The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-07


portrait
81 He doesn't look like that now, " she
answered, wiping away tear. Yet he
says, and d blush overspread her features,
lie says he shall ever have cause to bless
the fire by which he lost his good looks,
but which won him what he esteemed a
Thousand times more valuable.
What Is 1t r. | asked, with an unsc-
countable duliness of apprehension.
She pointed archly, and with a sweet
smile to her wedding ring.
DO tell me the story l should be de-
lighted to hear it,
Again she smiled, saying
= do not know that you will consider it
very interesting however, several reasons
conspire to make Inc wish that you should
know all, and since you have never heard,
perhaps ! may as well tell you.
" Certainly, certainly.
"Yuu see when Mr. Winslow first began
his attentions to me | wasn't at all pleased.
He was handsome, L knew, but had set
my mind very foolshly, suppose, on hav-
ing a rich husband and one that could
keep me above the necessity Of work. So
/ | slighted and repdlsed him upon all Occa-
sions. making him feel not merely lnditfer-
ence. but actual lOathIng and scorn. Such
Z treatment one might have supposed would
have quickly obliterated his passion on
the contrary, however, it seemed only TO
I increase it.
About this time formed the scqualnt-
ance of city gentleman, whom rumor re-
ported immensely rich, and whose intense
selhshness was veiled beneath a manner Of
the utmost suavity His attentions to me
were marked, and not to be mistaken-and
though he had not spoken of love, he acted
1t, and believed him.
At this time lived with my mother,
in our beautiful cottage at North Bend.
The place was very gay, and social parties
large and frequent; l mingled in them all,
and Barton was my escort. Sometimes |
saw Wlnslow, but he seldom approached
NE, though his deep, sad eyes seemed fol-
lowing me.
1t was in October, | think, the atmos-
phere dry and COOL with night winds,
when, as We were returning from party,
late at night, l was surprised and shocked
by the appearance in the distance of
deep red light that seemed to climb the
sky and quench the very stars. 4 wild
and awful presentiment Of approaching
evil at the same time crossed my mind.
. Ii that should be our house, | almost
shrleked
. Nonsense--it is much farther of, ex
claimed Barton
But was not satisfied, and hurried on,
eagerly dragging him with me.
We came nearer, nearer. My fears
we're all too true 1t was indeed our beau
liful home, wrapped in one broad sheet Of
smoke and flame And forked tongues
were tapping the pillars, and shooting from
the windows, while up at one of the sky
lights stood my mother in her night dress.
With one wild shrek | called the at
tentlon IF the crowd to her situation.
Hundreds If Torple had by this time col
lected. though ..Ietly as it seemed, for the
gratitication Of curiosity. Some we're run
ming with ropes and ladders, others shout
my and giving orders, which no one seem
ed to s,bey.
" My mother, my mother, | cried. |
"Wlll no one 20 to the assistance OF my
mother =
Every moment the flames increased
with astonishing rapidity, surging and roar
ing like a sea in a storm, Still my mother
stood there surveying the scene with the
resignation Of a martyr.
Barton Barton !" | shrieked, for
Gods sake, help my mother. He stood
still. | implored and urged him At
length he turned toward me with frown,
saying
- cannot risk my own life to save even
you"
Great heavens and have loved this
man - The thought rushed seething and
seething through my brain.
There was shout, an exclamation,
and utterance Of brave, strong words.
Some nervous arm had placed ladder
and man was rapidly mounting -on-on
through the dense smoke wreaths
through singing tiamas, scorched by the in
tense 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 the crash Of the falling
roof, mingled with wild ordinations and
a great mist swan before my eyes noise
unlike that of the roaring flames was in
my ears, and lost the consciousness Of
surrounding objects.
= Is it necessary to tell who 1t was that
thus rescued my mother, or what emotions
| experienced upon hearing how deeply |
was lndepted to the man | had desplsed
1t is necessary, however, for me to tell
you that there and then he forever lost the
good looks you admire in that portrait.
The clot were burned from his body, and
the flesh OF his face and neck SCARED and
scorched till the skin seemed Of the con-
sistency Of leather"
There, there, my dear, said manly
v ice 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
elements, but he didn't look ugly to me ut
all. Each scar seemed rather badge Of
honor, and the very soul Of truth and
nobleness beaming radiantly in his eyes.
His wife presented him, and giving me his
hand, ne said
"One whom my dear wife esteems SO
much cannot be stranger to me, and
now, since she has told you part-for !
have been sad eaves-dropper-let me tell
you the rest.
ioyfully assented.
Then and there" he began, heard
the flames roaring around me, and felt the
fiery breath scorching my cheeks, and
seeming to 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 l touched
the ground with nv precious charge, |
/ heard the acclamatiOn that rent the air,
but could only think that | had made her
happy, and in the bliss of that assurance
forgot for the time my own sufferings, the
world, and everything.
81 lay ill through several weeks
through days and nights that would have
been anguish indeed, had L not known
whose care it was that had provided every
thing essential to my comfort had not
such pleasant face been over me, such q
sweet voice murmured in my ear, such 8
soft hand ministered to my wants. Never
in the proudest days % my health, had
experienced such felicity, never in my
weakness now, when she sat beside me,
when she brought me fruit and flowers