The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-07-20

While | thus dellbcrated, tho bell +,
again sounded with claugor still more |
loud, imperious, and unearthly, and |
after few uuertain movements the |
magnets repeated the words Come home,
eomo home" the handles moving as
before could remain at my posi- no
longer. Come what might, | felt that
had no alternative but to obey. / ran
10 the house where the clerk lived and
Oh rousing tho inmates and gaining !
admission, told him that hs must take
my place Immediately, as | had been
suddenly called away. The mau seem
cd somewhat surprised at my excited
aud startled manner. bat what he said
or did ] cannot rccollect. Ga entering
the stable where my horse was stalled,
perceived saddle hanging on the
wall aud knowing that could get
over the ground more swiftly riding
than driving, | threw it on his back,
| aud Ia minute or two was dashiug
along the road in the direction Of home.
| shall never forget that ride. Although
| urged my horse with whip and voice
until he few rather than gallopel, the
pace was far too slow for my excited
mind. Woods, bridges wiki the moon
lit streams Whipping beneath them,
farm houses where the deep voiced
watch dogs were wlkened by the loud
beat OF hooIs, shot past me like things
n dream; aud at last, brealhlcss aud
painting, We clattaral up the long cause.
wayed street OF the village near which
| lived. All was dark aud silent 10
the houses, aud the windows seemed to
stare blank and yacaally iu tho white
moonlight. Suddenly horse aud rider
appeared at the other eud OF the street,
and lolrse voice uttered u loul cry
"Fire :" At the same instant, tho
church bell was rung violently, aud at
once, as if by common impulse, the
whole village started into life. Light.
| appeared in the houses, aud hundred
windows were dashed quickly up.
saw white isures standing ut than, aud
heard voices cry "whcro p Checking
my horse with jerk, which threw him
on his launches, | listened for the re
/ ply "Cr4issil1 House -
Great Heaven. my worst fears were
realized 1t was my own home
ehosed down the agony, which almost
forced cry, aud pressing onward with
rtdoub!ed speed soon arrived at the
secuc OF the IRE. The house was large
old one, aud when | reached it, smoke
was Issuing in thick, murky volumes
irom the wiud1ws Of the second ilat.
while fierce tongues OF lames were al.
ready lelpng aluDg the roof \ crowd
OF men was hurryins couiusedly about
with buckets anj pals Of water. In the
centre of a group Of women | iouni our
maid, Mary, stretched on tac grass in
swolu MY wife. y cxcIaimvd. as
rushed forward, "whcrc is he p tod
knows, Sir said Que uF the ucn 1--WE
have twice tried to reach the second
! ilat, but were eaoh time driven back by
| the smoke aud fire. Without uttering
a wotd, entered tie house, aud laa
along tho lobby. The stair, fortunately
was built Of stone, but the wood work.
0n each side was one mhss OF bhzinr
and cracking fame. Before had tax en-
three steps, l fell back, blinded, fliat.
lag aud half sulocatcd with the smoke.
Two men VITO had followed me caught
Hc in tl~r arsls, an9 tried 10 Estrain
nc b. force Irom endeayoring to ascend
again. rDon't attempt it, thcy said:
'you viii only lose your rvn. lie, aud
can't save hers" l.et 90 you coward. :"
cried ms soon as | could speak aud
with strength of malness, dashed them
aside. ! fsshcd up tho stairs, aud this
time succeeded in rca.hiug the first
andlns ia safety. The room which we
used rs our bedchdmbcr led oil to u
small parlor which was situaiol on this
Tat Cropping nay way through the
smoke, | found the doer, but to NV
horror, Il was locked dashed myself
/! against It again and ag,in, but it resist
Cd all NY Efforts. 10 return rs had
come was now impossible, aud | knew
that the only hope Of saving cyen my
own life was to 50 forward Despair
gave me strength; and lifting my loot
| struck it violently against ono Of the
lower panels Of the door. 1t yielded a
little. Another blow aud it was driven
in. | crcpt through the opening, but
SO thick was the smoke ia the parlor
that | could distinguish nothing. Mig
| gle, Maggie - | shrieked, "where are
yuu!" but no answer was returned
Crossing tho parlor, | gained our bed
room door. 10 my Joy, it was open,
and stretched on the floor | found the
apparently liieless form Of my wife /
bout over her, aud placing my hand on
her heart, | found il was still beating.
lifted her very teuderly and gently,
and carried her in my arms to the win.
dow, which | broke open. OF what
followed | am only dimly conscious !
have confused remembrance Of mca
bringing ladder, aud strong arms help
ing US dowu; and the people cheering !;
but it is all very vague aud indistiuet.
My next recollection is that OF finding
myself in my fathers house all bruised
and weak, but with my own wife bend.
ing over mo, and tending me with low,
Ing hau6s. We had been burned out
OF house and hold Fortunately, every
thing was Insured but even hid it not
been SO, | had been content SO long as
she was spared to me
On the evening Of the next day,
when the short wiuter twilight was fast
closing round, and the FIRST snow fakes
were falling, Maggie drew little stool
close to the couch on which lay, think
ing over the strange eyeut which | have
related. | had said nothing to anybody
regarding the warning which h,a 81