Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-07-11

. Great heavens! and have loved
this mani The thought rushed seeth-
ing through my brain.
There was a shout, an exclama-
ton, an utterance of brave. strong
words. Some nervous arm had placed
a ladder, and man was rapidly mount
ing -on-on-thrOugh the dense smoke
wreaths-through singing flames. scorch-
ed by the intensest heat, on he went
1t was a moment of intense suspense:
! the crowd swayed and murmured like a
wind swept wave. He appeared again.
| saw my mother in his arms. / knew
that she was saved. Then there was a
crash of the falling roof, mingled with
wild eXclamations; and a great mist
swan before my eyes noise not un-
like that of the roaring flames was in
my ears, and lost the consciousness of
surrounding objects.
lis il necessary to tell who it was that
rescued my mother? or what emotions
experienced upon hearing how deeply
was indebted 10 the man had deSpised ?
1t is necessary, however, for me TO tell
you that there and then he forever lost
the good looks which you admire in
that portrait. The clothes were burned
from his body, and the flesh OF his face
and neck scared and scorched till the
skin seemed the consistently Of leather"
''There, there, my dear" said a man
ly voice at the door, '.yOu have told
enough-let me finish"
| looked up. A man was there. on
whose countenance were deep traces of
the fiery element, but he didn't look uc-
ly to me at al. Each scar seemed ratb-
er a badge of honor and the very soul of
truth and nobleness beaming radiantlv
in his eyes; His wife presented him.
and giving me his hand. he said:
Zone whom my dear wife csteems so
much cannot be a stranger to me, and
now, since she has told you part-for l
have been q sad eayes-dropper-let me
tell you the rest"
! jOyfully assented.
Then and there, he began, Il heard
the flames roaring around me, and felt
the fiery breath scorchingfny cheeks and
seeming t. lap up the very springs of
life, but was conscious only of great
JOY at my heart, for the mother of her
| priced was in my arms. knew when
| touched the ground with my precious
charge. ! heard the acclamatiOns that
rent the air, but could only think that
had made her happy, and in the bliss of
that assurance forgot for the time nv
own sufferings, the world and every
thing.
Il lay i'll through several weeks
through days and nights that would
have been anguish indeed had | not
known whose care it was that provided
everything essential to my comfort; had
not such a pleasant face hont over me.
such sweet voice murmured in my ear,
such a soft hand ministered to my wants
Never, in the proudest days of my health
had | experienced such exquisite felici-
ty.. never in my weakness. Now, when
she sat beside me, when she read to me.
when she brought me fruit and flowers.
when she put her hand in mine and
whispered something that would have
repaid suffcrings thousand times more
bitter than mine"
''Oh, William" she cried, blushing to
the very roots of her hair, "don't tell
how silly and foolish was"
1T was neither Stiffness nor folly"
exclaimed, ''but the reward of great yir
tue and heroism. Let him 90 on, for /
am deeply interested.
Il have little more to tell" he re-
sumed. ''hut when | grew strong and
well enough to walk about. | observed
that all the mirrors had been removed.
Hitherto in my deep happiness. l had
thought little of the scars. which
should have known would have defaced
my features. This incident reminded me
of it, and excited my curiosity. When
| requested one to be brought she re-
quested me to dcsist. aud finally burst
into tears. | knew it all then. but, thank
God it did not shock me i'm the least.
took her in my arms and whispered that
since her beautiful face had become
mine, | saw no cause 10 regret the loss
of my old one, and wouldn't for the
world change back again. You have
seen and love me now. | said, whereas
yen didn't before You know all my
Disagreement, and with it your manner
has changed from scOrn To kindness so I
| have nothing to mourn for.
every day of life has convinced me
more and more that l spoke nothing but
the truth, r."