
the lobby. The stair, fortunately, was
built of stone, but the woodwork on each
side was one mass of blazing and crack
ling flame Before | had taken three
steps fell back, blinded, fainting and
half suAocatcd with the smoke, Two men
who had followed Inc caught me in their
arms, aud tried to restrain me by force
from endnayoring to ascend again. Don't
attempt it, they said. "Let 60, you
cuwArdsw | cried MS soon rs could
speak, and, with the strength OF madness,
dashed them aside | rushed up the
stairs, and this time succeeded in reaching
the first landing in safety. The room which
we used as our bed chamber led Oft
small parlor, which was situated on this
fat, Cropping my way through the smoke
| found the door, but. to my horror 1t was
locked dashed myself against 1t again
and again. but it resisted all my efforts.
To return as | had come was impossible,
and knew that the only hope of saving
even my own life was to 60 forward
Despair gave me- strength. and, lifting my
foot, struck it violently against one OF
the lower panels of the door. ltyielded a
little Another blow and 1t was driven
in. crept through the opening, but so
thick was the smoke in the parlor that |
could distinguish nothing. maggie,
Maggie p | shrieked, where are you ~
but no answer was returned Crossing
the room | gained the bedroom door. To
my great Joy it was open, and, stretched
ON the floor, found the apparently hteless
form of my wife bent over her, and on
placing my hand on her heart, found that