River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-11

and now I could perceive that another
word was slowly being spelt out: but so
bewildered and terrified was l, that fall
ed o.catch the signs Again my handle
moved, and this time made the signal "Not
understood,n with an overwhelming feel.
ing of awe, watched the dials intently,
when the letters were again signaled, and
this time | read the word "H,o-m-e."
Then there was cessation OF all motion
for a second or two, and once more the
needles resumed their inchoherent vibra-
tons. | stood pctrifed with fear aud
amazement, half believing that l was in a
dream, for reason refused to accept the
evidence of sense. Could that be mes
sage for me? And if so, whence came
itY What hand had sent it ? Could it be
tina, some power higher than that of
nature thus warned me OF impending
danger? Should | obey the mysterious
summons?
While thus deliberated, the bell again
sounded. with clangor still more loud,
imperative, and uaearthly, ana. aftera few
uncertain movements, the magnets repeat
ed the words, "Come home-come homew
the handles moving as before. l could
remain at my post no longer. Come
what might felt that had no alterna-
tive but to obey. l ran to the house
where the clerk lived, and On rousing the
Inmates and gaining admission, told him
that he must take my place Immediately,
as had been suddenly called away. The
man seemed somewhat surprised at my
excited and startled. manner, but what he
said or did | cannot recollect. On enter.
ing the stable where my horse was stalled
| perceived saddle hanging on the wall,
and knowing that could get over the
ground more swiftly by riding than driv.
ing, threw it on his back, and in q minute
or two was dashing along the road in the
direction of home. / shall never forget
that ride. Although l urged my horse
with whip and voice until he flew rather
than galloped, the pace was far too slow
for my excited mind. Woods, bridges.
with the moonlit Streams whipping be.
meath them, farm-houses where the Deep
voiced dogs were awakened by the loud
beat of hoofs, shot by me like things in a
dream, and at last, breathless and painting,
we cla,tered up the long causewayed
street of the village where l lived. All
was dark and silent in the houses, and the
windows seemed to stare blank and
vacahtlyi 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 p 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 hundred
windows were dashed quickly up. l saw
white figures standing at them, and heard
voices crying where? ?" Checking my
horse with d jerk which threw him on his
launches, | listened for The reply, Craig
side housew
Great heavens, my worst fears were
realized. 1t was my own home. | choaked
down the agony which almost forced a
cry, and pressing onward with redoubled
speed, soon arrived at the scene of the
fire The house was large one, and
when l reached it smoke was issuing in
thick, murky volumes from the windows
of the second fiat, while fierce tongues of
flame were already leaping along the
roof A crowd of men were hurrying
confusedly with buckets and pals OF
water. In the centre Of a group Of women
| found our maid, Mary, stretched on the
grass in a swOon. "My wife p exclaim.
ed, and rushed forward, "where is she?,
/" G. ID knows, sir,n said one of the men !;
eve have tried twice to reach the second
fiat, but were each time driven back by
the smoke and fire." Without uttering q
word, l 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 l fell back, blinded, fainting and
half suffocatcd with the smoke. Two men
who had followed me caught me in their
arms, and tried to restrain me by force
from endeavoring to ascend again. Don't
attempt it," they said. "Let go, you
cowardsw l cried as soon as 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.chainber led off u
small parlor, which was situated on this
fiat. Cropping my way through the smoke
| found the door, but. 10 my horror it was
locked dashed myself against it 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 90 forward.
Despair gave me strength, and, lifting my
foot, struck it violently against one OF
the lower panels of the door. Ityielded, ~
little. Another blow and it was driven
in: | crept through the opening, but so
thick was the smoke in the parlor that l
could distinguish nothing. "Maggie,
Maggie p / shrieked, "where ARE you ?"
but no answer was returned Crossing