The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-10-17


flame were already leaping along the
roof. A crowd of men were hurrying
confusedly with buckets and pals of wa
ter. In the centre of a group Of women
I found our maid, Mary, stretched on the
grass in swoon. "Ny wife" I exeIaim-
ed, and rushed forward, "whsre is she !"
"God knows, sir" 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 altering a
word, entered the house, and ran along
tina lobby. The stair, fortunately, was
built of stone, but the woodw work on each
side was one mass Of blazing and crack
ling flame. Before had taken three steps
fell back, blinded, fainting and half
suffocated with the smoke. Two men who
had followed me caught mo in their arms,
and tried to restrain me by force from
endeaVoring TO ascend again. Don't at
tempt 1t" they said Let go, you cow
ards!" [ cried as soon as could speak,
and, with the strength Of madness, dash
ed them aside. Irushed up the stairs, and
this time succeeded in reaching the frat
landing in safety. The room which we
used az our bed. chamber led off a small
dla
Cropping my way through the smoke l
found the door, but to my horror it was
locked [ dashed myself against it
again and again, but it resisted all my Of.
forts. To return as had come was i'm
possible, and | knew that the ouly hope
of saving even my own life was to go for
ward. Despair gave me strength, and,
lifting my foot, | struck it violently
against the lower panels Of the door. 1t
yielded little. Another blow and it
was driven In. crept through the open
Ing, but so thick was the smoke in the
parlor that | could distinguish nc thing
Maggie, Maggie /" I shrieked, where
are you :" but no answer was returned.
Crossing the room | gained the bedroom
doer. To my great joy it was open, aud,
stretched on the floor I found the sppar.
emily lifeess form of my wife. bent
over her, and on placing my hand on her
heart, found that it was still beating I
lifted her very gently. and carried her in
my arms to the window, which | .broke
open. Of what followed l am only dim
~ conscious; have confused remem-
brance of men bringing a ladder, and
strong arms elping us down, and the
people cheering; but it is all very vague
and indistinct. NV next recollection was
that of finding myself in ny fathers
house. all bruised and weak, but with my
own wife bending over me, and tending
me with loving hands. We have been
burned out of house and home. Fortu-
na'ely everything was insured, but even
had 1t not been so, had been contens so
long as she was spared to me. .s.s.s
On the evening Of the next day, when
the short winter twilight was fast closing
around, the first snow flakes were falling,
Maggie drew little stool close to the
couch ON which lay, thinking over the
strange events which have related. l
had said nothing to anybody regarding
the warming which had so mysteriously
received; and, when questioned rs to
what caused me TO return 30 opportunity,
had always made some evasiye answer,
Tor feared that the reality would have
obtained belief ..g.
Willie said the soft, low voice 81 nv
wife, 'if you had not come home -"
Hush, my darling. Don't talk like
that, for can't bear to think Of it,
'But it might have been. And do you
know, Willie, had strange dream on
that awful night 2" a IS. .-
"a dream, Maggie? Tell mo what it
was" .-..e. b Il.
"Y0u remember" said she drawing
closer to me, the evening you took Mary
and me into ths telegraph office, and told
us all abont the batteries, and magnets,
and electricity, and a great many things
which we couldn't understand at all,
fhnnnh LODI To do To-
should thihk US stupid2 ar 5W !
Perfectly" ..u. a5.. .a.3 $50 /
"Aud you remember too, how when II
said that would like to send message
to your brother Robert, who was in the
office at Lowestof then? And the end
OF it was Come home come homo |"
And repeated it over and over again,
until | could DO 1t quite we'll without your
help ?" n.Ts.t ~. ...r.l D,
. turned quickly round0 but she was
gazing iutently at. the fire, ana did not
perceive the startled look gave her. r |
WELL she continued, 'the night be-
for" last, when you were away, could
not sleep for long time after went to
bed ; and when did sleep, | dreamed
such horrid dream | thought that /
was in your office again and had fled
there because was chased by some terri !
BILE thing. did not know what it was,
but il was close behind me and [ thought
nobody could save MP but you. But you
were not there,and so siezed che handle
and signed the words, Come homo come
home! as you taught me, thinking it
might bring you. Then when it did
come, felt its hot breath On my neck,
and screamed SO loud that awoke. Tue
room was all dark, and filed with smoke
so thick that when jumped up tainted
for want fair. And oh, Willie, if you
had not comc just when you did,
nlght---"" - ..e7.3 ..ssn laas /
"rhere, Maggie, don't let us think OF